Al-Hijr: (80-84) And the companions of...

This is the fourth story, which is the story of Salih (peace be upon him).

The exegetes said: Al-Hijr (The Rock) is the name of a valley inhabited by the Thamud.

His statement, {the Messengers} (المرسلين), refers specifically to Salih alone. Perhaps the people were idolaters who denied all messengers.

His statement, {And We gave them Our signs} (وءاتيناهم ءاياتنا), refers to the she-camel. The she-camel contained many signs, such as:

1. Her emergence from the rock.
2. Her immense size.
3. The appearance of her offspring immediately upon her emergence.
4. The abundance of her milk.

He attributed the giving of the signs to them (the people) even though the she-camel was a sign for Salih, because they were the signs of their messenger.

His statement, {but they were turning away from them} (فكانوا عنها معرضين), indicates that looking (at the signs) and drawing inference is obligatory, and that blind imitation (Taqlid) is blameworthy.

His statement, {And they used to carve out homes from the mountains} (وكانوا ينحتون من الجبال), we have already mentioned the manner of this carving in Surah Al-A'raf.

His statement, {secure} (ءامنين), means secure from the punishment of Allah. Al-Farra' said: {secure} (ءامنين) means secure that their roofs would not fall upon them.

His statement, {So what availed them what they used to earn?} (فمآ أغنى عنهم ما كانوا يكسبون), means that what they did—carving those mountains and accumulating those riches—did not ward off harm or affliction from them. And Allah knows best.

! 7 < { And We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth, and indeed, the Hour is coming, so pardon with gracious forgiveness. * Indeed, your Lord is the Creator, the All-Knowing. } > 7

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(The text transitions here to the next verses, 85-86 of Surah Al-Hijr, which are not fully detailed in the provided excerpt but are marked by the verse numbers.)