As we may get out of the above verses, they must have been proud of their subterranean canals lying under the surface of the earth for leading water from the springs to their fruitful gardens and farmlands for irregation. TRANSLATOR'S NOTE قَالُوا إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مِنَ الْمُسَحَّرِينَ(( 153 )) 153- THEY SAID:ِ ``YOU ARE OF THOSE BEWITCHED.'' مَا أَنْتَ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا فَأْتِ بِآيَة إِنْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الصَّادِقِينَ(( 154 )) 154- YOU ARE NOT EXCEPT A MAN LIKE US.
THEN BRING A SIGN IF YOU ARE OF THE TRUTHFULS. قَالَ هَذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْم مَّعْلُوم(( 155 )) [ 468 ] 155- HE SAID HERE IS A SHE-CAMEL. (WHICH YOU HAVE ASKED AS A SIGN) FOR HER IS A SHARE OF WATER, AND FOR YOU A SHARE, ON A DAY APPOINTED. وَلاَ تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوء فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْم عَظِيم(( 156 )) 156- (LET HER HAVE HER SHARE) AND TOUCH HER NOT WITH HARM, THAT THE TORMENT OF A GREAT DAY MAY SEIZE YOU.
فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا نَادِمِينَ(( 157 )) 157- BUT THEY HAMSTRUNG HER AND IN THE MORNING WERE REMORSEFUL. فَأَخَذَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لاَيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ(( 158 )) 158- THEN THE PUNISHMENT SEIZED THEM. VERILY IN THAT IS A SIGN, AND MOST OF THEM WERE NOT BELIEVERS. وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ(( 159 )) 159- AND VERILY YOUR LORD IS EXALTED IN MIGHT, COMPASSIONATE.
THE COMMENTARY THE OBSTINACY OF THAMUD VERSE NO.153ِ159 In the previous passage, we read how the logic and kind reasoning of Salih was, when he asked his people to beware of God and stop doing evil deeds. Now we are seeing the reaction of Thamud to the [ 469 ] advices of their well-wisher and compassionate prophet.
To answer him they said:ِ ``You are bewitched, and are naught except a man like us.'' It was not for finding the truth, but only for raising pretexts, that they asked for a miracle:ِ ``If you are really truthful in what you claim of; then bring a sign from your Lord.'' The compassionate prophet considered their request for a miracle, and prayed to God; and a she-camel came out of the rocks as they had asked to! She was a strange kind of camel that differed much from the ordinary camels.
Then Salih said to his people:ِ ``Here you are with the camel which you asked as a sign of my prophethood. For her is a share of water, and for you a share, on a day appointed.