" Commentary ...

" Commentary : Verse 63 (63) قالَ يا قَوْمِ أَ رَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُ عَلى‏ بَيِّنَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّي وَ آتاني‏ مِنْهُ رَحْمَةً فَمَنْ يَنْصُرُني‏ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ عَصَيْتُهُ فَما تَزيدُونَني‏ غَيْرَ تَخْسيرٍ " He(Salih)said: 'O' my people! Bethink you if I be upon a clear proof from my Lord and He hath sent Mercy unto me from Himself, who will then help me against Allah if I(were to)disobey Him So you do not add to me other than loss.

" Commentary : Metaphysically orientated religions and Divinely appointed prophets call on people to adopt monotheism and the worship of Allah by providing sound reasoning and miracles, and not by force, threats and ignorance. The position of being appointed as a prophet is a special favor and a privilege accorded to certain individuals by Allah. One should never abandon Allah's way by imaginary and wishful thinking about popular support.

We should take note of the fact that deviant people will add nothing to others except to their losses, for opposing truth itself is something very detrimental for man. The verse says: " He(Salih)said: 'O' my people! Bethink you if I be upon a clear proof from my Lord and He hath sent Mercy unto me from Himself, who will then help me against Allah if I(were to)disobey Him So you do not add to me other than loss.

" Commentary : Verse 64 (64) وَ يا قَوْمِ هذِهِ ناقَةُ اللَّهِ لَكُمْ آيَةً فَذَرُوها تَأْكُلْ في‏ أَرْضِ اللَّهِ وَ لا تَمَسُّوها بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذابٌ قَريبٌ " O my People! This she camel of Allah is a Sign for you. So leave her alone to graze in Allah's earth, and do not touch her with any harm, lest a swift chastisement will seize you!

" Commentary : ‏The story of Salih's she- camel has also been reiterated in suras Ash- Shu'ara and Al- Qamar as well.(1) Salih(a.s.) said to the people that he would ask their idols something and they also should ask something from His Lord. Whoever, provides the right answer, could be the object of his and their worship. The idol worshippers accepted and their request was for a pregnant she- camel to come out of the mountain just then and there.

Allah accepted their request and a camel, meeting all those requirements, came out of the mountain. This she- camel of Salih was extraordinary in many respects. It came out of the innermost part of the mountain. It was pregnant without having any contact with a male camel. For one full day, she had drunk of the water of that village.

✦ ✦ ✦