They have turned into animals, like apes, pigs and many other animals.

They have turned into animals, like apes, pigs and many other animals. Some have turned into aquatic animals. According to ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim Allah gave them ample time to think and they became very rich and said that catching fish on Saturday is good and legitimate for them, but it was prohibited previously. When they started fishing on Saturday, they became wealthy. One day they were asleep and Allah delivered His chastisement. They belonged to The Israelites and inhabited a coastal town.

They watered their fields with this water and the fish came in large numbers on Saturday but were not coming on Sunday. The people put their nets in their canals on Saturday. The water became less in ebb of the sea, fish could not return back again to the sea and remained in nets. They caught the fish next day. Some learned men from their community advised them several times but they did not pay attention and all were caught in the chastisement and turned into pigs and apes.

For this reason, fishing was prohibited on Saturday. At that time Muslims and non-Muslims considered Friday holy but Jews opposed them and sanctified Saturday. Due to their opposition, they turned into apes and pigs. Imam al-Baqir has stated that in the book of ‘Ali it is recorded that there was a tribe from Thamud. To examine them Allah dispatched much fish to their doors and it also entered their water tanks and canals every Saturday. Some ignorant people started catching fish.

The learned persons prevented them. One day the Satan came to them and said, “Allah has not prevented you to eat fish, He has forbidden to catch them on Saturday and eat on Sunday.” Due to this, people were divided into three groups. The first group said, “We will hunt on Saturday and it is legal.” The second group said, “It is unlawful.” And the third group was quiet. They did not say anything and said to the second group not to advise them. Allah would punish them.

The people who advised them often, decided to leave the city that night as they were afraid they would also be held along with them in Divine chastisement. Therefore, they moved to the forest and passed the night. In the morning, they returned to their own city to find the condition of the offenders. When they reached the gates of the city, they found them closed. They knocked the again and again. Instead of humans voices they heard the animal sound.

They brought a ladder and a man climbed up to see inside.