He says...

He says, “Appoint for yourselves a place of prayer on the standing place of Ibrahim.” [Holy Quran, al-Baqarah; The Cow, Shakir 02:125] In the same way evil and ill luck is also caused by the descent of Divine Chastisement on those who perpetrate evil. For example the land where the People of Aad were punished by the hail of stones from the sky. The Messenger of Allah (S) pointed out this fact when he passed this place during his expedition to Tabuk.

The remark of the Messenger of Allah (S) concerning this has been preserved in many books of traditions and biography. Let us read about this interesting incident: In the year 9 A.H. the Holy Prophet (S) passed by the area of Hijr during his expedition to Tabuk. Hijr is in the valley of Qura the home of the tribe of Thamud on the route from Madinah to Syria. As the army of the Holy Prophet (S) crossed this terrain some of the soldiers drew out water from a well.

The Messenger of Allah (S) ordered a caller to announce that no one should drink water from any of the wells in this area and neither should they perform wudhu’ (ablution) with it. The people emptied their water bags and asked, O Messenger of Allah (S) shall we knead (the camel feed?).

The Holy Prophet (S) said: “Feed your camels, it should not be that whatever ill luck they had should inflict you too.” When he left that place and passed by the area of Hijr he covered his face with a cloth and spurred his camel.[^1] The soldiers followed suit. The Holy Prophet (S) said, “Do not enter the houses of unjust people, except that you weep.” A person came to the Holy Prophet (S) with a ring. It was found in the houses of the people of Aad at the place called Hijr.

The Holy Prophet (S) turned his face away and hid his face behind his hands so that it may not be seen. He said: “Throw it away!”[^2] And this example has been related by Imam Ali (A) as Nasr Ibn Mujahid has narrated.

The words of Nasr in Waqaatul Siffin are: He says: Muknaf bin Sulaym was walking with Imam Ali (A) at Babel.[^3] Ali (A) said: “There is a place in Babel where people had sunk into the earth.” Saying this he spurred his animal saying, “We shall recite the Asr prayers beyond this valley.” The people followed suit. When he crossed the Bridge of Siraat he halted and led the people in Asr prayers.[^4] After the Asr prayers he Peace upon Him said: “This is a place where Chastisement had descended.