Allah destroyed the tribe of Thamud through a calamitous event involving a thunderbolt (or a storm, a shout, and an earthquake), leaving only Salih and a small group of righteous believers unharmed.
The destruction of Thamud is recounted in the Quran and Islamic tradition as divine punishment for their disbelief and rejection of the prophet Salih, whom Allah sent to guide them. The exact nature of the destruction varies slightly depending on the interpretation, but the common theme involves a sudden and devastating cataclysm.
Here's a breakdown of the descriptions of the destruction:
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Thunderbolt/Storm: Some accounts describe a thunderbolt (Arabic: sa'iqa) or a violent storm that struck the Thamud people, obliterating them. This interpretation emphasizes the overwhelming power and wrath of Allah.
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Shout (As-Saiha): Another common description involves a powerful shout or cry (Arabic: as-saiha) that was unleashed upon the Thamud. This could be interpreted literally as an incredibly loud sound or metaphorically as a divine command that brought about their destruction.
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Earthquake: An earthquake is also mentioned in some accounts as part of the destruction of Thamud. Some scholars suggest the intense shout may have caused seismic activity, leading to the earthquake.
Therefore, the destruction of Thamud was likely a combination of these factors, potentially a thunderous event accompanied by an earthquake triggered by an extremely powerful shout, all serving as a manifestation of Allah's punishment for their rejection of Salih and their transgression against Him. Only Salih and the believers who followed him were spared from this devastation.
