۞ وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَـٰلِحًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ 61
Translations
And to Thamūd [We sent] their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. He has produced you from the earth and settled you in it, so ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive."
Transliteration
Wa ilā Thamūda akhāhum Sālihan, qāla yā qawmi'budū Allāha mā lakum min ilāhin ghayruhu, huwa ansha'akum mina al-ardi wa-ista'marakum fīhā fa-astaghfirūhu thumma tūbū ilayhi, inna rabbī qarībun mujībun
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah sent Salih as a messenger to the people of Thamud, commanding them to worship Allah alone and abandon idolatry. The phrase 'He created you from the earth and made you successors in it' emphasizes both creation and stewardship—that humans are responsible for cultivating and maintaining the earth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note that Salih's call to seek forgiveness (istighfar) and repentance (tawbah) represents the comprehensive path to spiritual renewal, followed by his reassurance that the Lord is near and responsive to sincere supplication.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the Meccan surah Hud, which extensively narrates stories of previous prophets and their nations. The account of Thamud appears here to provide the Meccan disbelievers with historical precedent—warning them of the consequences of rejecting divine guidance, as Thamud similarly rejected Salih despite clear signs and miracles (particularly the she-camel). This narrative serves as both admonition and evidence of Allah's justice.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The closest the Lord comes to His servant is in the middle of the night, so if you can be among those who remember Allah at that time, do so' (Tirmidhi). This relates to the concept of Allah's closeness (qurbun) mentioned in the ayah. Additionally, the hadith emphasizing repentance: 'Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will accept their repentance' (Sahih Muslim) echoes Salih's call to tawbah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true spiritual transformation requires both seeking forgiveness for past wrongs and genuine repentance, combined with the assurance that Allah is ever-present and responsive to sincere hearts. As stewards of the earth entrusted with its development, believers must recognize their accountability before Allah and maintain constant awareness of His nearness as motivation for righteous conduct.