160 Page Notes

07 Surah Al-Araf (continued)

Page 160 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

7:74

7:75

7:76

7:77

7:78

7:79

7:80

7:81

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 160 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 160 of the Quran covers Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights), verses 74 through 81.

This page concludes the dramatic history of the people of Thamud and their rejection of Prophet Salih, highlighting the moment they slaughtered the miraculous she-camel and were crushed by a sudden earthquake. The page then seamlessly transitions to the next major historical account: the arrival of Prophet Lut (Lot) and his confrontation with his people regarding the regional introduction of systematic sexual immorality.

The Sunnah and authentic Hadiths provide profound commentary on the downfall of Thamud and the clear boundaries set by Prophet Lut.

1. The Climax and Destruction of Thamud

“So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, 'O Salih, bring us what you threaten us with, if you should be of the messengers.' So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.”

— Surah Al-A'raf (7:77-78)

A. The Mastermind Behind the Slaughter

While the Quran uses the plural verb "they hamstrung" because the society collectively approved of the crime, the Sunnah singles out the specific, miserable individual who physically executed the act, comparing him to infamous villains of later generations.

• Hadith: Abdullah bin Zam'ah narrated that the Messenger of Allah gave a sermon and mentioned the she-camel of Salih and the man who hamstrung her. The Prophet said:
  "When the most wicked man among them rose up [to kill it]..." The Prophet explained: "A powerful, wicked, and malicious man among them, who enjoyed the protection of his tribe like Abu Zam'ah, rose up against her."
  (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4942 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2855)

• Hadith: In another narration, the Prophet looked at Ali bin Abi Talib and asked, "Who is the most wretched person of the ancient nations?" Ali replied, "The one who killed the she-camel." The Prophet then told him that the most wretched person of the later generation would be the one who would eventually assassinate Ali.
  (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 17757; graded Hasan)

B. Prophet Salih’s Final Farewell

Verse 79 states: “And he turned away from them and said, 'O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord...'” The Sunnah shows that it was a prophetic pattern to speak to the dead after a major divine intervention, reminding us that souls can hear their final rebukes.

• Hadith: Just as Salih addressed his dead people, the Prophet Muhammad addressed the dead pagan leaders in the well of Badr. When Umar bin Al-Khattab asked, "O Messenger of Allah, why do you speak to bodies that have no souls?" The Prophet replied:
  "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, you do not hear what I am saying any better than they do, but they cannot respond."
  (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3976 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2875)

2. Prophet Lut and the Warning Against Immorality

“And [We sent] Lot when he said to his people, 'Do you commit an immorality such as no one among the worlds has preceded you in? Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.'”

— Surah Al-A'raf (7:80-81)

These verses mark the Quranic introduction of Prophet Lut's mission. The text explicitly highlights that the core transgression of Sodom and Gomorrah was an unprecedented deviation from natural human disposition (Fitrah).

A. The Concept of Unprecedented Sin (Fahishah)

The phrase "no one among the worlds has preceded you in" establishes that certain behaviors are cultural corruptions rather than hardwired human traits. The Sunnah strictly warns against introducing any new form of social or moral deviance, as the initiator bears a compounding cosmic debt.

• Hadith: Jarir bin Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "Whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam will bear its sin and the sin of all those who act upon it after him, without their sins being diminished in the least."
  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1017)

B. The Prophet's Prayer for Social and Moral Protection

Because Prophet Lut struggled intensely to protect his family and community from structural corruption, the Sunnah establishes explicit prayers asking Allah to safeguard the natural, pure disposition of our bodies and desires.

• Hadith: Abdullah bin Abbas narrated that the Prophet would frequently supplicate:
  "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from evil character, evil actions, evil desires, and evil diseases."
  (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3591; graded Sahih)