在阿德人覆灭之后，萨穆德部族继承了他们的权力与荣耀。他们也陷入了拜偶像的境地。随着物质财富的增长，他们的恶行也随之增多，而德行却日渐衰微。与阿德人一样，他们在平原上修建了高大的建筑，并在山丘中开凿出精美的住所。暴政与压迫盛行起来，邪恶之人统治着这片土地。

After the destruction of the Ad, the tribe of Thamud succeeded them in power and glory. They also fell to idol-worshipping. As their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil ways while their virtue decreased. Like the people of Ad, they erected huge buildings on the plains and hewed beautiful homes out of the hills. Tyranny and oppression became prevalent as evil men ruled the land.

于是,真主派遣他们中的一人、祂的先知萨利赫(愿主赐福并保佑他)去到他们那里。他名叫萨利赫·伊本·乌拜德、伊本·马塞赫、伊本·乌拜德、伊本·哈德尔、伊本·萨穆德、伊本·阿瑟尔、伊本·伊拉姆、伊本·努哈。他号召族人只崇拜真主,不以任何事物与祂并列。他们中有一些人信从了他,但大多数人否认他,并以言语和行为伤害他。

So Allah sent unto them His Prophet Salih (PBUH), a man from among them. His name was Salih Ibn Ubeid, Ibn Maseh, Ibn Ubeid, Ibn Hader, Ibn Thamud, Ibn Ather, Ibn Eram, Ibn Noah. He called his people to worship Allah alone, and to not associate partners with Him. While some of them believed him, the majority of them disbelieved and harmed him by both words and deeds.

萨利赫指示他们说:

Salih directed them:

"哦，我的族人啊！你们当崇拜真主，你们除他以外，别无应受崇拜的主宰。"（第11章61节）

"O my people! Worship Allah, you have no other Ilah (god) but Him." (Ch 11:61)

萨利哈以智慧、纯洁和善良而闻名，在真主的启示降临到他身上之前，他就深受族人的尊敬。萨利哈的族人对他说：

Salih was known for his wisdom, purity and goodness and had been greatly respected by his people before Allah's revelation came to him. Salih's people said to him:

"萨利赫啊！你在我们中间曾是我们所寄望的人。难道你要让我们舍弃我们父辈所崇拜的，而要我们只崇拜你的主（安拉）吗？我们对你所召唤的一神教实在深感怀疑，心中疑虑重重。"（古兰经 11:62）

"O Salih! You have been among us as a figure of good hope and we wished for you to be our chief, till this, new thing which you have brought that we leave our gods and worship your God (Allah) alone! Do you now forbid us the worship of what our fathers have worshipped? But we are really in grave doubt as to that which you invite us to monotheism." (CH 11:62 Quran).

他们只是想崇拜他们祖先所崇拜的同样的神，既没有理由，也没有证据，也不加思考。萨利赫（愿主赐其平安）的使命的证据是明显的，然而尽管如此，显然他的大多数族人并不相信他。他们怀疑他的话，认为他中了邪，并且看到他不肯停止传教。他们担心他的追随者会增多，便试图以一项重要的任务来推脱他：通过行一个神迹来证明他是安拉的使者。让一头独特的母驼从山中出现。安拉赐予萨利赫这一神迹，一头巨大而独特的母驼从山的方向出现了。古兰经注释学者说，塞莫德人某日聚集在他们的集会之地，先知萨利赫（愿主赐其平安）前来对他们讲话，要他们信仰安拉，并提醒他们安拉所赐予他们的恩惠。然后他们指着一块岩石，要求道："请你祈求你的主为我们使一头母驼从这岩石中出来，它必须怀孕十个月，高大而迷人。"萨利赫回答："看吧！如果安拉给你们降下你们所要求的，正如你们所描述的那样，你们是否会相信我所带来的，并信仰我所被派遣的使命？"他们回答："会的。"于是他就此与他们立下誓约，然后向全能的安拉祈祷，使他们的请求得以实现。

They merely wanted to worship the same gods as their fathers had, with no reason, no proof, no thought. The proof of Salih's (PBUH) message was evident, but despite this it was obvious that most of his people did not believe him. They doubted his words, thinking he was charmed, and they saw that he would not stop preaching. Fearing that his followers would increase, they tried to put him off by assigning him an important task; to prove that he was a messenger of Allah by performing a miracle. Let a unique she camel issue from the mountains. Allah granted Salih this miracle and a huge, unique, she camel appeared from the direction of the mountain. The Quranic commentators said that the people of Thamud gathered on a certain day at their meeting place, and the prophet Salih (PBUH) came and addressed them to believe in Allah, reminding them of the favors Allah had granted them. Then pointing at a rock, they demanded: "Ask your Lord to make a she camel, which must be 10 months pregnant, tall and attractive, issue from the rock for us." Salih replied: "Look now! If Allah sends you what you have requested, just as you have described, will you believe in that which I have come to you with and have faith in the message I have been sent with?" They answered: "Yes." So he took a vow from them on this, then prayed to Allah the Almighty to grant their request.

安拉命令那远处的岩石裂开,从中诞生出一头怀胎十个月的巨大母驼。当他们看见它时,无不惊叹。他们看到了一件伟大的事物、一个奇妙的景象、一种令人震撼的力量,以及清晰的证据!萨利赫的族人中有一部分人信了,但他们中的大多数仍然坚持不信、执迷不悟、误入歧途。安拉至尊说:

Allah ordered the distant rock to split asunder, to bringing forth a great ten month pregnant she camel. When their eyes set on it, they were amazed. They saw a great thing, a wonderful sight, a dazzling power and clear evidence! A number of Salih's people believed, yet most of them continued in their disbelief, stubbornness, and going astray. Allah the Almighty said:

我们派遣母驼给赛莫德人作为明显的迹象，但他们却亏待了它。（第17章第59节）

"We sent the she camel to Thamud as a clear sign, but they did her wrong. (Ch 17:59)

And also:

and also:

诚然，哈吉尔（岩石之地）的居民否认了众使者。我将我的迹象赐给他们，他们却对此漠然背弃。（古兰经 15:80-81）

"Verily the dwellers of Al Hijr (the rocky tract) denied the Messengers. We gave them Our Signs, but they were averse to them. (Ch 15:80-81 Quran)

这些不信道者开始抱怨，那头体形巨大、特征异于常态的母骆驼喝掉了大部分水，还惊吓了他们的牲畜。

The disbeliveers now began complaining that this huge she camel with its unusual qualities drank most of the water and frightened their cattle.

他们密谋杀害那头骆驼,并请求族中妇女帮忙,引诱男子执行他们的命令。出身富贵高贵家族的玛赫亚之女萨杜格,向一位名叫马斯拉伊·伊本·马赫拉吉的年轻人许诺,条件是他要砍断骆驼的腿筋。一位老妇人阿尼扎,则愿意把她的一个女儿许配给一位名叫古达尔·伊本·萨卢夫的年轻人,作为他杀死骆驼的报酬。这些年轻人自然心动,于是着手去寻找另外七个人来协助他们。

They laid a plot to kill the camel, and sought the help of their women folk to tempt the men to carry out their commands. Saduq bint of Mahya, who was from a rich and noble family, offered herself to a young man named Masrai Ibn Mahraj on condition that he hamstring the camel. Aniza, an old woman, offered one of her daughters to a young man, Qudar Ibn Saluf, in return for killing the camel. Naturally these young men were tempted and set about finding seven others to assist them.

他们密切注视着那头母骆驼，观察它的一举一动。母骆驼来到井边饮水时，Masarai 用一支箭射中了它的一条腿。它试图逃走，却被箭所阻碍。Qudar 跟在骆驼后面，用剑砍中了它的另一条腿。骆驼倒在地上时，他又用剑刺穿了它。

They watched the camel closely, observing all its movements. As the she camel came to drink at the well, Masarai shot it in the leg with an arrow. It tried to escape but was hampered by the arrow. Qudar followed the camel and struck it with a sword in the other leg. As it fell to the ground, he pierced it with his sword.

凶手受到了英雄般的欢迎，人们以歌曲和为他们而作的诗歌欢呼喝彩。

The killers were given a hero's welcome, cheered with songs and poetry composed in their praise.

他们傲慢自大，嘲笑萨利赫，而萨利赫警告他们说："再享受三天的生活吧，之后惩罚就会降临到你们身上。"萨利赫希望他们能认识到自己的愚蠢，在三天过去之前改变态度。

In their arrogance they mocked Salih, but he warned them: "Enjoy life for 3 more days then the punishment will descend upon you." Salih was hoping that they would see the folly of their ways and change their attitude before the three days went out.

“为什么是三天？”他们问道，“让惩罚尽快降临吧。”他向他们恳求：“我的族人啊，你们为何急于作恶而不行善？你们为何不向真主求饶，以便获得怜悯？”他们回答说：“我们看到你和你的追随者的存在，认为这会给我们带来灾祸。”全能的真主叙述了他们的故事：

"Why three days?" they asked. "Let the punishment come as quickly as possible." He pleaded with them: "My people, why do you hasten to evil rather than good? Why do not you ask pardon of Allah so that you may receive mercy?" They replied: "We see your presence and that of your followers as bringing evil on us." Almighty Allah related their story:

"我们确已派遣他们的兄弟萨利赫去见赛莫德人，（对他们说）：“你们应当只崇拜真主，不可崇拜其他。”然而，他们却分成了两派（信士与不信者），彼此争论不休。"

"And indeed We sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying "Worship Allah Alone and none else." Then look! They became two parties (believers and disbeliveers) quarreling with each other.