Tell me a story.
I'm curious to learn more about grace as understood in Islam. I know that Allah is declared to be merciful and compassionate as among his many attributes. Beyond that declaration that one finds in the list of Allah's names. What are some stories (from either the Qur'an or Hadith) that would be illustrative of the grace of Allah?
(Please, relate the story itself, any commentary you might want to make on it, and either a link or citation where I could read it for myself in context. Thank-you so much.)
The story of Prophet Saalih
After the destruction of 'Aad, the people of Prophet Houd(AS) Thamood, the people of Prophet Saalih succeeded them in power and glory. They, like their predecessors, fell to idol-worshipping. As their material wealth increased so, too, did their evil ways, while their virtue decreased. Like the people of 'Aad, 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.
Allaah, the Exalted, sent unto them His Prophet Saalih(AS_ a man from among them. His full name was Saalih Ibn Ubeid Ibn Maseh Ibn Ubeid Ibn Hader Ibn Thamood Ibn Ather Ibn Eram, Ibn Noah (Nooh ). He called his people to worship Allaah alone, and not to associate any partners with Him. While some of them believed him, the majority of them disbelieved and harmed him by both words and deeds. Allaah Said in the Quran (what means):
"And to Thamood [We sent] their brother Saalih. He said, 'O my people, worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him...'"
[Quran 11:61]
Prophet Saalih(AS) was known for his wisdom, purity and goodness and had been greatly respected by his people before Allaah's revelation came to him. Almighty Allaah mentions what his people said to him in the Quranic verses (which mean):
"O Saalih, you were among us a man of promise before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? And indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in disquieting doubt."
[Quran 11:62]
They merely wanted to worship the same gods as their fathers had, with no reason, no proof, and no thought. The proof of Prophet Saalih's(AS) 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 in number, they tried to put him off by assigning him an important task; to prove that he was a messenger of Allaah by performing a miracle. They asked him to let a unique she-camel emerge from the mountains.
Allaah Almighty granted Prophet Saalih this miracle and a huge, unique she-camel appeared from the direction of the mountain. The Quranic commentators said that the people of Thamood gathered on a certain day at their meeting place, and prophet Saalih(AS)came and addressed them to believe in Allaah, reminding them of the favors Allaah 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." Prophet Saalih(AS) replied:
"Look now! If Allaah 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, and then prayed to Allaah, The Almighty, to grant their request. Allaah ordered the distant rock to split asunder, to bring 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 Prophet Saalih's people believed, yet most of them continued in their disbelief, stubbornness, and going astray.
Allaah, the Almighty, said in the Noble Quran (what means): "And We gave Thamood the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her." [Quran 17:59] And (what means): "And certainly did the companions of al-Hijr (628) [i.e. the Thamood] deny the messengers." [Quran 15:80-81]
There are a number of accounts by Quranic commentators of this she-camel and its miraculous nature. It was said that the she-camel was miraculous because a rock in the mountain split open and it came forth from it, followed by its young offspring. Other accounts said that the she-camel used to drink all the water in the wells in one day, and no other animals could approach the water. Still others claimed that the she-camel produced milk sufficient for all the people to drink, on the same day that it drank all the water, leaving none for them.
At first, the people of Thamood were greatly surprised when the she-camel emerged from the mountain rocks. It was a blessed beast, and its milk sufficient for thousands of men, women and children. If it slept in a place that place was abandoned by other animals. Thus it was obvious that is was not an ordinary she-camel, but one of Allaah's signs.
Their hatred of Prophet Saalih(AS) turned towards the blessed she-camel and became centered on it. A conspiracy started to be hatched against the miraculous beast by the disbelievers, and they secretly plotted against it.
Prophet Saalih feared that they might kill her, so he warned them saying (what means):
"And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allaah — [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allaah’s earth and do not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending punishment.” [Quran 11:64]
For a while, Prophet Saalih's people let the camel graze and drink freely, but in their hearts they hated it. However, the miraculous appearance of the unique she-camel caused many to become his followers, and they clung to their belief in Allaah.
The disbelievers now began complaining that this huge she-camel with its unusual qualities drank most of the water and frightened their cattle.
They laid a plot to kill the beast, and sought the help of their women folk to tempt the men to carry out their commands. A lady named Saduq Bint Mahya, who was from a rich and noble family, offered herself to a young man named Masrai Ibn Mahraj on condition that he hamstrings the she-camel. Aneezah, an old woman, offered one of her daughters to a young man, Qudaar Ibn Saluf, in return for killing the she-camel. Naturally, these young men were tempted and set about finding seven others to assist them.
After they plotted to kill the she-camel, the disbelievers among the people of Prophet Saalih began to watch her closely, observing all her movements. As she came to drink from the well, Masrai, the man who volunteered to kill her, shot her in the leg with an arrow. She tried to escape but was hampered by the arrow. Qudaar, his aide, followed her and struck her with a sword in the other leg. As she fell to the ground, he pierced her with his sword.
The killers were given a hero's welcome, cheered with songs and poetry composed in their praise. In their arrogance, they mocked Prophet Saalih(AS), but he warned them:
"…Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days. That is a promise not to be denied [i.e. unfailing]." [Quran 11:65]
Prophet Saalih(AS) was hoping that they would see the folly of their ways and change their attitude before the three days went out.
"Why three days?" they asked.
"Let the punishment come as quickly as possible."
He pleaded them saying (what means): "O my people, why are you impatient for evil before [i.e. instead of] good? Why do you not seek forgiveness of Allaah that you may receive mercy?" [Quran 27:46]
They replied: "We consider you a bad omen, you and those with you…" [Quran 27:47]
Almighty Allaah related their story, Saying (what means): "And We had certainly sent to Thamood their brother Saalih, [saying], “Worship Allaah,” and at once they were two parties conflicting.He said, “O my people, why are you impatient for evil before [i.e. instead of] good? Why do you not seek forgiveness of Allaah that you may receive mercy?” They said, “We consider you a bad omen, you and those with you. He said, “Your omen [i.e. fate] is with Allaah. Rather, you are a people being tested.” And there were in the city nine family heads causing corruption in the land and not amending [its affairs].
They said, “Take a mutual oath by Allaah that we will kill him by night, he and his family. Then we will say to his executor, “We did not witness the destruction of his family, and indeed, we are truthful.” And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not.
Then look how was the outcome of their plan - that We destroyed them and their people, all. So those are their houses, desolate because of the wrong they had done. Indeed in that is a sign for people who know.
And We saved those who believed and used to fear Allaah." [Quran 27:45-53]
They also plotted to kill Prophet Saalih and his household, as Almighty Allaah states (what means):
"And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not." [Quran 27:50] Allaah Almighty saved Prophet Saalih and his followers from their wicked plans. Heavy-hearted, they left the evil doers and moved to another place.
Three days after Prophet Saalih's warning, thunderbolts filled the air, followed by severe earthquakes which destroyed the entire tribe and its homeland. The land was violently shaken, destroying all living creatures in it. There was one terrific cry, which had hardly ended when the disbelievers of Prophet Saalih's people were struck dead, one and all, at the same time. Neither their strong buildings nor their rock-hewn homes could protect them.
Allaah, the Exalted, Says (what means): "And to the Thamood [We sent] their brother Saalih. He said, “O my people, worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allaah [sent] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allaah’s land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment. And remember when He made you successors after the (people of) ‘Aad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allaah and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.”
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people to those who were oppressed — to those who believed among them,
“Do you [actually] know that Saalih is sent from his Lord?” They said,
“Indeed we, in that with which he was sent, are believers.”
Said those who were arrogant,
“Indeed we, in that which you have believed, are disbelievers.”
So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said,
“O Saalih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers.”
So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home [corpses] fallen prone.
And he [i.e. Saalih] turned away from them and said,
“O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors.” [Quran 7:73-79]
All were destroyed before they realized what was happening. As for the people who believed in the message of Prophet Saalih(AS)they were saved because they had left the place.
Abdullaah Ibn Umar narrated that while the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) was passing by Thamood's houses on his way to the battle of Tabook, he stopped together with his companions . Some of the companions fetched water from the wells from which the people of Thamood used to drink. They prepared their dough (for baking) and filled their water-skins from it (the water from the wells). The Prophet ordered them to empty the water-skins and give the prepared dough to the camels. Then he went away with them until they stopped at the well from which the she-camel (of Prophet Saalih) used to drink. He warned them against entering upon the people who had been punished,
"I fear that you may be affected by what afflicted them; so do no enter upon them." [Al-Bukhaari]
Source: Sheikh Muhammad Gemeiah's translation of
"Stories of the Prophets" by Ibn Katheer
