~9 AH, on the return march from Tabuk · 9 AH
On the march back from Tabuk, the army passed by al-Hijr. This was the home of the ancient people of Thamud, to whom Allah had sent the prophet Saleh AS. Their houses were carved straight into the mountain, and they still stand today, along with the well that their famous she-camel drank from.
Some of the sahaba began rushing in to look inside the houses. The Prophet ﷺ had the call "al-salatu jami'ah" ("the prayer is gathering") made to bring the army back together. He asked them, "Why would you want to enter in upon a people whom Allah's wrath has come down upon?" They said they were amazed by the place. He replied, "Should I not tell you something more amazing than that? A man from amongst you who is informing you about what happened, and what will happen." He also said, "Do not enter in upon a people who have wronged themselves and were punished, unless you are crying as you go in, lest you will be punished how they were punished." Then he covered his face with his turban, lowered his head and hurried through the valley without stopping.
Some of the army had drawn water from the wells of Thamud, and some had mixed it into dough for bread. When the Prophet ﷺ heard of this, he told them to give the water and the bread to the animals and not to eat it. He also said, "Do not ask Allah for miracles, because the people of Saleh asked, but they hamstrung it." Saleh AS's people had asked for a miracle, a she-camel brought out of solid rock. Then they hamstrung her, ignoring the warning never to harm her, and a swift punishment destroyed them.
After leaving the valley, the army camped for the night. The Prophet ﷺ told them not to leave their tents at night unless someone was with them. Two men disobeyed. It is said that one of them lost his mind and was cured when the Prophet ﷺ prayed for him. The wind is said to have carried the other to a distant mountain, and he had to find his own way back to Madinah.
This is a rare moment in the seerah when the Muslims came face to face with the ruins of a destroyed nation. The Prophet ﷺ taught them how to behave at such a place. They were not to go sightseeing out of curiosity or ask for miracles. They were to pass through with humility and fear of Allah.
Other events recorded in 9 AH. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
Any water you have collected, give it to the animals. Do not eat that bread; give it to the animals.
Said after some of the army drew water from the wells of Thamud and mixed it into dough, despite his earlier warning.
Do not leave your tents at night unless you have a companion with you.
Said on the night after the army left the valley of Thamud; some reports say he had predicted a windstorm.
Why would you want to enter in upon a people whom Allah's wrath has come down upon? Should I not tell you something more amazing than that? A man from amongst you who is informing you about what happened, and what will happen. So be firm, for Allah will not lose anything by punishing you. Do not enter in upon a people who have wronged themselves and were punished, unless you are crying as you go in, lest you be punished as they were punished.
Said after calling the sahaba back with al-salatu jami'ah when some of them began rushing to explore the dwellings of Thamud; they had replied, We are amazed at that, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Do not ask Allah for miracles, for the people of Saleh asked for one, a she-camel brought forth from solid rock, and then hamstrung her in defiance of the warning never to harm her, and a swift punishment overtook them.
“There were a group of 9 lads who were causing a lot of chaos in the land”
Retells the story of Thamud (the "nine men" who hamstrung the she-camel of Salih); thematic match to the Prophet ﷺ's own reference to Thamud while passing their ruins at al-Hijr during the march to Tabuk.