Thamud

The Thamūd (/ˈθɑːmʊd/; Arabic: ثمود) is the name of an ancient civilization in Hejaz known from the 1st millennium BC to near the time of Muhammad. The Thamud civilization was located in the north of the peninsula. Although they are thought to have originated in Southern Arabia, Arabic tradition has them moving north to settle on the slopes of Mount Athlab near Mada'in Saleh.

Numerous Thamudic rock writings and pictures have been found on Mount Ath-lab and throughout central Arabia.

History

The oldest known reference to Thamud is a 715 BC inscription of the Assyrian king Sargon II which mentions them as being among the people of eastern and central Arabia subjugated by the Assyrians but they were living very early even before Abraham when we compare the family tree of Prophets as their Ancestors were Iram and Ars.

They are referred to as "Tamudaei" in the writings of Aristo of Chios, Ptolemy, and Pliny.

The Qur'an

The Qur'an mentions Thamud in Surah Al-A'raf in the context of several prophets who warned their people of coming judgement. Verse 74 says of Thamud, "and remember when he made you successors after Aad and settled you in the land, and you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes". This could refer to the rock-cut tombs of Mada'in Saleh (the Cities of Saleh)