"To the Thamud People (We sent) Salih one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! worship Allah: ye have no other god but Him. It is He Who hath produced you from the earth and settled you therein: then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him (in repentance): for my Lord in (always) near ready to answer."

They said: "O Salih! thou hast been of us! a center of our hopes hitherto! Dost thou (now) forbid us the worship of what our fathers worshipped? But we are really in suspicious (disquieting) doubt as to that to which thou invitest us."

He said: "O my people! Do ye see? if I have a Clear (Sign) from my Lord and He hath sent Mercy unto me from Himself who then can help me against Allah if I were to disobey Him? What then would ye add to my (portion) but perdition?

"And O my people! this she-camel of Allah is a symbol to you: leave her to feed on Allah's (free) earth and inflict no harm on her or a swift Penalty will seize you!

But they did hamstring her. So he said: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days: (then will be your ruin): there is a promise not to be belied!"

When Our Decree issued We saved Salih and those who believed with him by (special) Grace from Ourselves and from the Ignominy of that Day. For thy Lord He is the Strong One and Able to enforce His Will.

The (mighty) Blast overtook the wrongdoers and they lay prostrate in their homes before the morning

As if they had never dwelt and flourished there. Ah! behold! for the Thamud rejected their Lord and Cherisher! Ah! behold! removed (from sight) were the Thamud!

(Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 11:61-68)