~9 AH, on the return march from Tabuk · 9 AH
On the return march from Tabuk, the army passed by al-Hijr, the ruins of the ancient people of Thamud and Prophet Saleh AS, whose homes were carved directly into the mountain and still stand along with the well once used by their she-camel. Some of the sahaba began rushing in to see inside the dwellings, so the Prophet ﷺ called out al-salatu jami'ah to gather the army back. He then asked them why they would want to enter upon a people whom Allah's wrath had come down upon, told them their own Prophet ﷺ informing them of the future was more amazing than the ruins of Thamud, and instructed them to hurry through crying rather than curiously, lest the same punishment overtake them. He covered his face with his turban and rushed through the valley without pausing. Some of the army nonetheless drew water from Thamud's wells and mixed it with dough; on hearing of it, the Prophet ﷺ ordered that all such water and bread be given to the animals rather than consumed. He also told them not to ask Allah for miracles, recalling how the people of Saleh AS had asked for a miracle, a she-camel brought forth from solid rock, and then hamstrung her in defiance of the warning never to harm her, bringing swift punishment. That night, after leaving the valley, he ﷺ warned the army not to leave their tents unless accompanied, and two who disobeyed were afflicted: one is said to have lost his mind before the Prophet ﷺ prayed for his cure, and the other was carried off by winds to a distant mountain and had to make his own way back to Madinah.
A rare direct encounter in the seerah with the physical remains of an earlier destroyed nation, and a clear prophetic teaching on the correct adab toward the ruins and punishment of a people who wronged themselves: not curiosity or miracle-seeking, but 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.