“And We sent to Thamūd their brother Ṣāliḥ (with the Message): ‘Serve Allah’, but suddenly they became split into two quarrelling factions. Ṣāliḥ said: ‘My people, why do you wish to hasten that evil rather than good should come upon you? Why should you not seek pardon from Allah so that mercy be shown to you?’ They said: ‘We augur ill of you and those who are with you.’ Ṣāliḥ replied: ‘Your augury is with Allah. The truth is that you are a people who are being tried’.”
(Al Qur’ān 27:45-47)
From the very moment Ṣāliḥ embarked on his mission, his people were divided into two groups: believers and deniers of his Message. As mentioned elsewhere in the Qur’ān, a conflict ensued between these two groups: “The haughty elders of his people said to the believers who had been oppressed: ‘Do you know that Ṣāliḥ is one sent forth with a message from his Lord?’ They replied: ‘Surely we believe in the message with which he has been sent.’
The haughty ones remarked: ‘Most certainly we disbelieve in that which you believe.’ (Al-A‘rāf 7:75-6) It should be remembered that when the Prophetﷺ embarked his mission, an identical situation arose in Makkah: people were split into two groups and conflict ensued. This historical account, therefore, has a direct relevance to the situation in which these ayaat were revealed.
The chiefs of Ṣāliḥ’s nation said: ‘O Ṣāliḥ! Bring upon us the scourge with which you threatened us if you are truly a Messenger [of Allah].’