Once, long ago, there lived a very clever people called Thamud. They were so strong and so skilled that they could carve whole houses right into the sides of the mountains. Imagine that. Not building with bricks, but cutting rooms and doorways straight into solid rock, like scooping tunnels out of a giant stone.
Because their homes were made of mountain, they thought nothing could ever hurt them. The wind cannot blow down a mountain, they said. The water cannot climb up here. We are safe. But slowly, they forgot to thank Allah for all the good things He had given them.
So Allah sent them a kind teacher, and he was one of their very own people. His name was Salih (alayhis salam). Everyone liked him. He was gentle and wise. He said to them, my people, worship Allah. He made you, He gave you everything, so remember Him and thank Him.
But the people wanted proof. Show us a sign, they said. And they thought of the hardest thing they could imagine. They pointed at a huge rock and said, if your Lord is real, bring a camel out of that rock. Not just any camel. A big one, taller than any camel we have ever seen, and she must be about to have a baby. They were sure it could never happen.
Salih prayed to Allah. And the great rock split open. Out walked a beautiful, enormous camel, exactly the way they had asked. She was a real, living miracle, standing right in front of them.
This is the she-camel of Allah, said Salih. She is a special sign for you. Let her walk freely and drink her water. Be kind to her, and do not hurt her. It was easy. All they had to do was share the water. One day the camel would drink, and the next day was for all their animals. Just take turns, and be gentle.
Some of the people believed and became good and kind. But some did not like sharing the water. They grumbled and grumbled. And one night, a few of them did a very unkind thing. They hurt the special camel.
Salih was so sad. He had warned them to be gentle. He told them, Allah has given you three days. And then he waited, hoping they would say sorry.
But this story ends softly, little one, because Allah always takes care of the good people. Allah told Salih and everyone who had believed with him to leave that place and go somewhere safe. And they did. Allah gathered up all the kind ones and kept them close and protected, far from any harm.
So the ones who shared, and were gentle, and listened to Salih, were safe and sound because Allah was watching over them. And that is the same Allah who is watching over you tonight. When you share, and when you are gentle with animals and with people, Allah is so pleased with you. Now snuggle down. You are safe, and Allah is near.