His saying, exalted and majestic is He: "And We certainly sent to Thamud their brother Salih, saying, 'Worship Allah.' But they became two factions disputing among themselves." "He said, 'O my people, why are you so quick to bring about evil before good? Why do you not seek forgiveness from Allah so that you may be shown mercy?" "They said, 'We consider you a bad omen, you and those with you.' He said, 'Your omen is with Allah; rather, you are a people being tested.'"

This verse is in the context of a parable for Quraysh. The word 'an' in His saying, glorified and exalted is He: "saying, 'Worship Allah,'" can be understood as explanatory or as being in the accusative case, with the implication being: 'by saying, Worship Allah.'

And 'two factions' refers to those who believed in Salih and those who disbelieved in him. Their 'dispute' is their quarrel among themselves. Allah, blessed and exalted is He, mentioned this in Surah Al-A'raf.

Then indeed, Salih, peace be upon him, was gentle with his people and treated them kindly in his address. He made them aware of their error in hastening the punishment that would lead to their destruction. Then he encouraged them towards what is easier than that and more beneficial, which is faith, seeking forgiveness, and hoping for mercy. They responded at that time with a foolish saying, meaning: 'We consider you a bad omen.' The commentators said: They were in a drought, so they attributed it to Salih, peace be upon him. The origin of 'tiyara' is what the people of ignorance recognized from the omens of birds. The Arabs compared what they feared to what flew until it occurred. What happens to a person in fright and similar situations is called a 'bird.' Among this is His saying, exalted is He: "We have made him carry his burden on his neck." (Al-Isra: 13) Salih addressed them by clarifying the truth, meaning: 'Your omen according to your claim and your naming - which is your portion in reality - of punishment or exemption is with Allah and His decree and destiny. It is merely that you are testing yourselves. This is one of the aspects of trial. It may also mean: 'Rather, you are a people who are consumed by your desires.' This is a meaning that people have commonly understood in the use of the term 'fitna.' Among this is your saying: 'So-and-so was tested by so-and-so.' There are many examples of this.