According to classical Islamic scholarship, the **People of al-Hijr** (Aṣḥāb al-Ḥijr), mentioned in Surah Al-Hijr (15:80), are identified as the ancient tribe of **Thamud**. Renowned for their extraordinary ability to carve magnificent dwellings into the rocky mountains, they epitomize a civilization that became arrogant due to its power and skill. The Quran recounts that Allah sent to them their brother, the Prophet Salih, who called them to worship the one true God and abandon their idolatry. As a clear proof of his prophethood, Allah miraculously brought forth a she-camel from a rock, a sign they themselves had demanded. However, they transgressed the bounds set by Allah by killing the camel, an act of open defiance. Their punishment, as described in the Quran, was a mighty blast ('al-sayhah') that destroyed them in their secure homes, serving as a timeless lesson on the futility of worldly power when confronted with divine justice.