Surah Al-A'raf (7:77)

فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوۡا عَنۡ اَمۡرِ رَبِّهِمۡ وَ قَالُوۡا يٰصٰلِحُ ائۡتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَاۤ اِنۡ كُنۡتَ مِنَ الۡمُرۡسَلِيۡنَ‏ ۝

FaAAaqaroo annaqata waAAatawAAan amri rabbihim waqaloo ya salihui/tina bima taAAiduna in kunta minaalmursaleen

So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Ṣāliḥ, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers."

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Killing of the Sign: Killing the she-camel and challenging God's punishment.

The Insight

They killed the sacred she-camel and challenged God to bring the threatened punishment. **Do not challenge God's power.** Reckless defiance of clear divine signs is an ultimate act of transgression.