Outrage after music concert held at Thamudic site near Madinah

A recent concert by the German music label Keinemusik in AlUla, located north of Madinah, sparked backlash online. The event, which was held at the ancient desert oasis city and shared via the music label's Instagram page, raised concerns among social media users who cited warnings from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) regarding the site.

AlUla, home to historical significance as the resting place of the Thamudic civilisation, was once inhabited by a people destroyed by Allah for their defiance of Prophet Saleh (AS).

Many online commentators referenced a hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned against using such sites for entertainment purposes.

The significance of AlUla

Several videos of the concert, held against the backdrop of AlUla's peculiar mountains, circulated on social media, showing people enjoying the musical event.

These mountains, reportedly carved by the Thamud people, who are believed to have been exceptionally skilled, are of particular importance in Islamic history.

They were once the dwelling place of Prophet Saleh's people, who rejected his call to worship Allah, leading to their destruction.

While Al-Ula houses modern dwellings, shops, and mosques, it is the ancient area of Mada'in Saleh, located 22 kilometers away from the city, that holds particular religious improtance.

Previously inaccessible to both locals and tourists, Mada'in Saleh is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is seen as a place of cultural and historical value.

The concert reportedly took place at Jabal Al-Fil, also known as the Elephant Mountain, which holds its own historical significance.

The Saudi authorities have been working to develop AlUla as a tourist destination, in line with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.

However, despite the government’s efforts to boost tourism, many Muslims remain wary of visiting AlUla due to its religious history. The story of Prophet Saleh (AS) and the destruction of the Thamud people serves as a reminder of the consequences of arrogance and defiance of divine will.

The Thamud people and the prophetic warning

According to Islamic tradition, the Thamud people lived in a region blessed with fertility and abundance, yet they refused to heed Prophet Saleh’s message to abandon their arrogant and wicked ways.

Despite witnessing a miracle where a camel emerged from a mountain at Prophet Saleh's request, many still rejected his call. One of them even killed the camel, leading to their eventual destruction by a powerful earthquake, as described in the Quran.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself passed through Mada'in Saleh during the Battle of Tabuk and instructed his companions not to linger in the area. He warned them, “Do not enter (the dwelling places) of these people unless you enter weeping, but if you do not weep, then do not enter upon them, lest you be afflicted with what they were afflicted with.” (Sahih Bukhari, 4702)

Backlash on social media

In light of the concert and the increasing popularity of AlUla as a tourist destination, many social media users expressed disapproval.

They argued that holding such events at a site with deep religious and cultural significance contradicts Islamic values and is seen by some as a "cursed" place, given its historical association with divine punishment.