According to Islamic tradition, Saleh was born nine generations after Nuh and the flood. He lived in an area in between Palestine and the Hijaz, this is regarded by many to be where the ancient city of Petra is currently in Jordan (due to descriptions of Saleh's people living in houses carved in mountains). The people not only lived in houses carved in stone, but worshiped idols made from stone. Saleh would try to teach to not worship idols and turn to God, but the people didn't listen. They would eventually go on to anger God by killing two animals instead of feeding them, against the words of Saleh. Saleh was thus ordered by God to leave the people, and he did. This was followed by a massive earthquake which destroyed his former people.