The Ashab ar-Rass, also known as the Companions (or Dwellers) of the Well, were a tribe who descended from the infamous Thamud tribe. The members of the tribe obeyed and respected their king, Turqud ibn Jabur, who was a just ruler and a very good-hearted man. They loved him a lot. But one day, the king fell ill, and eventually he died due to his sickness. The whole village of the tribe was very sad, and they mourned his death.
After a few days, Shaytaan came to the people in the form of the deceased king. This evil twin said, “I was not dead, but I kept absent from you to observe what you would do after me.” The people were very happy. Then, the evil twin commanded them to set up a barrier between him and them, and he even told the people that he was immortal. The people believed him and obeyed his commands. Some of the people began to worship this evil twin of the ruler, while others worshipped a tall pine tree which one of the sons of Prophet Nuh (alayhis salaam) planted. So Allah sent to the people a Prophet who informed them that the one speaking to them from behind the barrier was actually Shaytaan in the disguise of the deceased ruler. He forbade them from worshipping him and ordered them to worship Allah alone.
The people did not accept what the Prophet was telling them. They were rather angry at him. So, they killed him, and threw his body into their village well. The death of Allah's Prophet would not be merely ignored, and Allah punished the people of this village severely. The water supply of the village began drying up, and soon, the crops all wilted. Eventually, there was no more water left, everyone was dehydrated and thirsty. The village started deteriorating slowly, to such an extent that after sometime, they were destroyed completely, with no one remaining alive.
According to Israilite narrations that were authenticated by scholars, the name of the Prophet whom they killed was Hanzalah, son of Safwan. Allah knows best as to who this Prophet really was.
Source:
Tafsir al-Tabari, volume 25 page 97
Qassas al-Anbiya by Imam Ibn Kathir
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