Do the Mada'in Salih belong to the Thamud or the Nabataeans, and are they the buildings mentioned in the Holy Quran as houses, or are they Nabataean tombs that they inhabited after the Thamud?

Historians and researchers have differed in pinpointing the location of the Thamud's dwellings. Some have suggested it was in Al-Khuraybah, near Mada'in Salih, based on Thamudic texts, while others considered Mada'in Salih itself to be a Nabataean area. Exegetes have mentioned that the verse (وَثَمُودَ الَّذِينَ جَابُوا الصَّخْرَ بِالْوَادِ) [And Thamud, who carved out rocks in the valley] indicates that their homes were in mountainous regions, and that "the valley" refers to Wadi Al-Qura, which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, visited during the Battle of Tabuk. Some believe that "Al-Hijr" (the dwellings of Thamud) is the current Al-Khuraybah and not Mada'in Salih. Despite these disagreements, the Holy Quran did not come to specify locations in detail, but rather to be a book of lessons and guidance. The purpose of the stories of past nations is to draw admonition, illustrate Allah's laws among humankind, and warn people against committing sins. It is known that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned against visiting the places of those who were punished for leisure or sightseeing.