Prophet Hud (AS) and The People of ʿĀd

The people of ʿĀd were an ancient Arab tribe mentioned prominently in the Quran. They were descendants of ʿĀd, the great-grandson of Prophet Noah (Nuh, AS). Their civilization was located in Al-Ahqaf (the name translates to "The wind-curved Sandhills"), a region believed to be between present-day Oman and Yemen, known for its vast sand dunes.

• "And mention, [O Muhammad], the brother of 'Aad, when he warned his people in the [region of] al-Ahqaf - and warners had already passed on before him and after him - [saying], “Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day.”"
  (Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:21)

The capital of the ʿĀd people was the fabled city of Iram, described in the Quran as a city with magnificent architecture that was "unmatched in the land"​.

• "Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ʿĀd—[with] Iram, who had lofty pillars, the like of which was never created in the land?"
  (Surah Al-Fajr 89:6-8)

The people of ʿĀd were renowned for their physical strength, wealth, and engineering skills. They built towering structures and lavish cities that symbolized their dominance and power.

• "And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allah that you might succeed."
  (Surah Al-A'raf 7:69)

However, they were also known for their arrogance and polytheism, worshiping idols. Their wealth led to a society of excess, oppression, and a denial of monotheism.

• "Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves? And take for yourselves palaces and fortresses that you might abide eternally? And when you strike, you strike as tyrants. So fear Allah and obey me. And fear He who provided you with that which you know, provided you with grazing livestock and children, and gardens and springs."
  (Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:128-134)
  
  
• "As for ʿĀd, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, 'Who is greater than us in strength?' Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs."
  (Surah Fussilat 41:15)
  
  

The Link Between the People of ʿĀd and Thamud

The people of Thamud were direct descendants of the people of ʿĀd. After the destruction of ʿĀd, the Thamud inherited much of their wealth, knowledge, and arrogance. The Quran mentions both civilizations in parallel, often comparing their fates as a result of their defiance of Allah’s ﷻ prophets:

• "And [We destroyed]ʿĀd and Thamud and the people of Rass and many generations between them."
  (Surah Al-Furqan 25:38)
  
  
• "And Thamud and the people before them [ʿĀd], they were more unjust and more oppressing."
  (Surah Al-Najm 53:51-52)​

While the people of ʿĀd lived in the southern Arabian Peninsula, in the area of Al-Ahqaf, the Thamud settled further north, in what is now known as Madain Saleh. Both civilizations were known for their architectural prowess, with the ʿĀd building tall structures in Iram and the Thamud famously carving homes out of rocks. However, both groups faced destruction for their persistent disbelief (See this post for more on Thamud).


Rejecting the Message

Prophet Hud (AS) was sent by Allah ﷻ to the people of ʿĀd to call them away from idol worship and lead them back to the worship of Allah ﷻ. He reminded them of Allah's ﷻ blessings and warned them of the consequences of their arrogance. He began by calling them to worship Allah ﷻ alone and urged them to reflect on the bounties that Allah ﷻ had bestowed upon them, including their physical strength, and warned them not to misuse their power. He pointed out that they were successors of Noah's people, who were destroyed for their sins, and called them to be grateful for Allah's ﷻ favor.

• "ʿĀd denied the messengers, when their brother Hud said to them, "Will you not fear Allah? Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. So fear Allah and obey me. And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds."
  (Surah Al-Shu'ara 26:123-127)

• "Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, 'Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars.'"
  (Surah Al-A'raf 7:66)
  

Despite these accusations, Prophet Hud (AS) responded with patience and denied their claims:

• "[Hud] said, 'O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds.'"
  (Surah Al-A'raf 7:67)

The people of ʿĀd continued to mock Prophet Hud (AS), demanding proof of the punishment he warned them about. They refused to abandon the practices of their forefathers.

• "They said, 'O Hud, you have not brought us clear evidence, and we are not ones to leave our gods on your say-so, nor are we believers in you. We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil.'"
  (Surah Hud 11:53-54)

In response, Prophet Hud (AS) declared his innocence and reliance on Allah ﷻ:

• "Indeed, I call Allah to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allah. So plot against me all together; then do not give me respite. Indeed, I have relied upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight."
  (Surah Hud 11:54-56)
  
  

The people further escalated their mockery by accusing Prophet Hud (AS) of being possessed by their false gods. They claimed that his warnings of destruction were mere madness caused by the anger of their idols.

• "They said, 'Have you come to us that we should worship Allah alone and leave what our fathers have worshipped? Then bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the truthful.'"
  (Surah Al-A'raf 7:70)

In response, Hud (AS) warned them that Allah's ﷻ anger had already befallen them:

• "[Hud] said, 'Already have defilement and anger fallen upon you from your Lord. Do you dispute with me concerning [mere] names you have named them, you and your fathers, for which Allah has not sent down any authority?'"
  (Surah Al-A'raf 7:71)

Despite their continued defiance, Prophet Hud (AS) remained steadfast and declared that he had faithfully conveyed Allah's ﷻ message. He left their fate to Allah ﷻ, warning them that they would not escape His punishment:

• "Still I have conveyed the message with which I was sent to you. My Lord will make another people succeed you, and you will not harm Him in the least."
  (Surah Hud 11:57)
  
  

The Downfall

The destruction of the people of ʿĀd is described in multiple verses across different surahs in the Quran. Their punishment was a direct result of their arrogance, disbelief, and refusal to accept the message of Prophet Hud (AS). Allah ﷻ sent a mighty windstorm that lasted for several days and nights, wiping out the entire civilization.

The punishment started with a severe drought. The people of ʿĀd were deprived of rain, and their lands began to wither. Prophet Hud (AS) urged them to repent, saying that Allah ﷻ would send rain if they did so:

• "O my people, seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn to Him in repentance, and He will release the heavens pouring upon you, and will add strength to your strength, and do not turn away like sinners.”
  (Surah Hud 11:52)

However, the people of ʿĀd remained defiant.

Eventually, the people saw a cloud approaching and mistakenly thought it would bring the long-awaited rain. Instead, this was the cloud carrying the punishment. When they saw it, they exclaimed with hope:

• "Then when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, 'This is a cloud bringing us rain!'"
  (Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:24)

Prophet Hud (AS) warned them that this was no ordinary cloud, but rather a punishment:

• "No, it is that [torment] which you were asking to be hastened: a wind wherein is a painful punishment!"
  (Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:24)

Allah ﷻ sent a devastating windstorm to destroy the people of ʿĀd. The Quran describes the wind as furious, bitter, and relentless. The windstorm lasted for seven nights and eight days:

• "And as for ʿĀd, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind. He imposed it upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees."
  (Surah Al-Haqqah 69:6-7)
  
  
• "So We sent upon them a screaming wind during days of misfortune to make them taste the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more disgraceful, and they will not be helped."
  (Surah Fussilat 41:16)
  
  
• "'ʿĀd denied [the truth], so how [terrible] was My punishment and warning. Indeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune, extracting the people as if they were trunks of palm trees uprooted. So how [terrible] was My punishment and warning."
  (Surah Al-Qamar 54:18-21)

The people of ʿĀd, who had once been strong and proud, were reduced to lifeless bodies scattered across the land like uprooted palm trees. The windstorm left no trace of their once mighty civilization. Allah’s ﷻ command reduced everything to ruin:

• "It destroyed everything by the command of its Lord, leaving nothing visible except their ruins. This is how We reward the wicked people."
  (Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:25)
  
  
• "And in ˹the story of˺ ’Âd ˹was another lesson,˺ when We sent against them the devastating wind. There was nothing it came upon that it did not reduce to ashes."
  (Surah Az-Zariyat 51:41-42)

• "But if they turn away, then say, "I have warned you of a thunderbolt like the thunderbolt [that struck] 'Aad and Thamud. [That occurred] when the messengers had come to them before them and after them, [saying], “Worship not except Allah.” They said, “If our Lord had willed, He would have sent down the angels, so indeed we, in that with which you have been sent, are disbelievers.”
  (Surah Fussilat 41:13-14)

Saving Prophet Hud (AS)

When Allah ﷻ sent the devastating windstorm that wiped out the disbelievers, the same fate would not befall Prophet Hud (AS) and those who followed him, as Allah ﷻ had saved them:

• "And when Our command came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us; and We saved them from a harsh punishment."
  (Surah Hud 11:58)
  
  
• "So We saved him and those with him by mercy from Us; and We eliminated those who denied Our signs, and they were not [at all] believers."
  (Surah Al-A'raf 7:72)

• "ʿĀd denied the messengers. So see what was the end of those who were warned, except for the servants of Allah who were saved."
  (Surah Al-Shu'ara 26:123-125)

The Legend of the King of ʿĀd and The City of Iram