After the flood Noah (PBUH) settled in the north of Syria and south of Turkey. They spread all the way to Arab Peninsula and Syria, all were followers.
Description of the People of 'Ad:
The people of 'Ad lived many years in the hills of an area Al-Ahqaf between Yemen and Oman. 'Ad tribe disbelieved in Allah, but they were given the most power of any nation before them. They were physically well built and renowned for their craftmanship especially in the construction of tall buildings with lofty towers. They were outstanding among all the nations in power and wealth, which unfortunately made them arrogant and boastful. Their political power was held in the hand of unjust rulers, against whom no one dared to raise a voice.
They were not ignorant of the existence of Allah, nor did they refuse to worship Him. What they refuse was to worship Allah alone. They worshipped other gods, also including idols. This is the one sin Allah never forgives.
They were the first individuals to commit worship of deity, gods, or anything other than Allah after the flood. They worshipped three idols namely, Sudaah, Samoodh, and Har'ah.
Description of Hud:
Allah wanted to guide and discipline these people so He sent a Prophet from among them. The Prophet was Hud (PBUH), a noble man who handled the task with great resoluteness, integrity, sincerity, and tolerance. He was honest, good looking, truthful and had sound character.
Ibn Jarir reported that he was Hud Ibn Shalikh, Ibn Arfakhshand, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah( PBUH). He also reported that Prophet Hud (PBUH) was from a tribe called Ad, Ibn Us, Ibn Sam, Ibn Noah (PBUH) who were Arabs living in Al Ahqaf in Yemen between Oman and Hadramaut, on a land called Ashar stretching out into the sea. The name of their valley was Mughiith. Some traditions claimed that Hud (PBUH) was the first person who spoke Arabic while others claimed that Adam was the first.
Hud's Appeal to his People:
Hud (PBUH) condemned idol worship and admonished his people. "My people, what is the benefit of these stones that you carve with your own hand and worship? In reality it is an insult to the intellect. There is only One Deity worthy of worship and that is Allah. Worship of Him and Him alone, is compulsory on you.
Allah created you, He provides for you and He is the One Who will cause you to die. He gave you wonderful physiques and blessed you in many ways. So believe in Him and do not be blind to His favours, or the same fate that destroyed Noah's people will overtake you.
With such reasoning, Hud hoped to install faith in them, but they refused to accept his message. His people asked him: "Do you desire to be our master with your call? What payment do you want?"
Hud tried to make them understand that he would receive his payment (reward) from Allah, he did not demand anything from them except that they let the light of truth touch their minds and heart.
Allah Almighty says in Surah Hud, Verse (50 - 57):
And to 'Ad (people) We sent their brother Hud. He said, "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other Ilah(God) but Him. Certainly, you do nothing but invent (lies)!
"O my people! I ask of you no reward for it (the Message). My reward is only from Him, Who created me. Will you not then understand?
"And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimun (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)."
They said: "O Hud! No evidence have you bought us, and we shall not leave our gods for your saying! And we are not believers in you.
"All that we say is that some of our gods (false deities) have seized you with evil (madness)." He said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship."
With Him (Allah). So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite.
"I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock. Verily, my Lord is on the Straight Path (the truth)."
"So if you turn away, 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. Surely, Lord is Guardian over all things."
Hud (PBUH) explains the Day Of Judgement:
Hud tried to speak to them and to explain about Allah's blessing: how Allah the Almighty had made them Noah's successors, how He had given them strength and power, and He sent them rain to revive the soil.
Hud's people looked about them and found they were the strongest on earth, so they become prouder and more obstinate. Thus they argued a lot with Hud. They asked, "O Hud! Do you say that later we die and turn into dust, we will be resurrect?
He replied: "Yes, you will come back on the Day of Judgement and each of you will be asked about what you did." He addressed his people concerning the Day of Judgement. He explained that belief in the Day of Judgement is essential to Allah's justice, teaching them the same thing that every prophet taught about it.
Hud explained that justice demands that there will be a Day of Judgement because good is not always victorious in life. Sometimes evil overpowers good. Will such crimes go unpunished? If we suppose there is no Day of Judgement, then a great injustice will have prevailed, but Allah has forbidden injustice to be incurred by Himself or His subjects. Therefore, the existence of the Day of Judgement, a day of accounting for our deeds and being rewarded or punished for them, reveals the extend of Allah's justice. Hud spoke to them about all of these things. They listened but disbelieve him.
The Disbeliever's attitude:
Allah recounts Hud's people's attitude towards the Day Of Judgement in Surah Al-Muminoon, Verse (33 - 38):
"And the chiefs of his people, who disbelieved and denied the meeting in the Hereafter, and to whom We had given the luxuries and comforts of this life, said: "He is no more than a human being like you, he eats of that which you eat, and drinks of what you drink."
"If you were to obey a human being like yourselves, then verily! You indeed would be losers."
"Does he promise you that when you have died and have become dust and bones, you shall come out alive (resurrected)?"
"Far, very far is that which you are promised."
"There is nothing but our life of this world! We die and we live! And we are not going to be resurrected!
"He is only a man who has invented a lie against Allah, but we are not going to believe in him."
The Disbelievers Questioning Hud:
The chiefs of Hud's people asked: "Is it not strange that Allah chooses one of us to reveal His message?"
Hud replied: "What is strange in that? Allah wants to guide you to the right way of life, so He sent Messengers to warn you. Noah's flood and his story are not far away from you, so do not forget what happened. All the disbelievers were destroyed, no matter how strong they were."
"Who is going to destroy us Hud?" the chief asked.
"Allah," replied Hud
The disbelievers among his people answered: "We will be saved by our Gods."
Hud clarified to them that the Gods they worshipped would be the reason for their destruction, that it is Allah alone Who saves people, and that no other power on Earth can benefit or harm anyone.
The conflict between Hud and his people continued. The years passed, and they became prouder, more obstinate, more tyrannical (exercising power in a cruel or arbitrary way) and more defiant (bold disobedience) of their prophet's message.
Hud Warns his people:
Furthermore, they started to accuse Hud (PBUH) of being a crazy lunatic. One day they told him: "We now understand the scent of your madness you insulted our gods and they harmed you; that is why you have become insane."
Almighty Allah repeated their words in the Qur'an Surah Hud, Verse 53 & 54:
They (disbelievers) said: "O Hud! No evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying! And we are not believers in you."
"All that we say is that some of our gods (false deities) have seized you with evil (madness)." He said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you witness that I am free from that which you ascribe as partners in worship."
Hud had to return their challenge. He had no other way but to turn to Allah alone, no other alternative but to give them a threatening ultimatum, he declared to them in Surah Hud, Verse (55 - 57):
"With Him (Allah). So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite."
"I put my trust in Allah, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock Verily, my lord is on the Straight Path (the truth).
"So if you turn away, 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. Surely, my Lord is Guardian over all things."
Thus Hud renounced them and their gods and affirmed his dependence on Allah Who had created him. Hud realized that punishment would be incurred on the disbelievers among his people. It is one of the 'Laws of Life'. Allah punishes the disbelievers, no matter how rich, tyrannical or great they are.
Hud and his people waited for Allah's promise. A drought spread throughout the land, for the sky no longer sent its rain. The sun scorched the deserts sand, looking like a disc of fire which settled on people's head.
Hud's people hastened to him asking: "What is that drought Hud?"
Hud answered: "Allah is angry with you. If you believe in Him, He will accept you and the rain will fall and you will become stronger than you are."
They mocked him again and became more obstinate, sarcastic and preserve in their unbelief. The drought increased, the trees turned yellow, and plants died. For 3 years not even a single drop of rain fell from the sky.
Hud asked to repent and turn to Allah to bring back the rain and also informed that Allah will make you more stronger if they want. 'Ad denied again and asked to bring punishment.
Hud said: "You're already in a punishment, because the rain has stopped."
'Ad believed that rain stopped because their gods cursed them and Hud was the reason for it. They asked Hud to leave the place to get the rain back. Allah commands Hud and His believers to leave the city giving up their houses.
'Ad started crying, sacrificing and praying to their gods for rain. While they were invoking with idols they heard a sound from Heaven, "Do you want cloud?"
"Yes": they replied. Voice from Heaven asked: "What color do you want?
They replied: "Dark grey clouds." (as it symbolizes rain)
"Fine you'll have it." replied the voice.
They saw a beautiful dark grey clouds on the sky. They said: "The curded man left and the rain is back again." They were happy.
The cloud was beginning of the great end. A day came when they found the sky full of clouds. Hud's people were glad as they came out of their tents crying: A cloud, which will give us rain.
The weather changed suddenly from burning dry and hot to stinging cold with wind that shook everything; trees, plants, tents, men and women. The very furious wind was sent. The wind increased day after day and night after night.
Hud's people started to flee. They ran to their tents to hide but the gale (a very strong wind) became stronger, ripping their tents from their stakes. They hid under cloth covers but the gale became stronger and still and tore away the covers. It slashed clothing and skin. It penetrated the apertures of the body and destroyed it. It hardly touched anything before it was destroyed or killed, its core sucked out to decompose and rot. The storm raged for 8 days nights.
For eight days Allah gave them punishment. Their pillars, buildings were in the air. Wind hit into the ground on the eighth day.
Allah broke every limb of their body and the whole city was destroyed. It was a natural disaster erased them from the land. The place now is a desert, empty land with no one living.
Almighty Allah recounts in Surah Al-Ahqaf, Verse (24-25):
Then, when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said: "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Nay, but it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened a wind wherein is a painful torment.
Destroying everything by the command of its Lord! So they became such that nothing could be seen except their dwellings! Thus do We recompense the people who are Mujrimun (polytheists, disbelievers, sinners, etc).
Allah the Exalted described it thus in Surah Al- Haqqah, Verse (6-7):
And as for 'Ad, they were destroyed by a furious violent wind;
Which Allah imposed on them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so that you could see men lying overthrown (destroyed), as if they were hollow trunks of date-palms!
The Believers were Saved:
That violent gale (a very strong wind) did not stop until the entire region was reduced to ruins and its wicked people destroyed, swallowed by the sand of the desert. Only Hud and his followers remained unharmed. They migrated to Hadramaut and lived there in peace, worshipping Allah alone, their true Lord.
Success comes from Allah (SWT) and He knows the best.
