Stories of the Qur'an

The story of the people of Hud

The story of the people of Hud

 The people of Ad where giant-larger than any human beings of this time, they carved their houses and palaces into the mountains and worshiped the stars. The prophet Hud (may allah bless him) was sent to this tribe of people.

"To the 'Ad People (We sent) Hud, one of their own brethren. He said: "O my people! Worship God! Ye have no other god but Him. You are only forgers. "O my people! I ask of you no reward for this (Message). My reward is from none but Him who created me: Will ye not then understand? "And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him (in repentance): He will send you skies pouring abundant rain, and add strength to your strength: So turn ye not back in sin!" They said: "O Hud! No clear (Sign) hast thou brought us, and we are not the ones to desert our gods on thy word! Nor shall we believe in thee! "We say nothing but that (perhaps) some of our gods may have seized thee with evil." He said: "I call God to witness, and do ye bear witness, that I am free from the sin of ascribing to Him, "Other gods as partners!" (Hud Ayah(S) 50-55)

Hud (may Allah bless him) like all other prophets was sent with one mission: tell your people to worship one true god. Hud was related to the prophet Nuh and the tribe of Ad was established by his great-great-great grandsons, in the beginning the people of Ad worshiped only Allah and did not associate partners with him because of their belief in him Allah rewarded them with much wealth, grand gardens and many children. The ad was also a great military power, they conquered much of Syria, Iraq and the frontier of India. However, the people of Ad soon thought that they were better than any other tribe and that nothing could hurt them, they committed sins and great injustices and violence to other peoples.

Hud was from the tribe of Ad and since he was from their tribe they listened to him, however, they soon dismissed his words as those of a crazy man. One man in particular- Abu Thamud used to mock and curse Hud. Abu Thamud said that Hud believed that he was a ‘prophet’ sent from Allah.

The people of Ad went to Hud and asked him what he wanted from them and he replied that all he wanted was for them to believe in one god. The people of Ad decided that Hud was indeed crazy and that since he had no signs he was lying.

Despite their disbelief Hud still warned them that Allah would punish them severely if they did not believe. Soon the people of Ad tiered of Huds warnings and asked him to bring about this so called ‘punishment’ he talked about. Meanwhile, Abu Thammud was slowly becoming convinced by Hud’s words and he converted to the religion of Hud. When the people of Ad learned of this they mocked Abu Thammud and accused Hud of putting a spell on him.

Abu Thammud changed his name to Abdullah (servant of god) and became Huds biggest ally against the people of Hud. One day, the people of Hud confronted Abdullah and tried to convince him that Hud had put a spell on him, however Abduallah refused to believe them and kept repeating over and over that there was only one god. When they saw that Abduallah would not believe them, they sent him to Hud with a message: We will never stop worshipping our gods and to send your punishment if what you say is true.

Hud finally saw that the people of Ad would never accept his message.“Oh Allah give me victory over those who called me a liar.” He prayed to Allah. The punishment came immediately Allah sent no rain to the people of Ad for three years. Then one day a black cloud appeared the people of Ad were happy finally rain was coming! Little did they know that this cloud was an extension of their punishment. Wind so strong it could lift a man was unleashed and no matter where they ran there was no escape.

"And the 'Ad,-they were destroyed by a furious Wind, exceedingly violent: He made it rage against them seven nights and eight days in succession: so that you couldst see the (whole) people lying overthrown in its (path) as if they had been roots of hollow palm-trees tumbled down!" (Surah Al-Haqqah Ayah 6-7)

Soon the oh so mighty people of Ad were no more. However, Allah say’s in the Qur’an that there houses and palaces where left as a reminder to all who followed them.

And that is the story of the people of Hud.