The people of ‘Ad lived many years in the windswept hills of an area between Yemen and Oman. They were physically well built and renowned for their craftsmanship 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. What they did refuse was to worship Allah alone. They worshipped other gods, also, including idols. This is one sin Allah does not forgive.
Allah wanted to guide and discipline these people so He sent a prophet from among them. This prophet was Hud (PBUH), a noble man who handled this task with great resoluteness and tolerance.
Hud AS (PBUH) condemned idol worship and admonished his people. “MY people, what is the benefit of these stones that you carve with your own hands 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. He 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 favors, or the same fate that destroyed Noah’s people will overtake you.” With such reasoning Hud hoped to instill 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 hearts.
Allah the Almighty states:
Hud AS tried to speak to them and to explain about Allah’s blessings: how Allah the Almighty had made them Noah’s successors, how He had given them strength and power, and how 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 resurrected?” He replied, “Yes, you will come back on the Day of Judgment and each of you will be asked about what you did.”
Hud explained that justice demands that there be a Day of Judgment 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 Judgment, 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 Judgment, 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 disbelieved him.
Allah recounts Hud AS’s people’s attitude towards the Day of Judgment:
The chiefs of Hud’s people asked: “Is it not strange that Allah’s chooses one of us to reveal His message to?” Hud replied: “What is strange in that? Allah wants to guide you to the right way of life, so HE sent me to warn you. **Noah’s** flood and his story are not far away from you, so do not forget what happened. All the disbeliveers were destroyed, no matter how strong they were.”
“Who is going to destroy us Hud?” the chiefs asked. “Allah.” replied Hud. The disbeliveers 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 and more obstinate, and more tyrannical and more defiant of their prophet’s message.
Furthermore, they started to accuse Hud (PBUH) of being a crazy lunatic. One day they told him: “We now understand the secret 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 Quran:
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:
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 desert sands, looking like a disk of fire which settled on people’s heads.
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 and became more obstinate, sarcastic and preserve in their unbelief. The drought increased, the trees turned yellow, and plants died. 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 wind increased day after day and night after night. The storm raged for 8 days and 7 nights.
That violent gale did not stop until the entire region was reduced to ruins and its wicked people destroyed, swallowed by the sands of the desert. Only Hud and his followers remained unharmed. They migrated to Hadramaut and lived there in peace, worshipping Allah, their true Lord.