Prophet Hud عليه السلام
Many years after Prophet عليه السلام Nuh there lived a very industrious, hard working people. They were the people of 'Aad.
'Aad was a King and he was also the grandson of Prophet Nuh. This is why his people and off spring were called the people of 'Aad. The people of 'Aad lived in an ancient city called Iram, a place in the south of present day Saudia Arabia near the borders of Yemen and Oman. Allah blessed them with great wealth and they lived life in peace and comfort. Allah gave them many blessings and made them very successful traders. They were very strong physically and there was no disease in their society. The people of 'Aad built large and beautiful houses. On every hill they built a tower, and they were very proud of their beautiful buildings.
The Ancient City of Ubar
UBAR-A wealthy incense trading post was said to be lost beneath the desert sands of Saudi Arabia. The Koran-the holy book of the Muslims-said the people of Ubar were destroyed because they became corrupted by power and wealth. The city was said to have been swallowed up by the ground. With the help of the space shuttle radar, ruins matching the story of Ubar were found-an incense trading city that had collapsed into a giant sinkhole. While no one can say for sure if the ruins actually. were Ubar (no inscription with the actual name of Ubar was found), there is a good chance the site inspired at least some parts of the Ubar stories.
The People of 'Aad Worship Idols
Despite all of the blessings that Allah had granted them, the people of 'Aad did not believe in one God. Instead, they worshipped idols, which they carved out of stones. When anything good happened to them, they thanked their idols. Whenever they were in trouble, they prayed to those idols for help. Those people had forgotten all about Prophet Nuh and his message of worshipping one God, or tawheed. They forgot the awful punishment of Allah for worshipping false gods.
Allah Chooses Hud to be a Prophet
Among the people of 'Aad lived a man named Hud. Allah chose him as His next prophet. He was from the tribe of 'Aad itself, and was respected because of his noble family and his good manners. He was the great grandson of Prophet Nuh عليه السلام, Hud was a very patient and kind man. When he received the command of Allah to teach His message, he immediately did so. He came to the people and said:
"O Brothers, why do you warship stones that you have carved yourself? The idols can not give you anything or take anything away from you. Allah has sent me to you."
Prophet Hud علي السلام also said to his people:
"Allah has taught you all that you are able to do. He has also given you children and many animals. Therefore you should stop worshipping your false gods. Worship only Allah and obey His commands. Do well and do not commit wrongs and evil. Your Lord is only one, and He alone should be worshipped. He has created you, given you health and wealth, and made you a powerful nation."
Prophet Hud explained to them that the idols would only take them further away from God.
The Holy Qur'an says in Surat Hud:
﴿وَإِلى عادٍ أَخاهُم هودًا قالَ يا قَومِ اعبُدُوا اللَّهَ ما لَكُم مِن إِلهٍ غَيرُهُ إِن أَنتُم إِلّا مُفتَرونَيا قَومِ لا أَسأَلُكُم عَلَيهِ أَجرًا إِن أَجرِيَ إِلّا عَلَى الَّذي فَطَرَني أَفَلا تَعقِلونَوَيا قَومِ استَغفِروا رَبَّكُم ثُمَّ توبوا إِلَيهِ يُرسِلِ السَّماءَ عَلَيكُم مِدرارًا وَيَزِدكُم قُوَّةً إِلى قُوَّتِكُم وَلا تَتَوَلَّوا مُجرِمينَ﴾ [هود: ٥٠-٥٢]
"And to the people of Aad, We sent their brother Hud. He said, "O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other llah (god) but Him, certainly, you do nothing but invent (lies)!" [11:50]
"O my people I ask of you no reward for this [Message]. My reward is only from Him Who cre- ated me (Allah). Won't you then understand?" [11:51]
"And 0 my people! Ask forgive- ness 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 sinners." [11:52]
The People of 'Aad Reject Prophet Hud
Prophet Hud عليه السلام tried to explain to his people how everything they had was a blessing from Allah. How Allah had made them Prophet Nuh's successors, and how He had given them strength and power. The people of Aad rejected Prophet Hud's mes sage and continued ridiculing him.
They said:
"We are not going to listen. to you. We are not going to let our gods down, just because you tell us so. Who are you, anyway? You are nothing but a liar. If you are not a liar, then prove it."
Allah repeated their words in the Qur'an:
﴿قالوا يا هودُ ما جِئتَنا بِبَيِّنَةٍ وَما نَحنُ بِتارِكي آلِهَتِنا عَن قَولِكَ وَما نَحنُ لَكَ بِمُؤمِنينَإِن نَقولُ إِلَّا اعتَراكَ بَعضُ آلِهَتِنا بِسوءٍ ﴾ [هود: ٥٣-٥٤]
" O Hud! No evidence have you brought us, and we shall not leave our gods at your command! And we don't believe in you.
All that we say is that some of our gods have touched you with madness." [Surat Hud11: 53-54]
Prophet Hud was very sad and disappointed when he heard this. He said to them, "Do you think the houses you have built will last forever? Remember that it is Allah Who has given you your fortunes."
Allah recounts in the Qur'an:
﴿إِن نَقولُ إِلَّا اعتَراكَ بَعضُ آلِهَتِنا بِسوءٍ قالَ إِنّي أُشهِدُ اللَّهَ وَاشهَدوا أَنّي بَريءٌ مِمّا تُشرِكونَ﴾ [هود: ٥٤]
He (Prophet Hud) said: "I call Allah to witness and bear you wit- ness that I am innocent of your sin. You worship others with Him (Allah)."
﴿مِن دونِهِ فَكيدوني جَميعًا ثُمَّ لا تُنظِرونِإِنّي تَوَكَّلتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبّي وَرَبِّكُم ما مِن دابَّةٍ إِلّا هُوَ آخِذٌ بِناصِيَتِها إِنَّ رَبّي عَلى صِراطٍ مُستَقيمٍ﴾ [هود: ٥٥-٥٦]
"So plot against me, all of you, and give me no breaks; I put my trust in Allah. He is my Lord and your Lord!" [11:55]
Despite Prophet Hud's warnings, the people of 'Aad went on worshipping their false gods. He was very disappointed. When he warned the people of 'Aad about the punishment of Allah, they challenged Prophet Hud. They said:
"We don't care. Tell your Lord to send us His punishment."
The Qur'an quotes them as saying:
﴿قالوا أَجِئتَنا لِنَعبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحدَهُ وَنَذَرَ ما كانَ يَعبُدُ آباؤُنا فَأتِنا بِما تَعِدُنا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الصّادِقينَ﴾ [الأعراف: ٧٠]
"Then bring down [the punish- ment] on us that you have threat- ened, if you are truthful." [7:70]
Allah Punishes the Disbelievers Shortly afterwards, a huge black cloud appeared in the sky, over the people of 'Aad. When the unbelievers of Aad saw it, they said: "This cloud is surely going to bring us some refreshing rain."
But they were very much mistaken. Allah says in the Qur'an:
﴿فَلَمّا رَأَوهُ عارِضًا مُستَقبِلَ أَودِيَتِهِم قالوا هذا عارِضٌ مُمطِرُنا بَل هُوَ مَا استَعجَلتُم بِهِ ريحٌ فيها عَذابٌ أَليمٌتُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ بِأَمرِ رَبِّها فَأَصبَحوا لا يُرى إِلّا مَساكِنُهُم كَذلِكَ نَجزِي القَومَ المُجرِمينَ﴾ [الأحقاف: ٢٤-٢٥]
"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 punishment which you were asking for! A wind wherein is a painful punishment! Destroying everything by the command of its Lord!" [46:24-25]
The clouds grew larger and larger as the wind howled louder and louder. At the first sign of the storm, Prophet Hud had gathered his followers and family and taken them to a safe place. The wind was full of dust and sand. It blew violently for eight continuous days. The people ran into their big houses and beautiful casties to hide. But nothing could save them from the punishment of Allah.
The wind swept everything away. That violent storm did not stop until the entire region was reduced to ruin. The unbelievers were destroyed and swallowed by the sands of the desert. Nothing was left except a few large stones, which were the remains of the houses and towers. Only Prophet Hud عليه السلام and his followers remained unharmed because they believed in Allah and obeyed Him.
Surat-ul-Qamar
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
﴿كَذَّبَت عادٌ فَكَيفَ كانَ عَذابي وَنُذُرِإِنّا أَرسَلنا عَلَيهِم ريحًا صَرصَرًا في يَومِ نَحسٍ مُستَمِرٍّتَنزِعُ النّاسَ كَأَنَّهُم أَعجازُ نَخلٍ مُنقَعِرٍفَكَيفَ كانَ عَذابي وَنُذُرِوَلَقَد يَسَّرنَا القُرآنَ لِلذِّكرِ فَهَل مِن مُدَّكِرٍ﴾ [القمر: ١٨-٢٢]
TRANSLITERATION
18. Kaththabat 'Aadun fakayfa kana 'athabee wanuthur
19. Inna arsalna 'alayhim reehan sarsaran fee yawmi nah- sim-mustamirr
20. Tanzi'u-nnasa ka'annahum a 'jazu nakhlim-munqa'ir
21. Fakayfa kana 'athabee wanuthur
22. Walaqad yassarnal-qur'ana liththikri fahal mim-mud- dakir
UNDERSTOOD MEANING
[54:18] 'Aad disbelieved, so how (great) was My punish- ment and My warning!
[54:19] Surely We sent on them a tornado in a day of continuous curse
[54:20] Tearing men away as if they were the trunks of hollow and torn up palm-trees.
[54:21] How (great) then was My punishment and My warning!
[54:22] And certainly We have made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, but is there anyone who will reflect?
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