PART 2: The Story of Hud AS: A Prophet’s Struggle Against Arrogance

The Seera
3 min readMay 12, 2024

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Hud (AS) was sent to remind his people of their purpose, to steer them back to monotheism, yet his message was met with scorn and defiance.
Despite facing ridicule and threats, he remained steadfast in his mission, invoking the aid of Allah against the obstinate rejection of his people.
Thus, the stage is set for the unfolding of divine justice, as Allah decrees punishment upon the Ad tribe for their transgressions, a testament to the consequences of straying from righteousness.

Photo by Lucy Chian on Unsplash

The people of Ad have been warned

When Allah SWT informed Hud AS of a severe punishment for his people, Hud AS went to warn the people of Ad.

And remember the brother of ’Ȃd, when he warned his people, who inhabited the sand-hills1 — there were certainly warners before and after him — ˹saying,˺ “Worship none but Allah. I truly fear for you the torment of a tremendous day.” [46:21]

The people of Ad replied :

They argued, “Have you come to turn us away from our gods? Bring us then whatever you threaten us with, if what you say is true.”
[46:22]

Then Hud AS said :

“I call Allah to witness, and you too bear witness, that I ˹totally˺ reject whatever you associate,with Him ˹in worship˺. So let all of you plot against me without delay!”
[11:54–55]

It was the first time a messenger encouraged his people to continue their disbelief.

When the people of Ad refrained from attacking Hud, he made dua to Allah SWT, seeking His assistance. Allah SWT responded, comforting him: ‘don’t worry Hud very soon they will regret everything.’

The destruction of Ad’s people

During the drought, the people of Ad, out of habit, sought rain from their idols. However, Allah SWT withheld the rain, causing devastation as everything — plants, trees — died due to the prolonged drought.

Then, a black cloud appeared on the horizon, a large cloud. When the people of Ad saw this cloud, they were happy, because it heralded rain.
But in fact the cloud was what they had asked Hud AS for, Allah’s punishment. From this cloud, the rain would not fall…

Then when they saw the torment as a ˹dense˺ cloud approaching their valleys, they said ˹happily˺, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” ˹But Hûd replied,˺ “No, it is what you sought to hasten: a ˹fierce˺ wind carrying a painful punishment!”
[46:24]

The wind began to grow stronger and stronger. A huge, powerful tornado formed and swept away the town and people of Ad in a split second.
The people of Ad flew through the air and fell on their faces.
All the cities and people of Ad were destroyed.

It destroyed everything by the command of its Lord, leaving nothing visible except their ruins. This is how We reward the wicked people.
[46:25]

Today, some scholars say that we can’t trace the existence of Ad’s village because everything has been destroyed in its entirety.

A story that forces us to reflect

And in ‘Aad [was a sign], when We sent against them the barren wind. It left nothing of what it came upon but that it made it like disintegrated ruins.
[51:41–42]

The people of Ad had everything, money, resources, power and Allah swt destroyed it all in a split second. Today, everything the people had built, their pride, is gone.
Allah SWT is the only one who can change a person’s rank.

Indeed, We had established them in a way We have not established you ˹Meccans˺. And We gave them hearing, sight, and intellect. But neither their hearing, sight, nor intellect were of any benefit to them whatsoever, since they persisted in denying Allah’s signs. And ˹so˺ they were overwhelmed by what they used to ridicule
[46:26]

We should reflect deeply on this story, recognizing that the people of Ad faced severe punishment in this life, and they will also be held to account in the afterlife.

Did you not see how your Lord dealt with ’Ȃd —
[89:6]

PART 1: CLICK HERE
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SOURCES :

THE STORY OF PROPHET HUD (AS) & DESTRUCTION OF ‘AD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIEh4XOvLYQ&t=1227s

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