The Story of Hud, Peace be upon Him, and the Lineage of the People of `Ad
Allah says,
وَإِلَى عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُوداً قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُواْ اللّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـهٍ غَيْرُهُ أَفَلَ تَتَّقُونَ
And to `Ad (the people, We sent) their brother Hud. He said;"O my people! Worship Allah! You have no other god but Him. Will you then not have Taqwa!"
Allah says, just as We sent Nuh to his people, similarly, to the `Ad people, We sent Hud one of their own brethren.
Muhammad bin Ishaq said that the tribe of `Ad were the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of `Aws, son of Sam, son of Nuh.
I say, these are indeed the ancient people of `Ad whom Allah mentioned, the children of `Ad, son of Iram who were living in the deserts with lofty pillars or statues.
Allah said,
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ
الَّتِى لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِى الْبِلَـدِ
Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with `Ad (people). Of Iram like (lofty) pillars. The like of which were not created in the land. (89;6-8),
because of their might and strength.
Allah said in another instance,
فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَقَالُواْ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً
وَكَانُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ
As for `Ad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said;"Who is mightier than us in strength!"
See they not that Allah Who created them was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayat! (41;15)
The Land of `Ad
The people of `Ad lived in Yemen, in the area of Ahqaf, which means sand mounds.
Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Abu At-Tufayl Amir bin Wathilah said that;
he heard Ali (bin Abi Talib) saying to a man from Hadramawt (in Yemen), "Have you seen a red sand mound, where there are a lot of Arak and Lote trees in the area of so-and-so in Hadramawt?
Have you seen it?"
He said, "Yes, O Commander of the faithful! By Allah, you described it as if you have seen it before."
Ali said, `I have not seen it, but it was described to me."
The man asked, "What about it, O Commander of the faithful?"
Ali said, "There is the grave of Hud, peace be upon him, in its vicinity."
Ibn Jarir recorded this statement, which gives the benefit of indicating that `Ad used to live in Yemen, since Prophet Hud was buried there. Prophet Hud was among the noble men and chiefs of `Ad, for Allah chose the Messengers from among the best, most honorable families and tribes.
Hud's people were mighty and strong, but their hearts were mighty and hard, for they were among the most denying of Truth among the nations.
Prophet Hud called `Ad to worship Allah alone without partners, and to obey and fear Him.
Debate between Hud and his People
Allah tells;