Hud (Hud)

60. “And they were pursued by a curse in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection. Behold! the ‘Ad disbelieved in their Lord: so away with ‘Ad, the people of Hud.”

In this verse which ends the story of Hud and the tribe of ‘Ad, the Qur’an explains the consequences of their evil acts and falsehood saying that they were damned and cursed in this world for their evil deeds and were made infamous with a notorious history after their death.

The verse says:

“And they were pursued by a curse in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection. Behold! the ‘Ad disbelieved in their Lord:...”

It will be said on the Day of Resurrection:

“Let it be known on the Day of Resurrection that the people of ‘Ad refused to recognize their Lord and lost His favor upon them.” Although the term ‘Ad is adequate for describing and introducing these people, the phrase “the people of Hud” has also been mentioned in the above verse which emphasizes and makes allusion to the fact that this group of people is the same one which annoyed their compassionate prophet so much and hence, distanced themselves from Allah’s favor.

The verse continues saying:

“…so away with ‘Ad, the people of Hud.”

Verses number 50 to 60 of this Surah relate to the people of ‘Ad. They were of the Arab race and resided in the Jazirat ul Arab or the Arabian Peninsula, but the name of this group of people is not mentioned in the present Torah.

They were a people who enjoyed a high standard of living and lived in the magnificent towns according to the suras Al-Qamar, Al Haqqa, Al-A‘raf, Al-Sajdah, and Ash-Shu‘ara those people were tall, vigorous and had a unique civilization.

As far as their system of belief was concerned, they worshipped idols and followed tyrants. Hud invited them to worship the One and only God, and become monotheist. However, they did not submit and met their doom with Allah’s anger which was manifested in the form of furious, burning storms.

The people of ‘Ad consisted of two groups; the first ‘Ad and the second ‘Ad. The latter used to live in Ahqaf (a region in the Hijaz) or in the Yemen until seven hundred B.C.