The Legacy of the People of Prophet Hud
The Prophet Hud – peace be upon him – was sent to the people of ‘Aad, who inhabited the region known as Al-Ahqaf. As stated by Allah – the Most High – in the Quran: “And remember the brother of ‘Aad when he warned his people in Al-Ahqaf.” The term “Ahqaf” refers to sandy regions, which some scholars associate with a land in Hadramaut known as Shahr, while others identify it as a valley located between Oman and Mahrah.
Hadramaut is a province situated in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Oman to the east, Aden to the west, and Saudi Arabia to the north. This region features a sandy coastline, alongside some mountainous areas and several valleys, including Wadi Al-Kasir, Wadi Dhaman, Wadi Al-Jaz’, and Wadi Snaim. It is home to numerous cities such as Shibam, Shabwa, Nizam, and Mukalla, and is inhabited by various tribes, including the Shiban and Mahrah tribes. Historically, Hadramaut was referred to as the Valley of Al-Ahqaf.
It is important to note that the people of ‘Aad were granted power and dominion over the land by Allah. However, instead of showing gratitude, they engaged in corruption, oppression, and tyranny against its inhabitants.
The Remains of the Thamud, the People of Prophet Salih
The Thamud were known for their remarkable skill in carving homes into the mountains, as articulated by Allah: “And you carve out of the mountains houses with great skill.” They resided in Al-Hijr, as mentioned in the Quran: “And certainly, the people of Al-Hijr denied the messengers.” Al-Hijr is located in the Valley of Qura, between Medina and Sham, and is famously known as Madain Salih. The houses and dwellings of the Thamud were intricately and beautifully sculpted into the mountains, and remnants of their architecture can be found in Petra, Jordan.
The Destruction of ‘Aad and Thamud
The Demise of ‘Aad, the People of Hud
The people of ‘Aad proudly boasted about their strength, as shown by their statement, “Who is more powerful than us?” They denied the existence of Allah, the Supreme Creator, oppressed the people, and acted arrogantly. In response, Allah sent a devastating punishment upon them in the form of a barren wind that spared nothing living.
This fierce wind was not only destructive but forced them to bind themselves with chains and to dig the earth into crevices to secure their bodies, leaving their heads exposed. The wind would strike and shatter their heads. This punishment lasted for seven nights and eight days, as stated by Allah: “And as for ‘Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind, which He directed against them for seven nights and eight days uninterrupted. You would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees.”
The Downfall of Thamud, the People of Salih
The Thamud rejected the prophet Salih – peace be upon him – and did not only deny him but also threatened to expel him from their land. They incited one of their own to slay the she-camel, which they were supposed to share water with. There was a specific day when they drank from the well and the camel was provided milk, and on another day she drank alone. Frustrated with the arrangement, they callously killed the she-camel. Consequently, Allah unleashed upon them a catastrophic cry that resulted in their complete annihilation.