Hud

Hud was sent to the people of the 'Ad, a powerful civilisation of the dune region (al-Ahqaf), famous for having built Iram, the City of Pillars. Proud of their strength, they said: 'Who is mightier than us?'

Hud called the 'Ad to worship God alone and to stop erecting monuments out of pure vanity, reminding them that their strength was a gift for which they should be grateful.

They called him a liar, so confident in their power that they believed themselves invulnerable. God first sent a drought to make them reflect, and Hud promised them abundant rain if they repented; they persisted.

Then a violent, icy wind blew over them for days, sweeping away this proud people, while Hud and the believers were saved.

Hud teaches that material power, devoid of humility and gratitude to God, protects nothing.

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا ۚ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ

Aux ‘Ad, Nous avons envoyé l’un des leurs, Houd, qui leur dit : « Mon peuple, adorez Allah ! Vous n’avez d’autre divinité que Lui. Votre culte est une pure invention.

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