The 'Ad

The 'Ad were a powerful people, renowned for their strength and imposing constructions. The prophet Hud called them to worship God alone, but they proved proud, believing themselves invincible. They were annihilated by a devastating wind.

To the 'Ad, God sent one of their own, the prophet Hud, who called them: 'My people, worship Allah! You have no god other than Him.' But the 'Ad were intoxicated by their power. They said: 'Who is mightier than us?', forgetting that God, who had created them, was mightier than they.

Despite Hud's warnings, they persisted in idolatry and arrogance. The punishment came in the form of a violent, icy wind that swept them away. God saved Hud and the believers who had followed him, and destroyed those who had denied the signs.

The people of 'Ad teach the danger of collective pride: believing oneself invincible by one's strength causes one to forget the Creator. Their power itself became the cause of their ruin, for it made them deaf to the warning.

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًا

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. Allez-vous donc finir par Le craindre ? »

7:65

فَأَمَّا عَادٌ فَاسْتَكْبَرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ

Les ‘Ad se sont élevés sans raison sur terre, disant : « Quel peuple est plus puissant que le nôtre ! » Ne savent-ils pas qu’Allah, qui les a créés, est infiniment plus puissant qu’eux ? Mais ils ont préféré rejeter Nos signes.

41:15