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Hud, the prophet sent to the people of Ad
Houd
The Call to the People of Ad
The Power of Ad
The Warning of the Drought
His People's Denial
The Destroying Wind
Trust in Allah
The Believers Saved
What Became of Ad
Important Note
This collection brings together a selection of authentic texts about the Prophet Hud (peace be upon him). The English translations are given as a guide.
- Refer to the original Arabic texts
- Consult the commentaries of the scholars
- Study the historical context of each account
- Check the authentic sources
Discover the story of the Prophet Hud on Muslim Alim
The Prophet Houd holds an important place in the story of the messengers of Allah. He was sent to the people of Ad, a powerful tribe who lived in the Arabian Peninsula after the flood of Nuh. They were known for their exceptional physical strength and their impressive buildings.
The people of Ad had built a prosperous civilisation but had turned away from the path of Allah. They worshipped idols and refused to acknowledge the oneness of God. Hud, who was one of them, was given the task of guiding them to the truth. He spoke to them with wisdom and patience, calling them to abandon their false gods.
Despite his constant efforts, most of the people rejected his message. They mocked Hud and called him a liar. Only a small group of believers accepted his teaching. The Quran records their arrogant words and their stubborn refusal to heed the divine warnings.
Allah then sent a terrible punishment: a violent, destroying wind that blew for seven nights and eight days. That devastating storm wiped out the rebellious people entirely, leaving nothing but traces of their former greatness. Hud and the believers were spared by divine mercy.
This story teaches us how important humility before Allah is. It also shows that wealth and power give no protection from punishment when one persists in error. The accounts of the prophets of Islam such as that of Hud are set down in the Quran to remind us of these essential lessons. Sincere faith and obedience to Allah remain the true wealth of every believer.
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ReadYou may be wondering…
Who is the Prophet Hud in Islam?
Hud is an Arab prophet sent to the people of Ad, a powerful tribe who lived after the flood of Nuh (Noah). He came from among them, and called them to worship Allah alone and to abandon their idols: O my people, worship Allah. You have no deity other than Him (Surah Hud, verse 50). A surah of the Quran bears his name.
Who were the people of Ad?
The people of Ad were a tribe of the Arabian Peninsula known for their physical strength and their imposing buildings. The Quran records their pride: Who is greater than us in strength? (Surah Fussilat, verse 15). Drunk on their own power, they rejected Hud, called him a liar and refused to give up their gods.
How were the people of Ad destroyed?
Allah sent against them a roaring, furious wind for seven nights and eight days in succession, so that the people lay on the ground like hollow palm trunks (Surah Al-Haqqah, verses 6-7). Hud and the believers who had followed him were saved by Allah's mercy (Surah Hud, verse 58).
Where is the grave of the Prophet Hud?
The Quran and the authentic hadiths do not say where he was buried. A local tradition places the grave of the Prophet Hud in the Hadhramaut, in Yemen, where it is visited, but this is not established by reliable sources. Scholars therefore advise caution on the point.
What lesson does the story of Hud teach?
The story of Hud teaches humility before Allah: neither wealth, nor strength, nor grand buildings protect anyone from punishment when they persist in wrongdoing. It also recalls the prophet's trust in his Lord and the deliverance granted to the believers, a theme common to the accounts of the peoples named in the Quran.