The Story of Prophet Hud
Many people may be surprised to learn that Muslims also believe
in many of the Prophets found in Jewish and Christian traditions.
Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, amongst many others, all figure
prominently in the pages of Quran. Believing in all of God's
prophets and revealed Books are two of the pillars of faith in
Islam therefore; Muslims accept the Torah and the (Injeel) Gospels
of Jesus. However they also believe that these books were altered,
or lost over the course of time. Consequently Muslims believe only
what has been confirmed in the Quran or the authentic traditions of
Prophet Muhammad.
In the Old Testament reference is made to a descendant of Noah
named Eber. In some traditions, he is called Heber, and known as
the father of the Hebrew language.[1] In Islam however he is known
as Hud[2] and is one of four Arabic prophets, the others being,
Saleh, Shuaib and Muhammad. Renowned Islamic scholar of the 14th
century, Ibn Kathir, reports that Ibn Jarir also claims that Hud
was a descendent of Noah.
Sent by God to his brethren, Hud spread the message that God is One
and to worship Him alone. It was the same message spread by all the
Prophets of God. Hud said to his people, {O my people, worship God, you have no other
God but Him}. [Quran 11:50].
{يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا
لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُ} [هود:50]
Transliteration: Yā Qawmi A`budū Allāha Mā Lakum Min
'Ilahin Ghayruhu
Hud belonged to the ancient civilization known as Aad, and
its capital city is ]
Aad is believed to have been situated in the wind swept
hills between Oman and Yemen. The people were known to build lofty
towers, and thus the area became known as the land of a thousand
pillars. It was a civilization unlike any other. God blessed
Aad and its people. He provided them with fertile land and
abundant agriculture, many children, an ample supply of livestock
and easy access to water resources. The people themselves were
described as tall, strong, and well built.
In many ways, Aad could be described as a society much
like many of the opulent societies that exist today. There was an
excess of wealth and the proud, arrogant people were not satisfied
with fulfilling their basic needs. They began to build towers and
dwellings merely to display their wealth and they accumulated
worldly possessions as if they were a people destined to live
forever.
The rulers and leaders of Aad were powerful tyrants, their
wealth did not make them soft, as sometimes happens, but rather
they grew strong and dominated the lands around them. Satan was
among them and made their deeds seem fair seeming to them. Their
arrogance and pride grew and the worship of idols became
prevalent.
Prophet Hud was also a strong man but he used his strength to
confront the problems that abounded in his society, however, the
people were too proud to listen. They did not want Hud to point out
their mistakes but he persisted in calling them to righteousness.
He said,
{O my people! Ask forgiveness of your
Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky)
abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn
away as criminals, or disbelievers in the Oneness of
God.}[Quran11:52]
{وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ
ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا
وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا
مُجْرِمِينَ} [هود:٥٢]
Transliteration: Wa Yā Qawmi Astaghfirū Rabbakum
Thumma Tūbū 'Ilayhi Yursili As-Samā'a `Alaykum Midrārāan Wa
Yazidkum Qūwatan 'Ilá Qūwatikum Wa Lā Tatawallaw
Mujrimīna
Hud tried to explain to his people that seeking God's forgiveness
for their rebelliousness and arrogance would only cause an increase
in their strength and wealth. God, he said, would reward their
repentance with abundant rain and an increase in strength. In the
manner of arrogant people throughout time the people of
Aad looked at Hud with disdain, they then looked around
and found that they were the most powerful nation in
existence.
The wealthy arrogant people of Aad argued with Hud about
the nature of the Day of Judgment. They believed that after death
the body turned to dust and was swept away by the wind. The people
of Aad, much like many people today, believed that the
purpose of life was to accumulate wealth, prestige, and
possessions. When Hud made them confront the reality of their lives
and pointed out that they were far away from the One God, their
arrogant chests swelled with pride and they accused him of being
crazy. They wondered why a man who ate and drank, just like them
could have such a different view of life. With their eyes firmly
fixed on wealth and luxury the people of Aad convinced
themselves that following Hud would mean that they to were
crazy.
{There is nothing but our life of this
world! We die and we live! We are not going to be resurrected! He
is only a man who has invented a lie against God, but we are not
going to believe in him.} [Quran 23:37-38]
{إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا
الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ
﴿٣٧﴾ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا رَجُلٌ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى
اللَّهِ كَذِبًا وَمَا نَحْنُ لَهُ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ}
[المؤمنون:37-٣٨]
Transliteration: 'In Hiya 'Illā Ĥayātunā Ad-Dunyā
Namūtu Wa Naĥyā Wa Mā Naĥnu Bimab`ūthīna (37) 'In Huwa 'Illā
Rajulun Aftará `Alá Allāhi Kadhibāan Wa Mā
Naĥnu Lahu Bimu'uminīna
Eventually the people of Aad looked at Hud and said, {We understand why you are crazy, our god's
(idols) have harmed you because you insulted them"}. [Quran
11:54]
{إِن نَّقُولُ إِلَّا اعْتَرَاكَ بَعْضُ
آلِهَتِنَا بِسُوءٍ} [هود:٥٤]
Transliteration: 'In Naqūlu 'Illā A`tarāka Ba`đu
'Ālihatinā Bisū'in
Hud turned to God and renounced his people. He knew that God's
punishment would be swift and severe. A drought spread throughout
the once fertile and abundant land. The people looked to the sky
hoping to see signs of rain. The punishment was obvious but still
the people of Aad mocked and ridiculed Hud.
One fateful day the weather changed. The burning heat changed to
biting cold and the wind began to howl. The savage wind increased
with each new day and the people began to seek shelter. The
windstorm raged for more than a week. It ripped apart tents and
dwellings, it whipped away clothing and tore the skin from the
body.
They were destroyed by a furious violent wind which God imposed on
them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so that you
could see men lying overthrown (destroyed) as if they were hollow
trunks of date palms! [Quran 69:6-7]
Ibn Kathir tells us that the violent gale did not stop until the
entire region, once lush and green was reduced to ruins and
swallowed by the sands of the desert. Only Hud and his small band
of followers were saved and are believed to have migrated to the
Hadramaut area of what is today known as Yemen.
Epilogue[3]
Ubar, was said to be a remote desert oasis and a major trading
centre inhabited by powerful and wealthy people. Legend said it was
lost in a major sand storm that buried the entire area. In 1992,
the fabled lost city was discovered using remote sensing data.
Satellite imagery exposed a large area of sand dunes, under which
lie a major wadi or dry streambed. Ubar is currently under
excavation and evidence has revealed an octagonal fortified city
with 30-foot towers and thick walls.
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Footnotes:
[1] The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia
-http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T2864
[2] Based on the Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Kathir.
[3]http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/radar/sircxsar/ubar1.html
By Aisha Stacey
IslamReligion.com
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