Who was Prophet Hud? His life and story

Full story

1. 1

   The call to the people of Ad

   Hud (peace be upon him) was sent to the people of Ad. This people was powerful and wealthy, and they raised great structures on earth. He said to them: "O my people, worship Allah! You have no god other than Him" (Al-A'raf, 65).

   Hud warned them against worshipping idols and against arrogance, and reminded them that the power they possessed was a blessing from Allah.

2. 2

   The people's arrogance

   The people of Ad rejected Hud's (peace be upon him) call, called him a liar, and declared they would not turn away from the way of their forefathers. They took pride in their power and opposed the truth.

   Hud told them he sought no reward from them for his prophethood and invited them to repent to Allah (Hud, 51-52). But they did not turn from their obstinacy.

3. 3

   Destroyed by a violent wind

   When his people persisted in disbelief, Allah's punishment came. They were destroyed by a violent, cold, unrelenting wind (Al-Ahqaf, 24-25). This wind blew over them without pause for seven nights and eight days and uprooted them completely (Al-Haqqah, 7). All their power and their magnificent structures, known as "Iram of the pillars," could not protect them (Al-Fajr, 6-8).

   Hud (peace be upon him) and those who believed with him were saved from this punishment by Allah's mercy. This story shows clearly the fate of arrogance.

The story of Hud (peace be upon him) is narrated in the Quran in the surah that bears his name, Surah Hud (11), as well as in Surah Al-A'raf and Surah Al-Ahqaf. The Quran describes the power, the arrogance, and the destruction of the people of Ad, and presents this as a lesson for later generations.

• Power, wealth and great structures cannot protect a person from Allah's punishment.
• Arrogance is the greatest obstacle to accepting the truth.
• The Prophets ask for no worldly reward for their calls.
• Those who believe in Allah are saved even from the most severe punishment.

This page is based on Quran verses and authentic hadith sources.

• QuranSurah Al-A'raf, 65

  This verse states that Hud (peace be upon him) called the people of Ad to worship Allah alone.

• QuranSurah Hud, 50-51

  Hud's call of his people to Tawhid (50) and his not seeking any reward for his prophethood (51) appear in these verses.

• QuranSurah Al-Ahqaf, 24

  This verse narrates the destruction of the people of Ad by a violent wind.

• QuranSurah Al-Haqqah, 6-8

  These verses narrate that the wind which destroyed the people of Ad lasted seven nights and eight days.

• QuranSurah Al-Fajr, 6-8

  These verses state that the people of Ad were known as "Iram of the pillars."

• Classical sourceTDV İslam Ansiklopedisi, "Hûd"

  Referenced for academic information about Prophet Hud and the people of Ad.

Other Prophets connected with this story.

• Prophet Nuh

  The Prophet who built the ark, one of the Ulul-Azm

• Prophet Salih

  The Thamud people and the miracle of the she-camel

Common questions about this Prophet.

• Who was Prophet Hud?

  Hud (peace be upon him) is the Prophet sent to the powerful and wealthy people of Ad, calling them to worship Allah alone. Surah 11 of the Quran is named after him.

• Which people was Prophet Hud sent to?

  He was sent to the people of Ad, known for their power and great structures, and called them away from idolatry to Tawhid (Al-A'raf, 65).

• How was the people of Ad destroyed?

  When the people grew arrogant and rejected his call, they were destroyed by a violent, cold wind; Hud and those who believed were saved (Al-Ahqaf, 24-25).

• How long did the wind that destroyed the people of Ad last?

  The Quran states that the violent, cold wind blew over them continuously for seven nights and eight days and uprooted them completely (Al-Haqqah, 6-8).