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Prophet 4 of 25

The Story of Prophet Hud

Sent to the people of Ad, who built on every high place and trusted in their strength.

Hud was sent to Ad, a powerful people who lived in a place the Quran calls Al-Ahqaf, the sand dunes. Their story is told in Surah Hud, Al-A'raf, Ash-Shu'ara and Al-Ahqaf.

۞ وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

Surah Al-Araf 7:65
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Chapter 1 of 4

A brother from among them

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

To Ad, Allah sent their brother Hud. He told them to worship Allah, for they had no god other than Him, and that he asked no reward from them; his reward was with the One who created him. He reminded them that Allah had made them successors after the people of Nuh and increased them in stature, and told them to remember His favours.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Al-Araf 7:65–69

۞ وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴿65﴾ قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ ﴿66﴾ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌۭ وَلَٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿67﴾ أُبَلِّغُكُمْ رِسَٰلَٰتِ رَبِّى وَأَنَا۠ لَكُمْ نَاصِحٌ أَمِينٌ ﴿68﴾ أَوَعَجِبْتُمْ أَن جَآءَكُمْ ذِكْرٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ لِيُنذِرَكُمْ ۚ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍۢ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ بَصْۜطَةًۭ ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿69﴾

(65) And to the 'Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?" (66) Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars." (67) [Hud] said, "O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds." (68) I convey to you the messages of my Lord, and I am to you a trustworthy adviser. (69) Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allah that you might succeed.

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Surah Hud 11:50–52

وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۚ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا مُفْتَرُونَ ﴿50﴾ يَٰقَوْمِ لَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِىٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿51﴾ وَيَٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ ﴿52﴾

(50) And to 'Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. You are not but inventors [of falsehood]. (51) O my people, I do not ask you for it any reward. My reward is only from the one who created me. Then will you not reason? (52) And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals."

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Chapter 2 of 4

Towers on every high place

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Hud asked his people whether they built a monument on every high place for amusement, and took strongholds as if they would live forever, and seized people with the grip of tyrants. He called them to fear Allah, who had given them cattle, children, gardens and springs.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Ash-Shuara 26:123–135

كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿123﴾ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُمْ أَخُوهُمْ هُودٌ أَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴿124﴾ إِنِّى لَكُمْ رَسُولٌ أَمِينٌۭ ﴿125﴾ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ ﴿126﴾ وَمَآ أَسْـَٔلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ أَجْرٍ ۖ إِنْ أَجْرِىَ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿127﴾ أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةًۭ تَعْبَثُونَ ﴿128﴾ وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ ﴿129﴾ وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُم بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ ﴿130﴾ فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُونِ ﴿131﴾ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَمَدَّكُم بِمَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿132﴾ أَمَدَّكُم بِأَنْعَٰمٍۢ وَبَنِينَ ﴿133﴾ وَجَنَّٰتٍۢ وَعُيُونٍ ﴿134﴾ إِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍۢ ﴿135﴾

(123) 'Aad denied the messengers (124) When their brother Hud said to them, "Will you not fear Allah? (125) Indeed, I am to you a trustworthy messenger. (126) So fear Allah and obey me. (127) And I do not ask you for it any payment. My payment is only from the Lord of the worlds. (128) Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves, (129) And take for yourselves palaces and fortresses that you might abide eternally? (130) And when you strike, you strike as tyrants. (131) So fear Allah and obey me. (132) And fear He who provided you with that which you know, (133) Provided you with grazing livestock and children (134) And gardens and springs. (135) Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a terrible day."

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Chapter 3 of 4

Who is stronger?

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

Ad were arrogant in the land without right and asked who was stronger than them. Their leaders called Hud a fool and a liar, and said they would not abandon their gods on his word. Hud declared that he took Allah as witness that he was free of what they associated with Him, and challenged them to plot against him all together, for he relied on Allah.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Fussilat 41:15

فَأَمَّا عَادٌۭ فَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَقَالُوا۟ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا قُوَّةً ۖ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةًۭ ۖ وَكَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ

As for 'Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, "Who is greater than us in strength?" Did they not consider that Allah who created them was greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.

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Surah Al-Araf 7:66–67

قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّا لَنَرَىٰكَ فِى سَفَاهَةٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَنَظُنُّكَ مِنَ ٱلْكَٰذِبِينَ ﴿66﴾ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لَيْسَ بِى سَفَاهَةٌۭ وَلَٰكِنِّى رَسُولٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿67﴾

(66) Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars." (67) [Hud] said, "O my people, there is not foolishness in me, but I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds."

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Surah Hud 11:53–56

قَالُوا۟ يَٰهُودُ مَا جِئْتَنَا بِبَيِّنَةٍۢ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِىٓ ءَالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿53﴾ إِن نَّقُولُ إِلَّا ٱعْتَرَىٰكَ بَعْضُ ءَالِهَتِنَا بِسُوٓءٍۢ ۗ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أُشْهِدُ ٱللَّهَ وَٱشْهَدُوٓا۟ أَنِّى بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ ﴿54﴾ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۖ فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ لَا تُنظِرُونِ ﴿55﴾ إِنِّى تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذٌۢ بِنَاصِيَتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍۢ مُّسْتَقِيمٍۢ ﴿56﴾

(53) They said, "O Hud, you have not brought us clear evidence, and we are not ones to leave our gods on your say-so. Nor are we believers in you. (54) We only say that some of our gods have possessed you with evil." He said, "Indeed, I call Allah to witness, and witness [yourselves] that I am free from whatever you associate with Allah (55) Other than Him. So plot against me all together; then do not give me respite. (56) Indeed, I have relied upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight."

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Chapter 4 of 4

The wind

Story narration · written from the Quranic account, not Quran

When they saw a cloud approaching their valleys, they said it would bring them rain. It was instead what they had asked to be hastened: a wind carrying a painful punishment, destroying everything by its Lord's command. The Quran describes a furious, screaming wind that Allah imposed on them for seven nights and eight days, until they were like the hollow trunks of fallen palm trees. Hud and the believers were saved.

Quran · recitation and translation
Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:24–25

فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُ عَارِضًۭا مُّسْتَقْبِلَ أَوْدِيَتِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ هَٰذَا عَارِضٌۭ مُّمْطِرُنَا ۚ بَلْ هُوَ مَا ٱسْتَعْجَلْتُم بِهِۦ ۖ رِيحٌۭ فِيهَا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ ﴿24﴾ تُدَمِّرُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۭ بِأَمْرِ رَبِّهَا فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ لَا يُرَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَسَٰكِنُهُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ ﴿25﴾

(24) And when they saw it as a cloud approaching their valleys, they said, "This is a cloud bringing us rain!" Rather, it is that for which you were impatient: a wind, within it a painful punishment, (25) Destroying everything by command of its Lord. And they became so that nothing was seen [of them] except their dwellings. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.

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Surah Al-Haqqah 69:6–8

وَأَمَّا عَادٌۭ فَأُهْلِكُوا۟ بِرِيحٍۢ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍۢ ﴿6﴾ سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَبْعَ لَيَالٍۢ وَثَمَٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومًۭا فَتَرَى ٱلْقَوْمَ فِيهَا صَرْعَىٰ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَةٍۢ ﴿7﴾ فَهَلْ تَرَىٰ لَهُم مِّنۢ بَاقِيَةٍۢ ﴿8﴾

(6) And as for 'Aad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind (7) Which Allah imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession, so you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees. (8) Then do you see of them any remains?

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Surah Hud 11:58–60

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ أَمْرُنَا نَجَّيْنَا هُودًۭا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَهُۥ بِرَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَّا وَنَجَّيْنَٰهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍۢ ﴿58﴾ وَتِلْكَ عَادٌۭ ۖ جَحَدُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَعَصَوْا۟ رُسُلَهُۥ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ عَنِيدٍۢ ﴿59﴾ وَأُتْبِعُوا۟ فِى هَٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةًۭ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ عَادًۭا كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًۭا لِّعَادٍۢ قَوْمِ هُودٍۢ ﴿60﴾

(58) And when Our command came, We saved Hud and those who believed with him, by mercy from Us; and We saved them from a harsh punishment. (59) And that was 'Aad, who rejected the signs of their Lord and disobeyed His messengers and followed the order of every obstinate tyrant. (60) And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, 'Aad denied their Lord; then away with 'Aad, the people of Hud.

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Where is this story mentioned?

Passages about Hud in the Quran

Opening passage, rendered from the stored text:

  1. Surah Al-Araf7:65

    ۞ وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ

    And to the 'Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?"

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The story of Hud

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