In the Quran, there is a whole chapter named Hud, but who is Hud? Hud was descendent of Prophet Nuh and he was sent to people of ‘Aad. Allah says, “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]”,” [Hud, 50].

‘Aad is believed to be located somewhere between Oman and Yemen. People of ‘Aad were of great power and wealth, and they built a great, well-known civilization. However, their hubris led them to worship other idols with Allah. This act was condemned by Prophet Hud who asked his people to worship Allah and reminded them of the day of judgment, but as usual, they refused his message. The people of ‘Aad said, “Indeed, we see you in foolishness, and indeed, we think you are of the liars”,” [Al-A’raf, 66] and “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,” [Hud, 53].

Hud kept asking his people to repent, but they refused as they told him, “It is all the same to us whether you advise or are not of the advisors,” [Ash-Shu’ara, 136]. Hud declared that he was free from what they worshiped and waited for Allah to punish the disbelievers. Allah then answered Hud and first sent the drought to the land of ‘Aad, in which Hud kept asking his people to return to Allah in order for the rain to fall, but all his efforts were in vain.

Then came the day of punishment when Allah sent a strong wind that afflicted everything on the ground. For around 8 days, the wind got stronger and tore away everything from trees to tents and human bodies. It kept doing that until ‘Aad was completely destroyed, but Hud and his followers’ found shelters and were saved. Hud then settled with the believers on another land said to be Hadramaut, where they lived in peace worshipping Allah.