The Story of Prophet Hud

The Story of Prophet Hud

Description: The importance of seeking God’s forgiveness.
By Aisha Stacey (© 2009 IslamReligion.com)
Published on 31 Aug 2009 - Last modified on 13 Sep 2009
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Category: Articles > Beliefs of Islam > Stories of the Prophets
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). Hud belonged to the ancient civilization known asAad, and
its capital city is believed to have been the fabled city of Ubar, known in Quran as
Iram. (89:6-7)
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.”
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 23:33-3)
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 11:53) 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.
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
Ref : http://www.islamreligion.com/

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Many people may be surprised to learn

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