Surah An Najm Tafseer

And that it is He Who destroyed the former `Ad,

the people of Hud. They are the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of Sam, son of Nuh.

As Allah the Exalted said,

أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ

إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ

الَّتِى لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِى الْبِلَـدِ

Saw you not how your Lord dealt with `Ad. Of Iram, with the lofty pillars, the like of which were not created in the land, (89:6-8)

The people of `Ad were among the strongest, fiercest people and the most rebellious against Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Allah destroyed them,

بِرِيحٍ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍسَخَّرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَبْعَ لَيَالٍ وَثَمَـنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُوماً

By a furious violent wind! Which Allah imposed in them for seven nights and eight days in succession. (69:6-7)

Allah's statement,

وَثَمُودَ فَمَا أَبْقَى