--- title: "'Ad and Thamud: Mighty Nations That Rejected Their Prophets | Islam Is Mercy" description: "The Qur'an's account of 'Ad and Thamud, two powerful Arabian peoples who rejected the prophets Hud and Salih, and what their end teaches." lang: en url: https://islamismercy.com/en/history/ad-and-thamud/ --- 1. [Home](https://islamismercy.com/en/) 2. [History in the Qur’an](https://islamismercy.com/en/history/) 3. 'Ad and Thamud: Mighty Nations That Rejected Their Prophets # 'Ad and Thamud: Mighty Nations That Rejected Their Prophets Written by **Islam Is Mercy Editorial Team**· 4 min readAwaiting scholar review ## The short answer 'Ad and Thamud were two ancient Arabian peoples mentioned many times in the Qur'an. God gave them strength, wealth and great buildings, and sent them two prophets from among themselves: Hud to 'Ad and Salih to Thamud. Both peoples answered with pride and were destroyed, while the prophets and the believers with them were saved. ## On this page 1. ‘Ad: strength that forgot its Giver 2. Thamud: homes carved from mountains 3. Iram, al-Hijr and the question of places 4. What their stories teach Long before Islam, the Arabs told stories of two vanished peoples: ‘Ad and Thamud. Their names were proverbs for strength and for ruin. The [Qur’an](https://islamismercy.com/en/glossary/quran/) mentions them often, usually side by side, and the first people who heard it knew exactly whom it meant. Some of them had even travelled past the remains of their homes. ## ‘Ad: strength that forgot its Giver God sent to ‘Ad one of their own people, the prophet Hud (peace be upon him). The Qur’an calls him their “brother”, a reminder that God’s messengers came from within their communities, speaking their language and knowing their lives: > ۞ وَإِلَىٰ عَادٍ أَخَاهُمْ هُودًۭا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٥﴾ > 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?" [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:65](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=65&translations=20)Saheeh International ‘Ad came after the people of Noah (peace be upon him) and were given great stature and strength (Qur’an 7:69). They used that power to build. Hud described their monuments and fortresses, and the harshness with which they treated others: > أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةًۭ تَعْبَثُونَ ﴿١٢٨﴾ وَتَتَّخِذُونَ مَصَانِعَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَخْلُدُونَ ﴿١٢٩﴾ وَإِذَا بَطَشْتُم بَطَشْتُمْ جَبَّارِينَ ﴿١٣٠﴾ > 128Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves, 129And take for yourselves palaces and fortresses that you might abide eternally? 130And when you strike, you strike as tyrants. [Qur'an, Ash-Shu'araa 26:128-130](https://quran.com/26?startingVerse=128&translations=20)Saheeh International Hud reminded them that everything they enjoyed, from livestock and children to gardens and springs, came from God (Qur’an 26:132-134). He asked for no reward. But the leaders mocked him, and the people’s answer was pride: > 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 ﴿١٥﴾ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا صَرْصَرًۭا فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ نَّحِسَاتٍۢ لِّنُذِيقَهُمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْخِزْىِ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَخْزَىٰ ۖ وَهُمْ لَا يُنصَرُونَ ﴿١٦﴾ > 15As 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. 16So We sent upon them a screaming wind during days of misfortune to make them taste the punishment of disgrace in the worldly life; but the punishment of the Hereafter is more disgracing, and they will not be helped. [Qur'an, Fussilat 41:15-16](https://quran.com/41?startingVerse=15&translations=20)Saheeh International Their end came in a form they did not expect. They saw a cloud approaching their valleys and rejoiced, thinking it would bring rain; instead it was a destroying wind (Qur’an 46:24-25) that blew for seven nights and eight days (Qur’an 69:6-7). Yet God’s mercy was present even here: Hud and those who believed with him were saved (Qur’an 11:58). ## Thamud: homes carved from mountains After ‘Ad came Thamud. Their prophet was Salih (peace be upon him), also one of their own. God gave them a special sign, a she-camel, and reminded them of the land He had settled them in: > وَإِلَىٰ ثَمُودَ أَخَاهُمْ صَٰلِحًۭا ۗ قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ هَٰذِهِۦ نَاقَةُ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمْ ءَايَةًۭ ۖ فَذَرُوهَا تَأْكُلْ فِىٓ أَرْضِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَا تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوٓءٍۢ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۭ ﴿٧٣﴾ وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عَادٍۢ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًۭا وَتَنْحِتُونَ ٱلْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًۭا ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٧٤﴾ > 73And to the Thamud \[We sent\] their brother Salih. He said, "O my people, worship Allah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord. This is the she-camel of Allah \[sent\] to you as a sign. So leave her to eat within Allah 's land and do not touch her with harm, lest there seize you a painful punishment. 74And remember when He made you successors after the 'Aad and settled you in the land, \[and\] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allah and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption." [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:73-74](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=73&translations=20)Saheeh International The she-camel was to share the water with them, drinking on her own day while the people drank on theirs (Qur’an 26:155). It was a simple test: would they respect a sign from God, even when it asked them to share? The powerful leaders sneered at the poor and weak who had believed in Salih (Qur’an 7:75-76). Then they took the decisive step: > فَعَقَرُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا۟ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا۟ يَٰصَٰلِحُ ٱئْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٧٧﴾ فَأَخَذَتْهُمُ ٱلرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا۟ فِى دَارِهِمْ جَٰثِمِينَ ﴿٧٨﴾ فَتَوَلَّىٰ عَنْهُمْ وَقَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُمْ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّى وَنَصَحْتُ لَكُمْ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُحِبُّونَ ٱلنَّٰصِحِينَ ﴿٧٩﴾ > 77So they hamstrung the she-camel and were insolent toward the command of their Lord and said, "O Salih, bring us what you promise us, if you should be of the messengers." 78So the earthquake seized them, and they became within their home \[corpses\] fallen prone. 79And he turned away from them and said, "O my people, I had certainly conveyed to you the message of my Lord and advised you, but you do not like advisors." [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:77-79](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=77&translations=20)Saheeh International Salih gave them three days (Qur’an 11:65). After that a mighty blast struck them, and their busy homes fell silent. But, as with Hud, God saved Salih and the believers by His mercy (Qur’an 11:66). Notice how the Qur’an describes Salih’s last words: not gloating, but grief. He had delivered his message and counselled them sincerely, but they had closed their hearts to every word of good counsel. ## Iram, al-Hijr and the question of places One short passage brings both peoples together: > أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ ﴿٦﴾ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ ٱلْعِمَادِ ﴿٧﴾ ٱلَّتِى لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ ﴿٨﴾ وَثَمُودَ ٱلَّذِينَ جَابُوا۟ ٱلصَّخْرَ بِٱلْوَادِ ﴿٩﴾ > 6Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad - 7\[With\] Iram - who had lofty pillars, 8The likes of whom had never been created in the land? 9And \[with\] Thamud, who carved out the rocks in the valley? [Qur'an, Al-Fajr 89:6-9](https://quran.com/89?startingVerse=6&translations=20)Saheeh International Where did they live? The Qur’an places Hud’s mission in al-Ahqaf, “the sand dunes” (Qur’an 46:21), which classical scholars generally understood to be in southern Arabia, between Yemen and Oman. Iram is a harder question. Scholars differ over whether it was the name of a tribe, an ancestor, or a city. In modern times some writers have linked it to archaeological sites in southern Arabia, but no identification is certain, and it is wiser to leave it as the Qur’an leaves it. Thamud is better attested. The Qur’an links them to al-Hijr (Qur’an 15:80-82), and Muslims have long associated this with the region of Hegra, also called Mada’in Salih, near al-‘Ula in north-west Arabia. Its famous rock-cut tombs are striking, though historians note that most of the monumental facades visible today were carved later by the Nabataeans. The name Thamud also appears in ancient records outside Arabia, including Assyrian inscriptions from the eighth century BCE, which suggests they were a well-known people of the region. The Qur’an itself tells its first listeners that the ruined dwellings of ‘Ad and Thamud were plain for them to see (Qur’an 29:38). ## What their stories teach The stories of ‘Ad and Thamud share the patterns found across the Qur’an’s [accounts of past nations](https://islamismercy.com/en/history/history-in-the-quran/). **Power is not protection.** ‘Ad asked who could be stronger than them, and forgot that the One who created them was stronger still. Strength used for oppression became the cause of their fall. **Blessings are a test.** Both peoples were reminded again and again to remember God’s favours. Gratitude would have increased them; ingratitude destroyed them. **Arrogance blocks the truth.** In both stories it was the proud elite who led the rejection, while the humble were the first to believe. True [humility](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/humility-in-islam/) opens the heart to guidance. **God warns before He punishes, and He saves.** Each people had a prophet who called them patiently, a clear sign, and time to reconsider. And in each story the believers, though few, were rescued. The Qur’an tells these accounts not to frighten for its own sake, but so that those who still have time will turn to a Lord who is merciful. ## Key takeaways - 'Ad and Thamud were blessed with power, prosperity and great buildings, and each was sent a prophet from among its own people. - 'Ad trusted in their strength; Thamud killed the she-camel God had given them as a sign. - Both were destroyed after clear warnings, while Hud, Salih and the believers were rescued by God's mercy. - The location of Iram is uncertain; the region of Hegra (Mada'in Salih) in north-west Arabia is traditionally linked with Thamud. ## Share this article [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/?text=%27Ad%20and%20Thamud%3A%20Mighty%20Nations%20That%20Rejected%20Their%20Prophets%20https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fhistory%2Fad-and-thamud%2F)[Telegram](https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fhistory%2Fad-and-thamud%2F&text=%27Ad%20and%20Thamud%3A%20Mighty%20Nations%20That%20Rejected%20Their%20Prophets)[X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%27Ad%20and%20Thamud%3A%20Mighty%20Nations%20That%20Rejected%20Their%20Prophets&url=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fhistory%2Fad-and-thamud%2F)[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fislamismercy.com%2Fen%2Fhistory%2Fad-and-thamud%2F) ## Sources - [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:65](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=65&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Ash-Shu'araa 26:128-130](https://quran.com/26?startingVerse=128&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Fussilat 41:15-16](https://quran.com/41?startingVerse=15&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:73-74](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=73&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-A'raaf 7:77-79](https://quran.com/7?startingVerse=77&translations=20) - [Qur'an, Al-Fajr 89:6-9](https://quran.com/89?startingVerse=6&translations=20) ## Talk to a Muslim Have a question that isn't answered here? Ask a real person — no pressure, no judgement. [Ask your question](https://islamismercy.com/en/talk/) [The Journey](https://islamismercy.com/en/journey/)·Chapter 4 of 26·Lost nations of Arabia [Previous chapter**Noah (Nuh): Patience Through Centuries of Calling**](https://islamismercy.com/en/prophets/prophet-noah/)[Next chapter**Abraham (Ibrahim): Friend of God**](https://islamismercy.com/en/prophets/prophet-abraham/) ## Keep reading [History in the Qur’an ### History in the Qur'an: Why It Tells the Stories of Nations Why the Qur'an tells the stories of past nations as lessons rather than a chronicle, and the patterns that repeat across every story. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/history/history-in-the-quran/)[History in the Qur’an ### Sheba and the Great Dam: A Queen's Faith and a Land's Ingratitude Sheba in the Qur'an: the wise queen who came to believe with Solomon, and the gardens of Saba' lost when the great dam burst. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/history/sheba-and-the-great-dam/)[Islam's View On… ### What Does Islam Teach About Humility and Pride? Islam treats arrogance as a serious spiritual disease and humility as a mark of true greatness. Learn how the Qur'an and the Prophet ﷺ define both. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/views/humility-in-islam/)[Stories of the Prophets ### Who Are the Prophets in Islam? Muslims believe in Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad ﷺ and many other prophets — all sent by the One God with the same core message. Read article](https://islamismercy.com/en/prophets/prophets-in-islam/)