Surah 7. Al-A'raf

51'Ad was one of the most ancient tribes of Arabia. Their stories were well known and were related all over the country. The stories of their power and wealth had become proverbial and their utter annihilation also was cited as an example. Their notoriety helped to produce some new words akin to their name. Every ancient thing is called (`adi) and archaeological remains are called ('adiyyat) The land, which has no owner left and thus becomes fallow, is called (`adi-ul-ard).

This tribe is often mentioned in the ancient Arabic poetry. The experts in the art of genealogy of the Arab tribes mention `Ad as the first of the extinct tribes of Arabia. There is a tradition that once a man of Bani Zahl-bin-Shaiban, who was a resident of the territory where the `Ad tribe lived, came to the Holy Prophet and related stories about 'Ad, that had come down from ancient times.

According to the Qur'an, the tribe of `Ad lived in Ahqaf, surrounded by Hijaz, Yaman and Yamamah. From here they had established their authority over a vast territory , that extended from the western coast of Yaman and ' Umman and Hadar Maut to 'Iraq. Though their remains have become quite extinct from the historical point of view, yet there arc some remnants in Southern Arabia that are ascribed to `Ad. At one place in Hadar Maut, there is a tomb which is said to be of Prophet Hud. In 1837, James R. Wellested, an officer in the British Navy, discovered near Hisn-i-Ghurab a tablet which contained a mention of Prophet Hud. Moreover, the writing on the tablet showed that they were the followers of the Law of Prophet Hud. (For further explanation see E.N. 25 of XLVI).

52The Arabic word ala means (1) "blessings" (2) Demonstrations of nature and (3) Praiseworthy qualities. Thus the verse can be elaborated to mean, "Remember the blessings and favors of Allah and do not forget that He also has the power to take away these from you" .

53Verse 70 also shows that the people of Hud were neither ignorant of . the existence of Allah nor did they deny Him nor did they refuse to worship Him. What they refused to accept was the invitation of Prophet Hud to worship Allah alone, without associating anyone else with Him.

54That is "You call one `the lord of rain', the other `the lord of air' or `lord of wealth' or `lord of disease', when, in fact, none of these is lord of anything. These are mere names that you have invented". In our own time they call one `the remover of difficulties' and the other `the bestower of treasures', whereas he has no treasure to bestow on anyone. They have made one "the giver", when he owns nothing to give, and so on. In fact, such titles are empty words without any corresponding possessor of such qualities, entitling anyone to these titles. Therefore, if one argues to justify these titles, he, in fact, raises disputes over mere names that have no reality behind them.

55That is, "Allah, Whom you yourselves acknowledge to be the Overlord, has not delegated to any of these gods the powers of a lord or god. He has never said that He has delegated a part of His Godhead to such and such a one, nor has He sent command authorizing anyone with the powers of `giver' or `remover of difficulties'. You yourselves have, of your own accord, bestowed such titles on the ones you pleased.

56"We cut off the roots of . . ." means, "We destroyed them so completely that no sign of theirs was left in the world". This is a fact that has been established by the traditions of Arabia. The archaeological remains also bear testimony that the people of the "First `Ad" were so completely annihilated that even their monuments were effaced from the world. The Arab historians count the `Ad tribe among the extinct tribes. They, however, assert it as a fact that the followers of Hud were saved and were known as the "Second `Ad" and the tablet of Hisn-i-Ghurab mentioned in E.N. 51, is one of their monuments. Here are some extracts of the inscriptions which were inscribed on it some 1800 years before Christ:-

"We have lived for a long period in this fort in great prosperity. Our canals were always full of water ........ and our rulers were noble kings who were free from evil. They were, however, hard on those who disturbed the peace. They ruled over us in accordance with the Law of Hud and used to enter all important decisions in a book. We believe in miracles and life-after-death."

The above extracts bear witness to the fact stated in the Qur'an that the followers of Hud became the inheritors of the ancient glory and prosperity of the `Ad tribe.