Hūd: (58–60) And when Our command came...

Know that His saying: {And when Our command came} means Our punishment. This was the affliction that befell them: the sterile wind. Allah punished them with it for seven nights and eight days. It entered their nostrils and exited their posteriors, throwing them onto the ground on their faces until they became like hollowed-out palm trunks.

/ If it is asked: How did this wind cause their destruction? It is answered: It is possible that this was due to the intensity of its heat, or the intensity of its cold, or the intensity of its force, which snatched living creatures from the ground and then dashed them against the earth. All these interpretations are plausible.

As for His saying: {We saved Hūd}, know that it is permissible for a calamity to strike both the believer and the disbeliever simultaneously. In such a case, that calamity becomes a mercy for the believer and a punishment for the disbeliever. As for the punishment sent down upon those who deny the Prophets (peace be upon them), it is incumbent upon Allah’s wisdom to save the believer from it. Were it not so, it would not be known as a punishment for their disbelief. For this reason, Allah the Exalted said here: {We saved Hūd and those who believed with him}.

As for His saying: {out of Our mercy}, there are several interpretations:

1. The first: It means that no one is saved, even if they strive in faith and righteous deeds, except through a mercy from Allah.
2. The second: The mercy intended is what guided them to faith in Allah and righteous deeds.
3. The third: That He showed them mercy at that time, distinguishing them from the disbelievers in the punishment.

As for His saying: {and saved them from a severe punishment}, the first salvation refers to salvation from the punishment of this world, and the second salvation refers to the punishment of the Hereafter. It was described as severe (ghalīẓ) to indicate that the punishment they suffered after death was severe compared to the affliction they experienced in this world. The meaning of His saying: {and saved them} is that We decreed that they do not deserve that severe punishment and will not fall into it.

Know that when Allah mentioned the story of the 'Ād, He addressed the people of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: {The 'Ād denied}. This is an allusion to their graves and ruins, as if Allah were saying: Travel through the earth, look at them, and take heed. Then, Allah mentioned their characteristics and subsequently mentioned the outcome of their affairs in this world and the Hereafter. Their characteristics are three:

The first characteristic is His saying: {denied the signs of their Lord}. This means they denied the evidence of the miracles proving the truthfulness [of the Prophet], or they denied the evidence of created things pointing to the existence of the Wise Creator, if it is established that they were heretics (zindīqah).

The second characteristic is His saying: {and disobeyed His messengers}. The reason is that if they disobey one messenger, they have disobeyed all messengers, due to His saying: {We make no distinction between any one of His messengers} (Al-Baqarah: 285). It is also said that only Hūd (peace be upon him) was sent to them.

The third characteristic is His saying: {and followed the command of every obstinate tyrant}. This means that the common folk imitated their leaders in saying: {This is nothing but a human being like you} (Al-Mu'minūn: 24). The meaning of jabbār (tyrant) is one who is arrogant, rebellious, stubborn, and contentious.

/ Know that when Allah mentioned their characteristics, He then mentioned their states, saying: {and they were made to follow in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection}. This means that the curse became their constant companion, following and accompanying them in this world and the Hereafter. The meaning of the curse is being distanced from the mercy of Allah and from all good.

Then, Allah clarified the primary reason for the descent of these disliked states upon them, saying: {Indeed, the 'Ād disbelieved their Lord}. It is said that the intended meaning was kafarū bi-rabbihim (disbelieved in their Lord), and the preposition bā' was omitted. Another view is that kufūr means denial, so the meaning is: Indeed, the 'Ād denied their Lord. Another view is that it is an omission of the possessed noun (mudāf), meaning: they disbelieved the favors of their Lord.

Then He said: {Indeed, away with the 'Ād, the people of Hūd!} There are two questions regarding this:

The first question: Cursing (la'nah) is distance (bu'd). So, what is the benefit of saying {Indeed, away with the 'Ād} after He already said: {and they were made to follow in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection}? The answer: Repetition using two different expressions indicates the utmost emphasis.

The second question: What is the benefit of saying {the people of Hūd}? The answer: There were two groups called 'Ād. The first: the ancient ones, who are the people of Hūd. The second: Iram of the Pillars (dhāt al-'imād). This was mentioned to remove ambiguity. Alternatively, the emphasis in specifying them indicates greater confirmation.

! 7 < {And to Thamūd, their brother Ṣāliḥ. He said, "O my people, worship Allāh; you have no deity other than Him. He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein. So ask forgiveness of Him and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive." *They said, "O Ṣāliḥ, you have been among us as one we expected before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers worshipped? And indeed, we are in grave doubt about that which you invite us to."} > 7

<