The Forgotten People of Arabia: Ad and the Wind of Destruction

Veins of Truth: Connecting the Dots Story 2: Ad and the Wind of Destruction

In the vast deserts of southern Arabia once stood a mighty civilization known as the People of Ad. Their story, mentioned repeatedly in the Qur’an, is one of arrogance, architectural power, and divine justice. They were a people of tall stature, great strength, and impressive wealth. They built monuments and towers in the land, boasting of their power.

Qur’an (26:128-129): "Do you build on every height a monument for no purpose? And do you take for yourselves palaces as if you will live forever?"

The Prophet Hud was sent to guide them, urging them to worship one God and abandon their corruption. But Ad, like many before and after, ridiculed the message and saw themselves as untouchable.

Qur’an (41:15): "As for Ad, they were arrogant upon the Earth without right and said, 'Who is greater than us in strength?'"

They were soon answered by something they could not resist: a fierce, icy wind that blew for seven nights and eight days, obliterating everything in its path.

Qur’an (69:6-8): "And as for Ad, they were destroyed by a screaming, violent wind, which He imposed upon them for seven nights and eight days in succession. So you would see the people therein fallen as if they were hollow trunks of palm trees."

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Link to NASA Image and the description of that image https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia01721-space-radar-image-of-the-lost-city-of-ubar

Tracing Ad in Real History: The Lost City of Iram

The Qur’an refers to Ad as the people of Iram:

Qur’an (89:6-8): "Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with ʿĀd — [with] Iram, who had lofty pillars, the like of whom had never been created in the land?"

For centuries, Iram was thought to be a myth. But in the 1990s, archaeologists working with NASA satellite imagery discovered the remains of a collapsed city beneath the sands of the Rub’ al-Khali (the Empty Quarter) in Oman. This city, called Ubar, matched the Qur’anic descriptions: rich in trade, pillars, and regional influence.[1]

• Ubar sat on ancient frankincense trade routes

• Archaeological digs found evidence of collapse due to overuse of underground water and sudden geological failure

• The city was literally swallowed into the desert[2]

These discoveries, reported by archaeologist Nicholas Clapp and confirmed by satellite scans, align with the Qur’anic theme of a prosperous people suddenly erased from history.[3]

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Was There a Biblical Equivalent?