عاد
ʿĀd
Group
The people of the prophet Hud, destroyed for their arrogance, according to the Quran.
What it means
The Quran describes ʿĀd as a powerful people who boasted “who is mightier than us in strength?” (41:15), built lofty monuments and rejected Hud, their prophet (7:65–72, 46:21–25). They were destroyed by a violent wind lasting seven nights and eight days (69:6–8). Their city is called Iram of the pillars (89:7).
What the sources say
The Quran uses ʿĀd, with Thamud and the people of Noah, as a warning that nations are destroyed by their injustice and not by their wealth. Where exactly ʿĀd lived is not agreed among scholars, and claims to have found Iram are disputed.