إرم
Iram
Place
A place named in the Quran as the home of the ancient people of ‘Ad, “of the pillars”.
What it means
“Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with ‘Ad, Iram of the pillars, the like of which was not created in the land?” (89:6–8). The people of ‘Ad were warned by the prophet Hud and were destroyed by a violent wind (7:65–72, 69:6–8).
What the sources say
Commentators differed whether Iram is a tribe, a city or an ancestor. Claims that the lost city of Ubar has been found are not established, and the Quran’s lesson is the fall of the proud, which does not depend on the location.