THE AAD PEOPLE AND THE CITY OF ERAM

There are many passages where the Aad people are mentioned in the Quran. The Prophet Hud was sent to the Aad people to warn them against attributing a partner to God. The Aad people, however, turned a deaf ear on the Prophet’s warning and continued their practice. The Aad community lived in the city of Eram, a city built on beautiful tall pillars, which was destroyed by a storm.

Have you not seen what your Lord did to the Aad. (89:6)

Of Eram with lofty pillars, (89:7)

The like of which were not produced in the land. (89:8)

At the beginning of the 1990s the leading papers in the world covered the story of a discovery of towering importance under such headings as “Discovery of a Sumptuous Arabian City,” “Legendary Arabian City Unearthed.” What made this archaeological finding more significant was the mention of its name in the Quran. This discovery confounded those who had insisted that the existence of the Aad community was only legendary. The city in question was discovered by an amateur archaeologist, Nicholas Clapp. Based on written evidence, he set off to unearth the lost city. After long efforts he managed to persuade NASA to have satellite photographs taken of the region in question ; these photographs resulted in the eventual discovery. As the ruins came to be unearthed, it was concluded that the site corresponded to the city of the Aad people mentioned in the Quran. Among the unearthed ruins were the tall pillars described in the Quran. Dr. Zarins claims that what made this city referred to as Eram different from others of its time was these pillars described in the Quran. The other accounts related to this event exactly tallied with the archaeological findings.
DESTRUCTION OF AAD

And the Aad were destroyed by a furious, roaring storm… (69:6)

So when they saw it as a cloud advancing towards their valley, they said: “This cloud will give us rain.” No, it is what you were trying to hasten! The wind that carries the grievous punishment. (46:24)

When the Aad people saw the cloud that was to bring punishment to them, they thought it was a rain cloud. The sandstorm was seen from afar as a rain cloud. The destruction of the Aad people is often referred to in the Quranic verses. The city in question was unearthed following an excavation that went deep down into the ground. The description in the Quran is in accord with the evidence of the burial of the city of the Aad people under dunes of sand.

Remember the brother of Aad. When he warned his people at the dunes, but there have been warners before him and after him. “You shall not worship any except God. I fear for you the retribution of a great day.” (46:21)

“Ahqaf” is the plural of “hiqf” (dune of sand). Some commentators mention the name as a proper noun. But this does not change its signification in any way. Historical data and archaeological findings clearly refer to the Aad people and the city Eram with tall pillars mentioned in the Quran. The unearthing of the city is a recent affair. The Quran says that there have been instances in the past from which we
have to derive lessons and archaeology as a science provides us evidences to prove the truth revealed in the Quran.

As for Aad, they behaved arrogantly on earth, against all truth, and said, “Who is more powerful than we?” Did they not see that God who created them is more powerful than they? Yet they refused to believe Our signs. (41:15)
So We sent upon them a furious wind for several miserable days to afflict them with a humiliating retribution in this life. But the retribution of the Hereafter is more humiliating, and there will be no help for them. (41:16)