The Unity of Allah^-SWT

As time rolled on the inhabitants of earth nourished and multiplied. In the fifth generation of Prophet Nuh^-AS was born a person named Ad. who was a descendant of Prophet Nuh^-AS ‘s son Sam. 'Ad was a man of such prominence that the entire nation became known as Qaum-e-' Ad (People of Ad).

The descendants of Ad's brother became known as the Children of Thamud ,and also as 'Ad Thani (Ad the Second). According to the historians, Irum was the grandfather of Ad. That is why these people have also been referred to as Ad-e-lrum in history. They were well built, tall, strong and affluent, blessed with fertile lands yielding golden crops. Their orchards were laden with fruits. In short, they had every possible provision, in abundance, and this led them into heedlessness of Allaah^-SWT . Intoxicated with wealth and power they indulged in polytheism and defiance. This tragic level of their spiritual ailment demanded a healing through Divine Providence. Therefore, Allaah^-SWT raised amongst them Prophet Hud^-AS, a descendant of Sam. Prophethood is an honour conferred only upon mankind, and no other creation has ever been blessed with. This is because humans could have only benefited from their own species. But here the favour was doubled as Prophet Hud"^AS was also from the same community and lineage. He blatantly told his people to worship Allah^-SWT, as He^{-SWT –} Alone is worthy of worship. The Unity of Allaah^-SWT was the basic and the foremost concept preached by all the Messengers^-AS  and has always been the corner-stone of all Divine Religions. It must be remembered that concept of Unity demands having a single focal point of all hopes, whereas mere verbal declaration of Allah^-SWT's Oneness will in fact be a superficial acceptance of Unity.

Prophet Hud^-AS told his people that their relationship with Allaah^-SWT ’ had deteriorated so much that they no longer felt embarrassed over their conduct. Belief in Unity of Allaah^-SWT actually depends upon one's inner relation with Him^-SWT ’ termed as Taqwa. Once this link is broken, a person begins to idolize many as his Rabb^-SWT , even though he is not vocal about it.

The chieftains of Ad who were rejoicing their leadership clue to the false religion were outraged. They told him  that his words made no sense to them. How could the propensities and practices of their forefathers, which had always proved beneficial, be wrong? He  was either unaware or had some vested interest, they said.

Prophet Hud^-AS rebutted that he was certainly not insane, as whatever he had told them could only have been discerned by a Prophet^-AS. All the philosophers, savants and intellectuals of the world put together can never find a clue to Allah^-SWT's Attributes. It is the Prophets^-AS who know, being directly instructed by Him^-SWT . Prophet Hud^-AS added that he too was Allah^-SWT's Messenger^-AS and was assigned to convey the Message of the Creator and the Provider of the universe. Moreover, his sole aim was not only to convey the Message but he also deeply sympathized with them. He sincerely wanted to help them improve their ways as he was also a trustee. Prophets^-AS are trustees in all matters; that is, in conveying the Divine Message, exerting efforts and sincerely wishing to reform people.

He inquired as to why did it amaze them that Allaah^-SWT ’ had chosen a commoner from amongst them for Prophethood, and not a chieftain or an angel, to inform them of the end results of their deeds! He told his people to remember the times gone by, when Prophet Nuh^-AS was sent as Allaah^-SWT ’'s Messenger^-AS, whose teachings were the same. Repudiation of his teachings had destroyed the disobedient. Allah^-SWT erased them from the face of this earth and brought in a generation (the Ad) stronger and more powerful, blessed with prosperity and affluence. It was only appropriate that they should show gratitude to the Real Bestower, rather than stubbornly clinging to their religious heritage. They bragged that if Allaah^-SWT would punish them for being loyal to their deities, then let it happen. In any case they would never abandon the rituals of their ancestors.

A Sign of Allah^-SWT ’s Annoyance

When sin crosses certain limits, it invokes Allaah^-SWT ’s Wrath, symbolized by the loss of the capacity to repent. Instead of being embarrassed, a person feels proud of his wickedness. This state of affairs is a punishment by itself and it was the condition of People of Ad when Prophet Hud^-AS was raised. He repeatedly warned them. He declared that it was a punishment from Allaah^-SWT that they were exerting all their energies in proving hypothetical gods as their Providers. He warned them that if they preferred their rituals over the Divine Message they must stand by for the consequences while he too would be doing so.

The Prophetic lights he generously dissipated were absorbed only by those hearts, which had not lost the ability of acceptance completely. And those hardened and rendered barren by a constant indulgence in sin were ruined. Winds, normally a sign of glad tidings and life, were imposed on them as Divine Punishment. It was a nation of tall and well built people living in lofty mansions, which were demolished by the furious winds. The trees were uprooted and the stormy and shrieking winds tossed people and animals to the ground, smashing them to pieces. For those with enlightened hearts, Prophet Hud^-AS threw a cordon around them within which the weather remained normal. The winds inside the cordon were harbingers of Divine Mercy whereas outside they were a manifestation of His^-SWT Fury.

This punishment was awarded to them when they persistently disobeyed Allaah^-SWT and their Qulub were rendered incapable of accepting guidance. The darkness enveloping their hearts had intensified so much that they were deprived of Divine Mercy and were seized by His^-SWT Wrath. This is why Allaah^-SWT says: "They were not to believe."