Bismillah.
وَأَمَّا عَادٌۭ فَأُهْلِكُوا۟ بِرِيحٍۢ صَرْصَرٍ عَاتِيَةٍۢ * سَخَّرَهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سَبْعَ لَيَالٍۢ وَثَمَـٰنِيَةَ أَيَّامٍ حُسُومًۭا فَتَرَى ٱلْقَوْمَ فِيهَا صَرْعَىٰ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ خَاوِيَةٍۢأَتْقَىٰكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ
And as for ‘Ād, they were destroyed by a furious, bitter wind. Which Allah unleashed on them non-stop for seven nights and eight days, so that you would have seen its people lying dead like trunks of uprooted palm trees.
(Surat al-Hāqqah No. 69, Āyat 6 & 7)
A masterpiece is renowned for its rich style and inspiring content. Among the captivating styles of the Holy Quran is its use of analogies, which adds beauty to its message and enhances its impact. Such analogies are used often in the Quran, including in the story of the people of ‘Ād. The verses from Surat al-Hāqqah describe the rise and fall of the tribe of ‘Ād, one of the most powerful tribes of the Arabian Peninsula.
The people of ‘Ād lived during the time of Prophet Hūd ‘alayhis-salām. They were referred to as dhat al-‘Imad—the possessors of pillars (Q 89:7). They carved massive pillars from the mountains and built palaces atop them. The people of ‘Ād were also blessed with distinct physical characteristics. They were tall, strong, and given long-life spans. Out of His mercy, Allah ‘azza wajall, sent Prophet Hūd (a) to guide them. Despite his tireless efforts over many years reminding them of the true belief, they turned a deaf ear to his message. When warned of Allah’s punishment they arrogantly responded, “O Hūd! The people of Nūh had frail and weak bodies but our gods are strong and so are we. Therefore, we do not fear any punishment (Majlisī, Hayāt al-Qulūb, 1:99).
In response, Allah subhānahu wata‘ālā withdrew His mercy from the people of ‘Ād. The Quran describes their punishment as a fierce, icy wind that raged for seven nights and eight days, uprooting their structures and tossing them as though they were mere pebbles. All their buildings were reduced to dust. The Quran recounts these punishments to serve as a reminder for future generations: So that We may make this a reminder to you, and that attentive ears may grasp it (Q 69:12).
As for their bodies, Allah (swt) employs a vivid analogy to describe their lifeless state. He likens them to the trunks of uprooted palm trees. The term nakhlin refers to palm trees which in Arabian culture symbolize strength and height. This analogy compares the physical might and towering stature of the people of ‘Ād to that of palm trees.
The term khāwiyah is used to further describe the state of their bodies after the punishment. Narrations mention that their bodies were left hollow, much like the trunks of decayed trees. This hollowness signifies not just physical emptiness but also the loss of their purpose, potential, and capability. The very source of their arrogance—physical strength—was rendered meaningless. The inner void of any form of perfection was manifested in the external hollowness of the remnants of their bodies, lying on the ground for all to witness.
Through the example of the tribe of ‘Ād, Almighty Allah demonstrates that all power and strength originate from Him and remains under His control. Whenever He wills, He can strip away any source of power, just as He seized the army from Fir‘awn and the wealth from Qārūn. Similarly, He can also render the technology and weapons of today’s oppressors useless in carrying out its intended goals.
We pray for the oppressed around the world and ask Allah (swt) to hasten the appearance of His hujjat, Imam Al-Mahdi (af).
Resources: Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh. Majlisi, Hayāt al-Qulūb, v. 1, pg. 99, Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Tafsīr al-Kabīr.