وَأُتْبِعُوا۟ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ عَادًا كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّهُمْ ۗ أَلَا بُعْدًا لِّعَادٍ قَوْمِ هُودٍ 60
Translations
And they were [therefore] followed in this world with a curse and [as well] on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, ʿAad denied their Lord; then away with ʿAad, the people of Hūd.
Transliteration
Wa-utbi'oo fee hadhihid-dunya la'natan wa-yawmal-qiyamah. Ala inna 'aadan kafaroo rabbahum. Ala bu'dan li-'aad qawmi hood.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the curse that followed the people of 'Ad in this worldly life and will continue on the Day of Judgment, emphasizing that 'Ad rejected their Lord despite receiving clear signs through the prophet Hood. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that the curse manifested as their destruction through the devastating wind and their utter rejection by Allah, serving as a stern warning to those who reject divine guidance. The repeated 'Ala (Behold/Indeed) emphasizes the gravity of their disbelief and the certainty of their destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah concludes the narrative of 'Ad within Surah Hud, which is a Meccan surah focused on stories of ancient nations and their destruction as a result of rejecting their messengers. The mention of 'Ad's punishment provides historical evidence to the Meccan disbelievers that rejection of the Prophet Muhammad's message would lead to similar consequences, making this part of the broader rhetorical strategy of the surah.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Surah Hud (69:6-8) regarding the wind that destroyed 'Ad is elaborated in various collections. Additionally, the general principle is supported by Tirmidhi and other collections regarding the statement 'Far removed are the people of 'Ad, the people of Hood' (Bu'dan li-'aad), reflecting the severance between them and mercy.
Themes
Key Lesson
The fate of 'Ad serves as a sobering reminder that persistent rejection of divine guidance, despite clear signs and a righteous messenger, inevitably leads to destruction both in this life and the next; believers should reflect on this warning and heed the messages of the Quran and Sunnah before it is too late.