Allah says, just as We sent Nuh to his people, similarly, to the `Ad people,
We sent Hud one of their own brethren. Muhammad bin Ishaq said that the tribe of
`Ad were the descendants of `Ad, son of Iram, son of `Aws, son of Sam, son of
Nuh. I say, these are indeed the ancient people of `Ad whom Allah mentioned, the
children of `Ad, son of Iram who were living in the deserts with lofty pillars
or statues. Allah said,
[أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ
فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ - إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ - الَّتِى لَمْ يُخْلَقْ
مِثْلُهَا فِى الْبِلَـدِ ]
(Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with `Ad (people). Of Iram like
(lofty) pillars. The like of which were not created in the land) [89:6-8]
because of their might and strength. Allah said in another instance,
[فَأَمَّا عَادٌ
فَاسْتَكْبَرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَقَالُواْ مَنْ أَشَدُّ مِنَّا
قُوَّةً أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُمْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُمْ
قُوَّةً وَكَانُواْ بِـَايَـتِنَا يَجْحَدُونَ ]
(As for `Ad, they were arrogant in the land without right, and they said:
"Who is mightier than us in strength'' See they not that Allah Who created them
was mightier in strength than them. And they used to deny Our Ayat!)
[41:15].