103. Asad writes: "Hud is said to have been the first Arabian prophet. He may be identical with the Biblical Eber, the ancestor of the Hebrews (`Ibrim) who like most of the Semitic tribes had probably originated in South Arabia. (Reference to Eber are found in Genesis x, 24 25 and xi, 14ff.) The ancient Arabian name Hud is still reflected in that of Jacob's son Judah (Yahudah in Hebrew), which provided the subsequent designation of the Jews. The name `Eber both in Hebrew and in its Arabic form `Abir signifies "one who crosses over" (i.e., from one territory to another), and may be a Biblical echo of the fact that this tribe "crossed over" from Arabia to Mesopotamia in pre Abrahamic times. The tribe of `Ad, to which Hud belonged ("their brother Hud"), inhabited the vast desert region known as Al Ahqaf, between `Uman and Hadramawt, and was noted for its great power and influence (see 89: 8) "the like of whom has never been reared in all land"). It disappeared from history many centuries before the advent of Islam, but its memory always remained alive in Arabian tradition."

Mawdudi adds: "James R. Wellested, a British naval officer, discovered an ancient inscription in 1937 in a place called Hisn al Ghurab which contains a reference to the Prophet Hud."

104. This piece of the verse should lead us to believe that material benefits are favors of Allah. It is not asceticism to belittle them or treat them with scorn, as some ignorant Sufis do (Thanwi).

105. The words, "some names that you have devised," are meaningful. In the absence of any historical evidence of their existence, what is the reality behind the pagan deities but that they are some names that have been devised by their followers (Au.)?

106. It is reported that when the Prophet alighted at Hijr on his way to Tabuk he addressed the people in words:

لَا تَسْأَلُوا الْآيَاتِ وَقَدْ سَأَلَهَا قَوْمُ صَالِحٍ فَكَانَتْ تَرِدُ مِنْ هَذَا الْفَجِّ وَتَصْدُرُ مِنْ هَذَا الْفَجِّ فَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ فَعَقَرُوهَا فَكَانَتْ تَشْرَبُ مَاءَهُمْ يَوْمًا وَيَشْرَبُونَ لَبَنَهَا يَوْمًا فَعَقَرُوهَا فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَيْحَةٌ أَهْمَدَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ تَحْتَ أَدِيمِ السَّمَاءِ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا رَجُلًا وَاحِدًا كَانَ فِي حَرَمِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قِيلَ مَنْ هُوَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ هُوَ أَبُو رِغَالٍ فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ مِنْ الْحَرَمِ أَصَابَهُ مَا أَصَابَ قَوْمَهُ

"Do not ask for signs. The people of Salih asked for signs. Allah sent them a camel. She would drink off and empty their wells every second day. On the next day they drank from its milk. It used to enter the town by this gorge. They transgressed the commandment of their Lord and hamstrung her. Allah promised them a chastisement that was to descend after three days. Allah's promise was not to be broken so a huge cry was heard which killed everyone save for a single man who had gone to Makkah for a visit." He was asked: "Who was this man O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "That was Abu Rughal. Ultimately, when he left the Haram, he was overtaken by what the others had been overtaken" (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir).

The report is in Ibn Abi Hatim, Tabrani and Hakim who declared it trustworthy (Shawkani).

The Prophet also prohibited that a Muslim should visit the sites of destruction of previous nations, unless one went there weeping (Ibn Jarir).

The hadith is in Ahmad (Ibn Kathir, Shawkani).

It is also reported that the Prophet (saws) told `Ali:

أُحَيْمِرُ ثَمُودَ الَّذِي عَقَرَ النَّاقَةَ وَالَّذِي يَضْرِبُكَ يَا عَلِيُّ عَلَى هَذِهِ يَعْنِي قَرْنَهُ حَتَّى تُبَلَّ مِنْهُ هَذِهِ يَعْنِي لِحْيَتَهُ

"(The most wretched of men) was Uhaymar, the one who hamstrung Thamud's camel, and he who will strike you here O `Ali (i.e., at the neck)" (Zamakhshari).

The wordings of the above report are from Ahmad (Au.).

107. It is reported that once `Ali (ra) asked a Hadrami: "Have you seen the red dune heaped with crimson stones with Arak tree growing on it and plenty of lote trees by the sides in such and such area of Hadramawt? Have you seen it?" The man replied: "You have described it as if you have seen the place." `Ali said: "I have not. But it was described to me." The Hadrami asked: "So what about it?" `Ali replied: "Hud's grave is thereunder" (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir).

The report is in the Tarikh of Bukhari (Shawkani).