Ash-Shu'ara 26:129

<h2>Hud's preaching to His People `Ad</h2><p>Here Allah tells us about His servant and Messenger Hud, when he called his people `Ad. His people used to live in the Ahqaf, curved sand-hills near Hadramawt, on the borders of Yemen. They lived after the time of Nuh, as Allah says in Surat Al-A`raf:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">وَاذكُرُواْ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِن بَعْدِ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَزَادَكُمْ فِى الْخَلْقِ بَسْطَةً</div><p>(And remember that He made you successors after the people of Nuh and increased you amply in stature) (7:69). This refers to the fact that they were physically strong and well-built, and very violent, and very tall; they had also been given a great deal of provisions, wealth, gardens, rivers, sons, crops and fruits. Yet despite all of that, they worshipped others besides Allah. So Allah sent Hud, one of their own, as a Messenger bringing them good news and delivering warnings. He called them to worship Allah alone, and he warned them of Allah's wrath and punishment if they were to go against him and treating him harshly. He said to them, as Nuh had said to his people:</p><div class="arabic uthmani">أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً تَعْبَثُونَ </div><p>(Do you build on every Ri` an Ayah for your amusement) …

And seek ye out strongholds, that haply ye may last for ever?

"And do ye get for yourselves fine buildings in the hope of living therein (for ever)?

"And do you get for yourselves palaces (fine buildings) as if you will live therein for ever.

And you set up fortresses, hoping to live forever?