The primary ancestor of the nation of ‘Aad is ‘Aad Ibn ‘Aws Ibn Iram Ibn Saam Ibn Nooh.  Shaddaad is also one of the descendants of ‘Aad.  He was a great kind and he had all the other kings of his time under his control.  Hearing of paradise from the Prophets he wanted to build a paradise in the world due to the grandiose of himself.  He made a very large city and built its houses of gold and silver bricks and their pillars were made of precious stones and rubies and he made the floors also to the similar effect with pearls instead of stones.

Streams were flowing near every palace.  He had different kinds of trees planted for shade.  He had every aspect of luxury and comfort he could think of.  When the construction was completed the king was prepared to enter into his paradise and he travelled towards it with his men.  He was close to approaching it when a horrific voice came from the sky through which Allah Almighty had destroyed Shaddaad and all his men, and he could not even get to see his manmade paradise.

During the caliphate of Hazrat Ameer Mu’awiyah رضي الله عنه , Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Qalabah رضي الله عنه passed through the desert of ‘Adn searching for his lost camel and entered that city and saw all its luxurious decorations but he did not see anyone living there.

He took some jewels and left the area.  This news reached Hazrat Ameer Mu’awiya’s رضي الله عنه ears and he called Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Qalabah رضي الله عنه and asked him about whatever he had seen and he told him everything.

Hazrat Ameer Mu’awiya رضي الله عنه then called Hazrat Ka’b Ahbaar – may Allah be pleased with them and asked him, “Is there such a place in the world?”  He replied, “Yes.  It is also mentioned in the Holy Quran.  This city was built by Shaddaad Ibn ‘Aad but then all were destroyed by Allah’s punishment and none of them remained alive but during your caliphate, there will be a man of short stature whose eyes will be blue and he will have a beauty spot on his eyebrow, he will approach this place searching for his camel.”

Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Qalabah رضي الله عنه  entered during this conversation, and Hazrat Ka’b Ahbaar رضي الله عنه said when he saw him, “By Allah!  He is the man who will see the manmade paradise of Shaddaad.”

(Khazaain Al-‘Irfaan p. 1069-1070)

 

The Holy Quran has stated when mentioning the state of the nation of ‘Aad and other disobedient nations as follows:

اَلَمْ تَرَ کَیۡفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّکَ بِعَادٍ ﴿۶﴾۪ۙ

Have you not seen, what did your Lord with Aad?
اِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ ﴿۷﴾۪ۙ

The people of Iram excessively tall,
الَّتِیۡ لَمْ یُخْلَقْ مِثْلُہَا فِی الْبِلٰدِ ﴿۸﴾۪ۙ

The like of whom have not been created in cities.
وَ ثَمُوۡدَ الَّذِیۡنَ جَابُوا الصَّخْرَ بِالْوَادِ ﴿۹﴾۪ۙ

And with Thamud who hewed out rocks in the valley.
وَ فِرْعَوْنَ ذِی الْاَوْتَادِ ﴿۱۰﴾۪ۙ

And with Firawn (Pharaoh) who pilloried.
الَّذِیۡنَ طَغَوْا فِی الْبِلٰدِ ﴿۱۱﴾۪ۙ

Those who transgressed in the cities.
فَاَکْثَرُوۡا فِیۡہَا الْفَسَادَ ﴿۱۲﴾۪ۙ

And spread mischief therein
فَصَبَّ عَلَیۡہِمْ رَبُّکَ سَوْطَ عَذَابٍ ۚ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾

Therefore your Lord let down upon them the whip of torment with force.

(Al-Fajr 89, Verse 6-13)

 

Lesson:

The arrogant attitude, disobedience and boastfulness of the people are the most hated characteristics by Allah Almighty therefore, Allah Almighty destroyed all those nations that were arrogant and disobedient with His wrath.

Shaddaad and the other members of the nation of ‘Aad, they shared the same arrogance and disobedient characteristic therefore they were destroyed from the surface of earth.

We should seek wisdom from their conditions and the reason why the Holy Quran has mentioned their stories so that the people of Quran may find guidance and fear Allah at all times.

It is necessary for the Muslims to recite Quran and also read the translation in order to understand and take a lesson from the destruction of the previous lessons.

We should make Taubah at all times and instil the fear of Allah in our hearts and keep away from all forms of disbeliefs and evil practices.

We should all strive to do good and not have any pride due to having wealth etc.

And Allah, He shall grant the divine opportunity!

(Ajaibul Quran 222-224)