The Heights
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE[7:74]
"And remember how He made you heirs to [the tribe of] ’ād and settled you firmly on earth, so that you [are able to] build for yourselves castles on its plains and hew out mountains [to serve you] as dwellings: remember, then, God’s blessings, and do not act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption."

---

* v.74 : Cf. the parallel expression in verse 69 above – “heirs to Noah’s people” – and the corresponding note. From all the historical references to the Thamūd it is apparent that they were one of the greatest and most powerful Arab tribes of their time.
* A reference to the elaborate rock-dwellings or tombs – to be seen to this day – which the Thamūd carved out of the cliffs west of Al-Hijr, in northern Hijāz, and embellished with sculptures of animals as well as many inscriptions attesting to the comparatively high degree of their civilization and power. In popular Arabian parlance, these rock-dwellings are nowadays called Madā’in Cālih (“the Towns of Cālih”).