50 Preface وَأَنَّهُ أَهلَكَ عادًا الأولىٰYusuf AliAnd that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient ‘Ād (people),1The eleventh and last aphorism refers to the punishment of the most powerful ancient peoples for their sins. For the ‘Ād people, see n. 1040 to 7:65, and for Thamūd, see n. 1043 to 7:73. They were strong; and they were talented: but their strength and their talents did not save them from being destroyed for their sins. The same may be said about the earlier generation of Noah, who were destroyed in the Flood: they “rejected Our Signs: they were indeed a blind people” (7:64); see also n. 1039 to 7:59; and 11:25-49. Ancient ‘Ād (people): some Commentators construe, First ‘Ād people, distinguishing them from the later ‘Ād people, a remnant that had their day and passed away.