Iram Dhat al-Imad
Definition
Iram dhat al-imad — Iram of the pillars — is the legendary city of 'Ad, described in the Quran as a civilization 'the like of which had not been created in the land.' Ibn Kathir discusses scholarly opinions about whether Iram refers to the lineage of 'Ad, a specific city they built, or the name of their ancestor. Most classically, it is understood as referring to their capital — a city of towering pillars and extraordinary construction whose very existence was itself a declaration of human greatness. That this civilization, described as unmatched in all the earth, was erased completely by divine command is precisely the point: no human achievement is permanent without divine approval.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
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