الَّتِي لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ (8)
(89:8) the like of whom no nation was ever created in the lands of the world? *4
*4) That is, they were a matchless people of their time; no other nation in the world compare with them in strength, glory and grandeur. At other places in the Qur'an, it has been said about them: "Your Lord made you very robust." (Al-A`raf: 69) "As for the `Ad, they became arrogant with pride in the land, without any right, and said: `Who is stronger than us in might"? (Ha MIm As-Sajdah: 15). "When you seized somebody, you seized him like a tyrant." (Ash-Shu`ara' 130)