The People of Tubba' (Arabic: قوم تبع, Qawm Tubba) are a group of people mentioned in the Qur'an. They are only mentioned twice; first in the chapter Ad-Dukhan and next in Qaf. They are citizens of pre-Islamic Yemen, whom were given divine punishments for their misdeeds and rejection of the divine messengers sent by God.
The word Tubba' was in fact a title which was used by the Himyarites to refer to their rulers.[1] The identify of the Tubba' here is unknown, however scholars including Ibn Kathir, Ibn Ishaq, Ibn Hisham, Ibn al-Kalbi and Tabari have identified him as the Himyarite king Abu Karib.[2] [3] [4] Ibn al-Jawzi also has a narration which cites the Tubba' as being Malikikarib Yuhamin, Abu Karib's father and predecessor.[5]
There is a Hadith of disputed authenticity, which affirms that Tubba' was a believer in a "correct" faith that preceded Islam.[6] [7] However, another narration states that it was not known whether Tubba' was accursed or not.[8] Arab traditions cite that Tubba' converted to Judaism after he was warned by two rabbis at Medina to stay away from the city, as a Prophet would migrate there in future.
The people of Tubba' are mentioned twice in the Qu'ran:
Are they better or the people of Tubba' and those who went before them? We destroyed them [for] indeed, they were a criminal people.[9]
And the companions of the thicket and the people of Tubba'. All denied the messengers, so My threat was justly fulfilled.[10]