Iram - The City of Pillars
Did You Know?
The Quran mentions 'Iram, who had lofty pillars, the like of which were not produced in all the land' (89:7-8). This city was considered legendary until 1992 when NASA satellite imaging and ground excavations discovered Ubar (ancient Iram) in Oman, featuring distinctive large pillars.
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ إِرَمَ ذَاتِ الْعِمَادِ الَّتِي لَمْ يُخْلَقْ مِثْلُهَا فِي الْبِلَادِ
Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with 'Aad - [with] Iram - who had lofty pillars, the like of which were not produced in all the land?
Quran 89:6-8
Explanation
For centuries, Iram was considered a mythical city - no historical or archaeological evidence existed for it. In 1992, using NASA satellite imagery, archaeologists discovered the ancient city of Ubar in the Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter) of Oman. The site revealed massive pillars exactly as described in the Quran. The city had been a major trading center that was buried by shifting sands, making it impossible for 7th century inhabitants to know of its existence.
Scientific Details
NASA Discovery
Dr. Juris Zarins and team used NASA's Landsat images to identify ancient caravan routes that converged at Ubar. Ground excavations in 1992 revealed an octagonal fortress with towers and large pillars - matching the Quran's description precisely.
Archaeological Significance
The discovery of Iram/Ubar confirmed the Quran's account of a powerful civilization with remarkable architecture that was destroyed and buried. The city's collapse into a sinkhole around 300 CE left no surface traces for 1,400+ years.
References
- Zarins, J. (1992). Lost City of Ubar. Expedition Magazine
- Clapp, N. (1998). The Road to Ubar: Finding the Atlantis of the Sands