The Response of the People of Hud, and Their Punishment Allah tells us how the people of Hud responded to him after he had warned them, encouraged them, and clearly explained the truth to them.قَالُوا سَوَاء عَلَيْنَا أَوَعَظْتَ أَمْ لَمْ تَكُن مِّنَ الْوَاعِظِينَThey said:"It is the same to us whether you preach or be not of those who preach."meaning, `we will not give up our ways.'وَمَا نَحْنُ بِتَارِكِى ءالِهَتِنَا عَن قَوْلِكَ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكَ بِمُوْمِنِينَAnd we shall not leave our gods for your (mere) saying! And we are not believers in you. (11:53)This is how it was, as Allah says:إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُوْمِنُونَVerily, those who disbelieve, it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe (2:6) إِنَّ الَّذِينَ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ كَلِمَةُ رَبِّكَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَTruly, those, against whom the Word of your Lord has been justified, will not believe. (10:96-97)And they said:إِنْ هَذَا إِلاَّ خُلُقُ الاَْوَّلِينَ