Was Tubba‘ a prophet whose people disbelieved him, as stated in Tafsir al-Jalalayn, or was he an oppressor, as some historical accounts like the story of Al-Zir Salim narrate? And how can this be reconciled with the Quran’s mention of him? And why did the Quran not mention how the people of Tubba‘ were annihilated?

"Tubba'" is a title for one who owned all of Yemen. He was named thus either because he followed the sun in his conquests, or because kings followed him. The Tubba' mentioned in the Qur'an is As'ad Abu Karib. The Qur'an states that Allah destroyed his people. Some exegetes believe their destruction was by the flood of al-Aram, and that Tubba' himself was a righteous Muslim who was saved from the punishment that befell his people, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "Do not curse Tubba', for he had embraced Islam."