Another example of historical record can be found in chapter 89 of the Quran which mentions an ancient city called Iram:



"Have you not seen how your Lord dealt with the Aad
(people), of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars, the
like of which were not produced in (all) the land?". (89:6-7)

Apart from its being mentioned in the Quran, there were no historical record about this city - Iram. The name itself was obscure even during the time of the Prophet himself, which led to a number of speculations about its possible geographical location. Some commentators of the Quran went to the extent of suggesting that probably Iram
was the name of a hero of the Aad.

The research findings of published by the official journal of the American National Geographic society in December 1978 have conclusively shown that Iram was a city. In 1975, Dr. Paulo Mathias of the University of Rome, director of the Italian Archeological Mission in Syria 'hit an archeological jackpot'. In the ruins of a palace apparently destroyed in the 23rd century B.C., he came upon the greatest third millennium archive ever unearthed. More than 15,000 'cunei form tablets' were discovered. Among the rich details revealed by these tablets is the fact that Ebla used to have trading links with Iram.... It is inconceivable how Muhammad could describe accurately in the Quran the physical features and the level of architecture of a people who lived in an ancient city which was destroyed 3000 years before he was born.