Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 59

(Ayah 59) { لَقَدْ اَرْسَلْنَا نُوْحًا اِلٰى قَوْمِهٖ:} It has been stated above that there are two types of people when it comes to benefiting from divine guidance and its blessings: one is those of pure nature (Tayyib), who themselves benefit from divine guidance and its blessings, and others also benefit from their knowledge and actions; the second are those who are mischievous and of evil nature, who, instead of benefiting from the rain of guidance, emerge as thorns and bushes, and since the land of their hearts is barren, the rain of mercy cannot be as beneficial for them. After this, from here, as historical evidence, the incidents of the previous nations are mentioned, as if presenting historical proof that people have always been of two types. (Kabir) Since Nuh (peace be upon him) was the first messenger prophet sent to a polytheistic nation, as is known from the Hadith of the Great Intercession (Bukhari: 4712) and some other narrations, therefore Allah Almighty first mentioned his story. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that (the idols mentioned in Surah Nuh) Wadd, Suwa', Yaghuth, Ya'uq, and Nasr were the names of righteous people; when they passed away, Satan inspired their people to install their statues in the gatherings where they used to sit and to name them after them, until when that generation passed away and knowledge was lost, their worship began. [ بخاری، التفسیر، باب : { ودا ولا سواعا ولا يغوث و يعوق} : ۴۹۲۰ ] It is known from history books that the people of Nuh lived in Iraq, and their era was from 3800 to 2800 BC, but there is no evidence for the authenticity of this period.