وَقَومَ نوحٍ مِن قَبلُ ۖ إِنَّهُم كانوا هُم أَظلَمَ وَأَطغىٰ

And the people of Noah before that; indeed they were more unjust and rebellious.

EXEGESIS

The words aẓlam (more unjust) and aṭghā (more rebellious) can either be comparatives or superlatives referring to the people of Prophet Noah (a) being worse than ʿĀd and Thamūd,^{‎[1]Mizan, 19/50; Tantawi, 14/88.} or being the worst of all.^{‎[2]Tabrisi, 9/277; Nemuneh, 22/570; Furqan, 27/461.} The latter seems more appropriate, since the expression is absolute.^{‎[3]If it was the former it would be more appropriate to say aẓlama minhum wa aṭghā (more unjust than them and rebellious).} Considering the oppression and injustices committed by tyrants that has been recorded in history this is a significant description indeed, and it is no surprise then that the punishment of God was visited on them.

EXPOSITION

The attention now turns to a nation that preceded ʿĀd and Thamūd, that of the people of Noah, who came before that.

The scholars have suggested different reasons as to why the people of Noah were the worst:

1. Ṭabrisī says it is because of how long Prophet Noah (a) called them to God and they refused.^{‎[4]Tabrisi, 9/277; Qurtubi, 17/120; Mizan, 19/50; Nemuneh, 22/570.} As per 29:14, Prophet Noah (a) called his people to God for 950 years.
2. Ṭabarī mulls they were the most severe in rebelliousness and disbelief of all nations that God destroyed.^{‎[5]Tabari, 27/46.} In other words, they committed the vilest actions and had the vilest beliefs.
3. Rāzī argues they were the forerunners who started such rebelliousness against God. He supports this view with the narration that whoever starts an evil tradition will have the burden of whoever else follows in that path as well.^{‎[6]Razi, 29/283.}

Ālūsī relates that some have said they refers to all three preceding nations, ʿĀd, Thamūd, and the people of Noah; meaning they were all worse than the Quraysh.^{‎[7]Alusi, 14/69.}

INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS

1. The earth was corrupt before God and filled with violence. God looked on the earth and saw it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.^{‎[8]Genesis 6:11-12.}

[1] Mizan, 19/50; Tantawi, 14/88.
[2] Tabrisi, 9/277; Nemuneh, 22/570; Furqan, 27/461.
[3] If it was the former it would be more appropriate to say aẓlama minhum wa aṭghā (more unjust than them and rebellious).
[4] Tabrisi, 9/277; Qurtubi, 17/120; Mizan, 19/50; Nemuneh, 22/570.                               
[5] Tabari, 27/46.
[6] Razi, 29/283.
[7] Alusi, 14/69.
[8] Genesis 6:11-12.