Important Words:
ود (Wadd) is derived from ود (Wadda). They say ودہ i.e. he loved him or it. ود (Wadd) was an idol worshipped by the tribe of Banu Kalb in Daumatul-Jandal. It was in a man’s figure, representing manly power.
سواع (Suwa‘) is derived from ساع. They say ساع الشیء i.e. the thing was wasted (Lane). سواع was an idol which the BanuHudhail worshipped. It was in a woman’s shape, representing female beauty.
یغوث (Yaghuth) is derived from غاث. They say أغاثه i.e. he aided or helped him. یغوث was an idol belonging to the tribe of Murad. Its votaries believed that it helped them when they called for help.
یعوق (Ya‘uq) is derived from عاق. They say عاقه عن کذا i.e. he hindered or prevented or withheld him from such a thing (Lane). یعوق was an idol belonging to the tribe of Hamdan. It was in the shape of a horse, representing swiftness. Its votaries believed that it prevented the enemy from doing harm to its worshippers, and warded off calamities from them.
نسر (Nasr) is derived from نسر. They say نسر الطیر i.e. the bird tore it with its beak. نسر means, eagle or vulture (Aqrab). It was an idol of the Dhul-Kila‘ tribe. It was in the shape of an eagle or vulture, representing long life or insight.
Commentary:
From time immemorial, man, in his ignorance, has worshipped forces of nature, idols made of wood or stone, and human beings. Noah’s people were steeped in idol worship. They had many idols, the five mentioned in the verse under comment being the most popular. The Arabs, several centuries afterwards, are supposed to have brought them from Iraq; Hubal, their most famous idol, was brought from Syria by ‘Amir bin Lohay; their own principal idols being Lat, Manat and ‘Uzza. Or the Arabs might have named their own idols after the idols of the tribe of Noah as the two peoples were not very distant from each other and there was general intercourse between them. There is nothing impossible or improbable in the two neighbouring idolatrous peoples having identical names for their idols.