Hadith

Disbelievers in the time of Nabi Nooh (alaihis salaam) afflicted with a skin disease

Q: I want to know if this is authentic: 

When Nooh (alaihis salaam) was building his ark then the disbelievers came and defecated on the ship. Allah Ta'ala sent a certain skin disease upon these people which they had no cure for. So one disbeliever with the disease slips near the ship and falls into the faeces then realizes he has been cured. All disbelievers then came and cleaned the ship by applying all the faeces to their own bodies.

Meaning of the Hadith in praising Shaam

Q: The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) praised the people of Shaam and I have come across people from that region especially Syria who had dealings with the company I work for and they refused to pay money for the goods they were supplied with five years ago and come up with excuse after excuse. They have the ability to pay but they don't. Does the praise for people of Shaam apply to all times because clearly they contradict Islamic character. Kindly clarify.