We gave the Book to Moses and made his brother Aaron his Minister. 35 Then We said, "Go together to the people who have denied Our signs." We utterly destroyed them! 36 The nation of Noah, We drowned them when they belied their Messenger, and made of them a sign to the nation. For the harmdoers We have prepared a painful punishment 37 also to Aad and Thamood and the nation of ErRass and many generations in between; 38 and unto each of them did We proffer lessons and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction. 39 And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: have they, then, never beheld it [with their minds eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection! 40 And when they see you, [O Muhammad], they take you not except in ridicule, [saying], "Is this the one whom Allah has sent as a messenger? 41 He had almost led us astray from our gods, had we not remained firm in our faith with regard to them. " The time is not far when they will see the torment and realize who had strayed far from the truth. 42 How can you be the guardian of those who have chosen their own desires as their Lord? 43 Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle - nay, but they are farther astray? 44