(Before this,) We sent Moses The Book, and appointed his brother Aaron with him as minister; 35 Then We told them: "Go to the people who have rejected Our signs." Then We annihilated them completely. 36 And the people of Noah - when they denied the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them for mankind a sign. And We have prepared for the wrongdoers a painful punishment. 37 (As for) 'Ad, Thamud and the people of ar-Rass, and many generations in between them, 38 And unto each! We propounded similitude thereunto; and each We ruined an utter ruin. 39 And the (Unbelievers) must indeed have passed by the town on which was rained a shower of evil: did they not then see it (with their own eyes)? But they fear not the Resurrection. 40 Hence, whenever they consider thee, [O Muhammad,] they but make thee a target of their mockery, [saying:] "Is this the one whom God has sent as an apostle? 41 He had well-nigh led us astray from our gods had we not adhered to them patiently! And they will know, when they see the punishment, who is straying farther off from the path. 42 Hast thou observed him who hath taken as his god his own desire! wilt thou be over him a trustee? 43 Do you think most of them can hear or understand? They are like cattle. Indeed, they are even more astray. 44