AND, INDEED, [long before Muhammad] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to help him to bear his burden; 35 Then We said: Go together unto the folk who have denied Our revelations. Then We destroyed them, a complete destruction. 36 And the people of Noah,- when they rejected the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a Sign for mankind; and We have prepared for (all) wrong-doers a grievous Penalty;- 37 As also 'Ad and Thamud, and the Companions of the Rass, and many a generation between them. 38 Each (of them) We warned by examples, and each (of them) We brought to utter ruin. 39 They must have surely passed by the town on which We had rained the terrible rain of ruin. How could they not have seen it? Still they do not dread the 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 would have surely turned us away from our gods if we had not adhered to them." They will know soon who is farther away from the path when they see the punishment! 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, they are further astray from the way. 44