And indeed We gave Musa (Moses) the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)], and placed his brother Harun (Aaron) with him as a helper; 35 We therefore said, “Go, both of you, to the people who have denied Our signs”; then ruining the people, We destroyed 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 And [remember how We punished the tribes of] Ad and Thamud and the people of Ar-Rass, and many generations [of sinners] in-between: 38 To each of them We gave warnings and each of them We destroyed completely. 39 Surely they have come by the city that was rained on by an evil rain; what, have they not seen it? Nay, but they look for no upraising. 40 Whenever they see you, they mock you (saying): 'Is this whom Allah has sent as a Messenger? 41 He almost would have misled us from our gods had we not been steadfast in [worship of] them." But they are going to know, when they see the punishment, who is farthest astray in [his] way. 42 Hast thou seen him who chooseth for his god his own lust? Wouldst thou then be guardian over him? 43 Or do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are no better than cattle; in fact they are farther astray from the path. 44