AND, INDEED, [long before Muhammad] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to help him to bear his burden; 35 And We command: "Go ye both, to the people who have rejected our Signs:" And those (people) We destroyed with utter destruction. 36 And Noah's folk, when they denied the messengers, We drowned them and made of them a portent for mankind. We have prepared a painful doom for evil-doers. 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 We administered warnings to each of them, and then destroyed them completely. 39 And certainly they have (often) passed by the town on which was rained an evil rain; did they not then see it? Nay! they did not hope to be raised again. 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 Had we not been steadfast he would almost have led us astray from our gods." On facing torment they will soon know who had really gone astray. 42 Have you ever considered the case of the person who has made his lust his god? Can you take the responsibility of guiding such a one aright? 43 Do you think that most of them can hear or understand? They are like cattle, no, they are further astray from the Path. 44