(Before this,) We sent Moses The Book, and appointed his brother Aaron with him as minister; 35 and We said, 'Go to the people who have cried lies to Our signs'; then We destroyed them utterly. 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 And (also) 'Ad and Thamud, and the dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between. 38 And We illustrated examples to each one of them; and ruining them, annihilated them all. 39 They have surely passed by the village which was rained upon by evil rain (of stones); what, have they never seen it? No, they look for no resurrection. 40 And when they see thee (O Muhammad) they treat thee only as a jest (saying): Is this he whom Allah sendeth as a messenger? 41 Wellnigh he had led us astray from our gods, but that we kept steadfast to them.' Assuredly they shall know, when they see the chastisement, who is further astray from the way. 42 Have you seen him who has taken his own desire to be his god? Can you be a 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