(Before this,) We sent Moses The Book, and appointed his brother Aaron with him as minister; 35 And We command: "Go ye both, to the people who have rejected our Signs:" And those (people) We destroyed with utter destruction. 36 The same was the case with the people of Noah when they charged the Messenger with imposture: We drowned them and made them a sign of warning for entire mankind, and We have prepared a painful chastisement for the unjust. 37 Likewise were destroyed the `Ad and the Thamud and the people of the Rass, and many a generation in between. 38 And We illustrated examples to each one of them; and ruining them, annihilated them all. 39 And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: have they, then, never beheld it [with their minds eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection! 40 When these people see you, they scoff at you, (saying), "Is this the man whom Allah has sent as His 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 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 listen and understand? They are like cattle or even more, straying and confused. 44