We verily gave Moses the Scripture and placed with him his brother Aaron as henchman. 35 Then We told them: "Go to the people who have rejected Our signs." Then We annihilated them completely. 36 We had drowned the people of Noah when they had accused the apostles of lies, and turned them into an example for men. We have prepared a painful punishment for the wicked. 37 (As for) 'Ad, Thamud and the people of ar-Rass, and many generations in between them, 38 We admonished each one of them by citing the examples (of those who were destroyed before them) and ultimately annihilated all of them. 39 And indeed they have passed by the township whereon was rained the fatal rain. Can it be that they have not seen it? Nay, but they hope for no resurrection. 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 “Possibly he would have misled us away from our Gods had we not been firm upon them”; soon they will know, when they see the punishment, who was astray from the path. 42 Have you seen him who has taken his own desire to be his god? Can you be a guardian over him? 43 Do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like the cattle; nay, even worse than the cattle. 44