We gave Moses the Book, and made his brother Aaron his minister, 35 (Then) We said: 'Go to the nation who have belied Our signs' And We utterly destroyed them. 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 Likewise were destroyed the `Ad and the Thamud and the people of the Rass, and many a generation in between. 38 for each We struck similitudes, and each We ruined utterly. 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 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 Indeed, he would well-nigh have led us astray from our deities, had we not been [so] steadfastly attached to them!" When they behold the punishment, they shall realize who strayed furthest from the right path. 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 Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but like unto the cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the path. 44