We gave Moses the Book and appointed his brother Aaron as his counsellor: 35 then We said to them, "Go to the people who have treated Our Revelations as false. " So We annihilated those people utterly. 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 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 and unto each of them did We proffer lessons and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction. 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 Whenever they see you they only make a mockery of you -- "Is this the one God has sent as His Messenger? 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 seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then would you be responsible for 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