(Before this,) We sent Moses The Book, and appointed his brother Aaron with him as minister; 35 and We said, "Go you both unto the people who have given the lie to Our messages!" - and thereupon We broke those [sinners] to smithereens. 36 And Nuh's (Noah) people, when they denied the Messengers We drowned them, and We made them as a sign for mankind. And We have prepared a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers, etc). 37 (As for) 'Ad, Thamud and the people of ar-Rass, and many generations in between them, 38 To each one We set forth Parables and examples; and each one We broke to utter annihilation (for their sins). 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 behold thee, they hold thee up for mockery: is this the one whom Allah hath sent as an apostle 41 Indeed, he would well-nigh have led us astray from our deities, had we not been [so] steadfastly attached to them!" But in time, when they see the suffering [that awaits them,] they will come to know who it was that went farthest astray from the path [of truth]! 42 Have you seen him who takes his low desires for his god? Will you then be a protector over him? 43 Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not except like livestock. Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their] way. 44