And indeed We gave Moosa the Book and appointed with him his brother Haroon as a deputy. 35 and We said, 'Go to the people who have cried lies to Our signs'; then We destroyed them utterly. 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 And Ad, and Thamood, and the men of Er-Rass, and between that generations a many, 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 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 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 seen him who has taken his own desire to be his god? Can you be a guardian over him? 43 Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle; nay, they are further astray from the way. 44