AND, INDEED, [long before Muhammad] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to help him to bear his burden; 35 Then We said: Go you both to the people who rejected Our communications; so We destroyed them with utter destruction. 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 the tribes of A’ad and the Thamud, and the people of the Wells, and many a generation between them. 38 And We illustrated examples to each one of them; and ruining them, annihilated them all. 39 And they have already come upon the town which was showered with a rain of evil. So have they not seen it? But they are not expecting resurrection. 40 Whenever they see you, they mock you (saying): 'Is this whom Allah has sent as a Messenger? 41 Wellnigh he had led us astray from our gods, but that we kept steadfast to them.' Assuredly they shall know, when they see the chastisement, who is further astray from the way. 42 Hast thou ever considered [the kind of man] who makes his own desires his deity? Couldst thou, then, [O Prophet,] be held responsible for 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