We gave Moses the Book and appointed his brother Aaron as his counsellor: 35 Then We said: Go together unto the folk who have denied Our revelations. Then We destroyed them, a complete destruction. 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 And the 'Aad and the Thamud and the dwellers of the Rass and many generations in-between. 38 And unto each! We propounded similitude thereunto; and each We ruined an utter ruin. 39 And certainly they have (often) passed by the town on which was rained an evil rain; did they not then see it? Nay! they did not hope to be raised again. 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!" 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 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