And indeed We gave Musa (Moses) the Scripture [the Taurat (Torah)], and placed his brother Harun (Aaron) with him as a helper; 35 and We said, 'Go to the people who have cried lies to Our signs'; then We destroyed them utterly. 36 And Noah's folk, when they denied the messengers, We drowned them and made of them a portent for mankind. We have prepared a painful doom for evil-doers. 37 Likewise were destroyed the `Ad and the Thamud and the people of the Rass, and many a generation in between. 38 for each We struck similitudes, and each We ruined utterly. 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 And when they see thee (O Muhammad) they treat thee only as a jest (saying): Is this he whom Allah sendeth as a messenger? 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 has made gods of his own desires? Would you be a guardian over him? 43 Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle - nay, but they are farther astray? 44