And indeed We gave Moosa the Book and appointed with him his brother Haroon as a deputy. 35 We therefore said, “Go, both of you, to the people who have denied Our signs”; then ruining the people, We destroyed them completely. 36 And [think of] the people of Noah: when they gave the lie to [one of] the apostles, We caused them to drown, and made them a symbol for all mankind: for, grievous suffering have We readied for all who [knowingly] do wrong! 37 And the tribes of A’ad and the Thamud, and the people of the Wells, and many a generation between them. 38 and unto each of them did We proffer lessons and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction. 39 They must have surely passed by the town on which We had rained the terrible rain of ruin. How could they not have seen it? Still they do not dread the 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 He would have surely turned us away from our gods if we had not adhered to them." They will know soon who is farther away from the path when they see the punishment! 42 How can you be the guardian of those who have chosen their own desires as their Lord? 43 Do you think that most of them hear or understand? They are only like the cattle; nay, even worse than the cattle. 44