We verily gave Moses the Scripture and placed with him his brother Aaron as henchman. 35 Then We said, "Go together to the people who have denied Our signs." We utterly destroyed them! 36 We had drowned the people of Noah when they had accused the apostles of lies, and turned them into an example for men. We have prepared a painful punishment for the wicked. 37 And (also) 'Ad and Thamud, and the dwellers of Ar-Rass, and many generations in between. 38 to each of them We gave examples, and each of them We utterly ruined. 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 Whenever they see you they only make a mockery of you -- "Is this the one God has sent as His Messenger? 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 Did you see the one who chose his own desires as his God? So will you accept the responsibility of guarding him? 43 Or do you think that most of them do hear or understand? They are nothing but as cattle; nay, they are straying farther off from the path. 44