We verily gave Moses the Scripture and placed with him his brother Aaron as henchman. 35 Then We said: go ye twain unto a people who have belied Our signs. Then We annihilated them an utter annihilation. 36 The same was the case with the people of Noah when they charged the Messenger with imposture: We drowned them and made them a sign of warning for entire mankind, and We have prepared a painful chastisement for the unjust. 37 And [We destroyed] 'Aad and Thamud and the companions of the well and many generations between them. 38 and unto each of them did We proffer lessons and each of them did We destroy with utter destruction. 39 And indeed they have passed by the township whereon was rained the fatal rain. Can it be that they have not seen it? Nay, but they hope for no resurrection. 40 Whenever they see you they only make a mockery of you -- "Is this the one God has sent as His Messenger? 41 He almost would have misled us from our gods had we not been steadfast in [worship of] them." But they are going to know, when they see the punishment, who is farthest astray in [his] way. 42 Hast thou seen him who has taken his caprice to be his god? Wilt thou be a guardian over them? 43 Or deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but like unto the cattle; nay, they are even farther astray from the path. 44