We gave the Book to Moses and gave him his brother Aaron as a minister. 35 Then We said: Go you both to the people who rejected Our communications; so We destroyed them with utter destruction. 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 As also 'Ad and Thamud, and the Companions of the Rass, and many a generation between them. 38 And for each We presented examples [as warnings], and each We destroyed with [total] destruction. 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 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 led us far away from our gods if we had not been staunch to them. They will know, when they behold the doom, who is more astray as to the road. 42 Have you seen him who takes his low desires for his god? Will you then be a protector over him? 43 Or dost thou think that most of them listen [to thy message] and use their reason? Nay, they are but like cattle - nay, they are even less conscious of the right way! 44