AND, INDEED, [long before Muhammad] We vouchsafed revelation unto Moses, and appointed his brother Aaron to help him to bear his burden; 35 then We said to them, "Go to the people who have treated Our Revelations as false. " So We annihilated those people utterly. 36 And the people of Noah,- when they rejected the messengers, We drowned them, and We made them as a Sign for mankind; and We have prepared for (all) wrong-doers a grievous Penalty;- 37 To each of the tribes of Ad, Thamud, the settlers around the well and many generations in between 38 And unto each! We propounded similitude thereunto; and each We ruined an utter ruin. 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, they take thee in mockery only: 'What, is this he whom God sent forth as a Messenger? 41 Wellnigh he had led us astray from our gods, but that we kept steadfast to them.' Assuredly they shall know, when they see the chastisement, who is further astray from the way. 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