We gave the Book to Moses and gave him his brother Aaron as a minister. 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 Nooh – when they denied the Noble Messengers, We drowned them and made them a sign for mankind; and We have kept prepared a painful punishment for the unjust. 37 And the tribes of A’ad and the Thamud, and the people of the Wells, and many a generation between them. 38 for each We struck similitudes, and each We ruined utterly. 39 And they [who now deny Our messages] must surely have come across that town which was rained upon by a rain of evil: have they, then, never beheld it [with their minds eye]? But nay, they would not believe in resurrection! 40 Hence, whenever they consider thee, [O Muhammad,] they but make thee a target of their mockery, [saying:] "Is this the one whom God has sent as an apostle? 41 He had well-nigh led us astray from our gods had we not adhered to them patiently! And they will know, when they see the punishment, who is straying farther off from the 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 deemest thou that most of them hear or understand? They are but as the cattle - nay, but they are farther astray? 44