Indeed, We gave Moses the Scripture—after destroying earlier nations—as an insight for the people, a guide, and mercy so perhaps they would be mindful.28:43

In line with the above verse, there were generations before Moses who were destroyed. Scholars believe that part of these people were the people of Ar-Rass.

We hear about these people twice in the Quran:

Also ˹We destroyed˺ ’Ȃd, Thamûd, and the people of the Water-pit, as well as many peoples in between.25:38

For each We set forth ˹various˺ lessons, and We ultimately destroyed each.25:39

Before them, the people of Noah denied ˹the truth,˺ as did the people of the Water-pit, Thamûd,50:12

’Ȃd, Pharaoh, the kinfolk of Lot,50:13

the residents of the Forest, and the people of Tubba’. Each rejected ˹their˺ messenger, so My warning was fulfilled.50:14

Ibn Abbas said they were from the towns of the Thamud. Ibn Asakir suggests they came before the people of Ad.

Whereas Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Hasan Naqqash said they were people who had a well which would supply their water for drinking and irrigation. The people of Ar-Rass had a nice king who, once he died, was grieved. Soon after, Satan came in the appearance of the king, pretending to be him and claiming he only went out of sight to see how they would act. He said that he would never die and that they should put up a curtain between them and him. Many of them, in joy of his return, began to worship him. Allah sent a prophet to them who explained that it was only Satan and that they should worship Allah alone, without any association.

Suhaili said that the prophet who was sent by Allah was called Hanzalah bin Safwan. He was rejected by his people, killed and thrown into the well. As a result, the water dried up and they were not able to grow crops. They were soon after all destroyed.