Those Who Disbelieve Are Like a Dog — The Most Degrading Image for One Who Chose This World
balagha
Level: advanced
tasbiha
blg-022
فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡكَلۡبِ إِن تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡهِ يَلۡهَثۡ أَوۡ تَتۡرُكۡهُ يَلۡهَثۡ
— الأعراف 176
Verse: "His example is like that of a dog — if you chase it away it pants, and if you leave it it pants." (7:176)
The simile's significance: The dog pants in both cases — whether charged at or left alone. So the worldly person: whether given or denied, always in craving and anxiety.
Lesson: The degrading comparison is intentional — because rhetorical dishonor is a stronger deterrent than bare description.
Source: Ibn Kathir (3/488); Al-Zarkashi (3/397)
Question: What is the significance of the dog panting in both cases (being chased or left) in this simile?
Answer: Indicating that the person of desire is always in crisis — given more they want even more, denied they become distressed. No rest for one who chose desire over Allah.