The Qur’ān (7:175-177) says: “Tell them of the man to whom We give Our revelations, and who then discards them. Shaitan catches up with him and he strays, like many others, into error. Had We so willed, We would have exalted him by means of those (revelations), but he clings to the earth and succumbs to his desires. He may be compared to a dog: no matter how you drive him off he pants on away, and if you leave him alone, he still pants on. That is what the people who reject Our revelations are like. Tell them, then, such stories, so that they may take heed. A dismal example is that provided by those who reject Our revelations; for it is against their own selves that they are sinning.”
The above ayat cites an example of the practical effects of deviation from sound human nature, betraying its covenant and abandoning Allah’s revelations after having learnt them. A person who has been given Allah’s revelations, plain, direct and easy to grasp, discards them, turning away, clinging to the life of this world and following his desire. Hence, Shaitan overpowers him and he stands rejected by Allah, the Exalted, unable to enjoy security or peace.
Here we see a man on whom Allah bestows His grace, giving him His revelations and favouring him with knowledge to give him a perfect chance to follow the right path and to exalt himself. But he discards it all. It is like taking the skin off a person who is still alive. Thus, he falls from the bright and sunny horizon in order to cling to the dark clay. He becomes easy prey for Shaitan, without any protection from his designs. Shaitan thus catches up with him and exercises his power over him.
We then look at a miserable and horrific scene in which this creature appears covered with mud, clinging to the earth, taking the shape of a dog that pants away whether he is driven off or left alone. When the last scene of a dog always panting away is raised before our eyes, we have the highly significant comment on the whole panorama: “That is what the people who reject Our revelations are like. Tell them, then, such stories, so that they may take heed. A dismal example is that provided by those who reject Our revelations; for it is against their own selves that they are sinning.” (Ayat 176-177)
Faith would have provided them with wings to fly up to an elevated position, and their nature would have ensured for them the fairest form and the best position, but they have chosen instead to come down and occupy a position that can only be described as ‘the lowest of the low.’
Can there be a more dismal example than that? Can there be a worse action than discarding guidance and pulling oneself away from divine revelations? Is there anything more disgraceful than clinging to the lowly life of this earth and succumbing to desires? Can any human being cause himself more wrong than the one who does this? By so doing, he tears apart that protective shield which could have ensured his safety. Instead, he leaves his soul easy prey for Shaitan and sinks to the level of animals, with all that it entails of worry and uncertainty. He is soon seen as a dog constantly panting away.
The significance of this story describing the conditions of those who deny Allah’s revelations after they have recognised them and deviated from the line they demarcate. This is a frequently encountered state of affairs in our life. Many are those who receive religious education but turn their backs on the guidance it provides. They simply use their knowledge in order to twist the meaning of Qur’ānic revelations so that it can serve the interests of those who are in power, and consequently, their own worldly interests as they see them. Khud badalte nahi Qur’ān ko badal dete hain (They do not change themselves; they change the Qur’ān).
It is not hard to find some scholars writing lengthy theses on the prohibition of usury, and yet a nod is enough to make them spend long hours writing articles and theses that claim usury to be lawful. Some of them are ready to bless wanton practices and promiscuity, giving it a religious guise. What can all these be other than examples confirming the story of the person who had discarded Allah’s revelations after having received them? Hence, Shaitan is able to catch up with him and push him further into error. How can such a person be described except in the terms stated by Allah about the original person in the Qur’ānic example: “Had We so willed, We would have exalted him by means of those (revelations), but he clings to the earth and succumbs to his desires. He may be compared to a dog: no matter how you drive him off he pants on away, and if you leave him alone, he still pants on.” (Ayah 176)
Had it been Allah’s will to exalt him by means of the knowledge he had received, He would have done so, but He has not, because the person who has received knowledge of Allah’s revelations had chosen to cling to the earth and to follow his own desires in preference to following Allah’s teachings. He is, then, an example for everyone who turns his back on divine religion after having learnt it. Instead of following Allah’s guidance, he pulls himself away from Allah’s blessings in order to be a humiliated follower of Shaitan and ends up in the derogatory state of animals.
Every day we see new examples of such people everywhere. Only a small minority cling to Allah’s guidance and refuse to succumb to Shaitan and follow their desires. They seek Allah’s support in order not to covet the trifling pleasures of this world that can be bestowed by those who are in power. Hence, the example given in the Qur’ān is not limited to a single case, but such cases occur in every society.
Allah, the Exalted, has commanded His Messenger ﷺ to tell his community, who were receiving Allah’s revelations, of this type of person so that they may guard against falling to the same temptation. This story is meant to be in the Qur’ān so that it continues to be recited. It may, thus, serve as a warning to those who are given any amount of knowledge, so that they are aware of the need to protect themselves against ending up in such a miserable condition if they run after trivial pleasures. If they do this, they will wrong themselves in a way that no enemy can match. If they allow themselves to move towards such a miserable end, they hurt none but themselves.
Lastly: Our Lord, protect us from such a situation; grant us patience and perseverance; strengthen our resolve to follow Your guidance and gather us to You at the end of our lives as true believers who submit themselves to You, Aamin.