Translation of the meanings Ayah 176 Surah Al-A‘rāf - English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 176

وَلَوۡ شِئۡنَا لَرَفَعۡنَٰهُ بِهَا وَلَٰكِنَّهُۥٓ أَخۡلَدَ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُۚ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡكَلۡبِ إِن تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَيۡهِ يَلۡهَثۡ أَوۡ تَتۡرُكۡهُ يَلۡهَثۚ ذَّٰلِكَ مَثَلُ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَاۚ فَٱقۡصُصِ ٱلۡقَصَصَ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

If We had willed, We could have elevated him thereby^[75], but he clung to the [life of the] earth^[76] and followed his desires. His likeness is that of a dog: if you attack it, it pants with its tongue lolling, and if you leave it, it still pants^[77]. Such is the example of the people who reject Our revelations. Therefore, relate the stories, so that they may reflect.

[75] i.e., by the knowledge of the revelations. [76] i.e., its worldly pleasures.
[77] No matter whether they are admonished or not, they will not believe.