Stem كَلْبِ - Quranic Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And if We had pleased, We could have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth and followed his evil inclination. His case therefore is like the case of a thirsty dog; if thou drive him away, he hangs out his tongue; and if thou leave him, he hangs out his tongue. Such is the case of the people who disbelieve in Our Signs. So give them the description that they may ponder.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور اگر ہم چاہتے تو اُن (آیات) کے ذریعہ ضرور اس کا رفع کرتے لیکن وہ زمین کی طرف جھک گیا اور اپنی ہوس کی پیروی کی۔ پس اس کی مثال کُتّے کی سی ہے کہ اگر تو اس پر ہاتھ اٹھائے تو ہانپتے ہوئے زبان نکال دے گا اور اگر اسے چھوڑ دے تب بھی ہانپتے ہوئے زبان نکال دے گا۔ یہ اس قوم کی مثال ہے جس نے ہمارے نشانات کو جھٹلایا۔ پس تُو (اِن کے سامنے) یہ (تاریخی) واقعات پڑھ کر سنا تاکہ وہ غور و فکر کریں۔

French

Et si Nous l’avions voulu, Nous aurions pu l’élever par ce moyen ; mais il s’inclina vers la terre et suivit ses mauvais penchants. Son cas est comme celui d’un chien qui laisse pendre sa langue de fatigue ; que vous ayez essayé de le chasser ou que vous le laissiez tranquille, il laisse pendre sa langue. Tel est le cas des hommes qui ne croient pas en Nos Signes. Raconte-leur donc ce récit, afin qu’ils puissent y réfléchir pour en tirer des leçons.

German

Und hätten Wir es gewollt, Wir hätten ihn dadurch erhöhen können; aber er neigte sich der Erde zu und folgte seinem bösen Gelüst. Er gleicht daher einem Hunde: treibst du ihn fort, so lechzt er. Gerade so geht es Leuten, die Unsere Zeichen leugnen. Darum gib (ihnen) die Schilderung, auf dass sie sich besinnen.

Chinese

如果我愿意, 我藉那些 (迹象) 提高他, 但是他倾向地面, 追随自己的私欲。他的情况好像那条狗的情况一样, 当你拿起东西要打它, 它伸出舌头来, 如果你舍弃了它, 它也伸出舌头来。不信我的迹象的人就是这样的情况。所以你要讲述这种情况, 以便他们思考。

Italian

E se lo avessimo desiderato, avremmo potuto innalzarlo grazie a questi segni, ma egli era proclive alla terra e seguì la sua malvagia inclinazione. Il suo è come il caso di un cane che, esausto, se lo respingi, fa ciondolare la lingua o se lo lasci stare, egli fa egualmente ciondolare la lingua. E questo è il caso di coloro che non credono nei Nostri segni. Perciò racconta loro gli episodi della storia affinché riflettano.

Spanish

Si hubiésemos querido, lo hubiéramos exaltado con ellos; pero se inclinó a la tierra y siguió sus inclinaciones malvadas. Su caso es imilar al de un perro que saca la lengua por agotamiento mientras te ladra. Tanto si haces el movimiento de arrojarle una piedra como si lo dejas en paz, continúa sacando la lengua. Así ocurre con las gentes que no creen en Nuestros Signos. Nárrales, pues, os episodios de la historia, para que reflexionen y extraigan lecciones de ellos.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور اگر ہم چاہتے تو اسے ان (نشانوں) کے ذریعہ سے اونچا کر دیتے لیکن وہ زمین کی طرف جاگرا۔ اور اپنی خواہشات کے پیچھے چل پڑا۔ پس اس کی حالت اس کتے کی حالت کی طرح ہے جسے مارنے کے لئے تو کوئی چیز اٹھائے تو بھی وہ ہانپتا رہتا ہے اور اگر تو اسے چھوڑ دے تو بھی وہ ہانپتا رہتا ہے۔ یہی حال اس قوم کا ہے جو ہمارے[1] نشانوں کو جھٹلاتے ہیں۔ پس تو یہ حالات ان کو سنا تا کہ وہ کچھ سوچیں۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

And if we had pleased, we would have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth[1073] and followed his evil desires. His case, therefore, is like the case of a thirsty dog; if thou drive him away, he hangs out his tongue and if thou leave him, he hangs out his tongue.[1074] Such is the case of the people who disbelieve in Our Signs. So relate to them this narrative that they may reflect.

English - Five Volume Translation

And if We had pleased, We could have exalted him thereby; but he inclined to the earth and followed his evil inclination. His case therefore is like the case of a thirsty dog; if thou drive him away, he hangs out his tongue; and if thou leave him, he hangs out his tongue. Such is the case of the people who disbelieve in Our Signs. So give them the description that they may ponder.[1064]

Important Words:

تحمل علیه (thou drive him away). تحمل is derived from حمل. They say حمله i.e. he bore or carried or conveyed it. حمل علیه الشیءmeans, he loaded him with the thing, or he put the thing on him as a load; or he imposed on him the thing as a burden. حمل علیه means, he charged or assaulted or attacked him (Lane). It is in the last mentioned sense that the word has been rendered here as "drive him away".

یلھث (hangs out his tongue) is formed from لھث meaning, he thirsted; or thirst heated his body. They say لھث الکلب i.e. the dog put forth his tongue on account of thirst or fatigue or weariness. لھث الرجل means, the breath of the man rose on account of fatigue or weariness; or he was fatigued or weary (Lane & Aqrab).

قصص (description) is the noun-infinitive from قص. They say قص اثره i.e. he followed his footsteps; or he followed his track in pursuit. قص الشعر means, he cut or clipped the hair. قص علیه الخبر means, he related to-him the news or the narrative or the story. قصص therefore, means, description or explanation; a narrative or story; following someone or something in his or its footsteps or track (Lane & Aqrab). See also 3:63.

Commentary:

The verse continues the description of the similitude begun in the previous verse. When a man becomes wholly engrossed in worldly affairs and begins to follow his evil desires and inclinations and rejects truth, he becomes, degraded, as it were, to the position of a dog. His thirst for money becomes insatiable. He continues to hanker after the paltry goods of this world. This description quite fits in with a hypocrite or one weak in faith. Whether or not he is made to undergo sacrifices in the cause of religion, he seems to be always panting like a thirsty dog, as if the ever-increasing burden of sacrifices is leaving him exhausted. The above interpretation is in accord with the meaning of the expression حمل علیه in the sense of "putting a load on". If, however, the expression is taken in the sense of "attacking or charging" or for that matter "driving", then the words would mean that the weak of faith belonging to the class of people mentioned here always feel fatigued and weary in the way of God, whether they are smitten with afflictions and trials or not.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

اگر ہم چاہتے تو اسے اُن آیتوں کے ذریعہ سے بلندی عطا کرتے، مگر وہ تو زمین ہی کی طرف جھک کر رہ گیا اور اپنی خواہش نفس ہی کے پیچھے پڑا رہا، لہٰذا اس کی حالت کتے کی سی ہو گئی کہ تم اس پر حملہ کرو تب بھی زبان لٹکائے رہے اور اسے چھوڑ دو تب بھی زبان لٹکائے رہے یہی مثال ہے اُن لوگوں کی جو ہماری آیات کو جھٹلاتے ہیں تم یہ حکایات اِن کو سناتے رہو، شاید کہ یہ کچھ غور و فکر کریں

English - Sahih

And if We had willed, we could have elevated him thereby, but he adhered [instead] to the earth and followed his own desire. So his example is like that of the dog: if you chase him, he pants, or if you leave him, he [still] pants. That is the example of the people who denied Our signs. So relate the stories that perhaps they will give thought.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور اگر ہم چاتے تو ان کی آیتو ں کی برکت سے اس کا رتبہ بلند کرتے لیکن وہ دنیا کی طرف مائل ہو گیا اور اپنی خواہش کے تابع ہو گیا اس کا تو ایسا حال ہے جیسے کتا اس پر تو سختی کرے تو بھی ہانپے اور اگر چھوڑ دے تو بھی ہانپے یہ ان لوگوں کی مثال ہے جنہوں نے ہماری آیتوں کو جھٹلایا سو یہ حالات بیان کر دے شاید کہ وہ فکر کریں

English - Talal Itani

And if We willed surely, We (could) have raised him with these [and] but he adhered to the earth and followed his (vain) desires. So his example (is) like (the) example (of) the dog, if you attack [on] him, he lolls out his tongue or if you leave him, he lolls out his tongue. That (is the) example (of) the people who denied [in] Our Signs. So relate the story so that they may reflect.

Chinese Commentary ^*

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

1

یعنی ہمیشہ خداتعالیٰ کے خلاف شکایت کرتے رہتے ہیں کہ اس نے ہمیں کچھ نہیں دیا۔

English - Arberry

And had We willed, We would have raised him up thereby; but he inclined towards the earth and followed his lust. So the likeness of him is as the likeness of a dog; if thou attackest it it lolls its tongue out, or if thou leavest it, it lolls its tongue out. That is that people's likeness who cried lies to Our signs. So relate the story; haply they will reflect.

English - Maududi

Now had We so willed We could indeed have exalted him through those signs, but he clung to earthly life and followed his carnal desires. Thus his parable is that of the dog who lolls out his tongue whether you attack him or leave him alone. Such is the parable of those who reject Our signs as false. Narrate to them these parables that they may reflect.

English - Ahmed Ali

We wished to exalt him, but he loved baseness and followed his lust. His likeness is that of a dog who hangs out his tongue if you drive him away, and still hangs it out if you leave him alone. Such is the case of the people who deny Our signs. Narrate this history to them; they may haply reflect.

English - Yusuf Ali

If it had been Our will, We should have elevated him with Our signs; but he inclined to the earth, and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him, he lolls out his tongue, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject Our signs; So relate the story; perchance they may reflect.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

1064

Important Words:

تحمل علیه (thou drive him away). تحمل is derived from حمل. They say حمله i.e. he bore or carried or conveyed it. حمل علیه الشیءmeans, he loaded him with the thing, or he put the thing on him as a load; or he imposed on him the thing as a burden. حمل علیه means, he charged or assaulted or attacked him (Lane). It is in the last mentioned sense that the word has been rendered here as "drive him away".

یلھث (hangs out his tongue) is formed from لھث meaning, he thirsted; or thirst heated his body. They say لھث الکلب i.e. the dog put forth his tongue on account of thirst or fatigue or weariness. لھث الرجل means, the breath of the man rose on account of fatigue or weariness; or he was fatigued or weary (Lane & Aqrab).

قصص (description) is the noun-infinitive from قص. They say قص اثره i.e. he followed his footsteps; or he followed his track in pursuit. قص الشعر means, he cut or clipped the hair. قص علیه الخبر means, he related to-him the news or the narrative or the story. قصص therefore, means, description or explanation; a narrative or story; following someone or something in his or its footsteps or track (Lane & Aqrab). See also 3:63.

Commentary:

The verse continues the description of the similitude begun in the previous verse. When a man becomes wholly engrossed in worldly affairs and begins to follow his evil desires and inclinations and rejects truth, he becomes, degraded, as it were, to the position of a dog. His thirst for money becomes insatiable. He continues to hanker after the paltry goods of this world. This description quite fits in with a hypocrite or one weak in faith. Whether or not he is made to undergo sacrifices in the cause of religion, he seems to be always panting like a thirsty dog, as if the ever-increasing burden of sacrifices is leaving him exhausted. The above interpretation is in accord with the meaning of the expression حمل علیه in the sense of "putting a load on". If, however, the expression is taken in the sense of "attacking or charging" or for that matter "driving", then the words would mean that the weak of faith belonging to the class of people mentioned here always feel fatigued and weary in the way of God, whether they are smitten with afflictions and trials or not.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

1073

Material things, specially love of money.

1074

Yalhath, (from Lahatha which means, his breath rose on account of fatigue or weariness), signifies that whether or not such a one is asked to make sacrifices in the cause of religion, he seems to be always panting like a thirsty dog, as if the ever-increasing burden of sacrifices is leaving him completely exhausted.

English - Pickthall

And had We willed We could have raised him by their means, but he clung to the earth and followed his own lust. Therefor his likeness is as the likeness of a dog: if thou attackest him he panteth with his tongue out, and if thou leavest him he panteth with his tongue out. Such is the likeness of the people who deny Our revelations. Narrate unto them the history (of the men of old), that haply they may take thought.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And if We had pleased, We would have exalted him thereby; but he clings to the earth and follows his low desire. His parable is as the parable of the dog -- if thou drive him away, he lolls out his tongue, and if thou leave him alone, he lolls out his tongue. Such is the parable of the people who reject Our messages. So relate the narrative that they may reflect.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

Had We so willed We would have exalted him by means of Our Signs, but he leaned towards the earth and followed his vain desires. His case is like that of a thirsty dog, if a stick is raised at it, it lolls out its tongue, and if it is left alone it does the same. Such is the case of the people who reject Our Signs as false. Recite all this to them that they may reflect.

كَلْبِ

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