"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."— Yusuf Ali translation