His statement: "if you attack him, he pants," [means] you drive him with your beast and your feet. This is the likeness of the one who reads the Book and does not act upon it.

8571 - My father narrated to us, Nasr ibn 'Ali al-Jahdami told us, Muslim ibn Qutaybah told us, from Sahl al-Sarraj, from al-Hasan regarding His statement: "if you attack him, he pants," he said: If you press upon him.

His statement, the Exalted: "That is the parable of the people who denied Our signs"

8572 - My father narrated to us, Ahmad ibn 'Abd al-Rahman told us, 'Abd Allah ibn Abi Ja'far told us, from his father, from al-Rabi', regarding His statement: "So he cast them off," [meaning] he cast off the signs, and he called for their destruction, so what he was given of knowledge was stripped from him, and he became a cursed one turning on his heels from that which was mentioned. "But he adhered to the earth and followed his desire. So his parable is like the parable of the dog; if you attack him, he pants, or if you leave him, he pants." That is the parable of the people who denied Our signs, and he destroyed the enemy against whom he had called [for destruction]. This is but a parable, and likewise is every scholar who is forbidden to ask his Lord for that which is not appropriate for him.

His statement, the Exalted: "So relate the stories that perhaps they will reflect"

8573 - 'Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated to us, Muhammad ibn 'Isa told us, Salamah told us, from Ibn Ishaq: "So relate the stories that perhaps they will reflect," meaning the Children of Israel. That is, I have brought them the report of those who were before them, of that which was hidden from you, so that they might reflect and know that no one brought this news of what passed before them except a prophet to whom the news of the heaven comes.

His statement, the Exalted: "How bad is the example of the people who denied Our signs and used to wrong their own souls"

8574 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, Minjab told us, Bishr ibn 'Umarah told us, from Abu Rawq, from al-Dahhak, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding His statement: "and used to wrong their own souls," he said: They harm [themselves].

His statement, the Exalted: "And indeed We have created"

9309 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih told us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas regarding His statement: "And indeed We have created for Hell," he says: We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell.