سُوْرَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ
Surah Al-Jumu'a (62) — Ayah 5
مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ﴿5﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurât (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example of people who deny the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, signs, revelations) of Allâh. And Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn(polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
مَثَلُ
mathalu
(The) likeness
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
(of) those who
حُمِّلُوا۟
ḥummilū
were entrusted
ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ
l-tawrāta
(with) the Taurat
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
لَمْ
lam
not
يَحْمِلُوهَا
yaḥmilūhā
they bore it
كَمَثَلِ
kamathali
(is) like
ٱلْحِمَارِ
l-ḥimāri
the donkey
يَحْمِلُ
yaḥmilu
who carries
أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ
asfāran
books
بِئْسَ
bi'sa
Wretched is
مَثَلُ
mathalu
(the) example
ٱلْقَوْمِ
l-qawmi
(of) the people
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
كَذَّبُوا۟
kadhabū
deny
بِـَٔايَـٰتِ
biāyāti
(the) Signs
ٱللَّهِ ۚ
l-lahi
(of) Allah
وَٱللَّهُ
wal-lahu
And Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يَهْدِى
yahdī
guide
ٱلْقَوْمَ
l-qawma
the people
ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
l-ẓālimīna
the wrongdoers
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
5. The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah, then did not carry it, is like that of a donkey carrying books [9]. Wretched is the example of the people who denied the signs of Allah [10], and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.
[9]
The Moral Decline of the Learned Jews:
In this verse and the verses that follow, the Jews are addressed directly. They considered themselves to be highly learned and knowledgeable. They had also written many commentaries on the Torah, which are called the Talmud. Most of them were literate, and many were scholars of the Torah. Their knowledge and scholarship were renowned throughout Arabia. That is why they called all other people "Ummi" (unlettered, ignorant, simpletons) and considered them inferior. But their practical lives were such that they were not only neglectful of their knowledge but also acted badly. Entangled in the greed of the world, they had forgotten Allah. They only acted upon those commands of Allah that suited their temperament and nature.
The Comparison of the Unpracticing Scholar to a Donkey:
Consuming what is forbidden, openly lying, breaking promises, deceit, altering the Book of Allah according to their own desires, consuming usury, and unlawfully acquiring the wealth of non-Jews and considering it lawful and pure for themselves had become their second nature. That is why Allah gave their example as a donkey upon whose back books have been loaded. It does not know whether the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are loaded on its back or stones. In other words, Allah declared those people to be donkeys who claimed to be learned and knowledgeable. From this, the principle is automatically derived that a scholar who does not act upon his knowledge or acts badly is not a scholar but a donkey, who carries the burden of books and knowledge on his back for nothing.
[10] Here, the signs of Allah refer to those glad tidings and the attributes of the Last Prophet that were present in the Torah, and denying this Last Prophet was tantamount to denying the signs of Allah.
[9]
The Moral Decline of the Learned Jews:
In this verse and the verses that follow, the Jews are addressed directly. They considered themselves to be highly learned and knowledgeable. They had also written many commentaries on the Torah, which are called the Talmud. Most of them were literate, and many were scholars of the Torah. Their knowledge and scholarship were renowned throughout Arabia. That is why they called all other people "Ummi" (unlettered, ignorant, simpletons) and considered them inferior. But their practical lives were such that they were not only neglectful of their knowledge but also acted badly. Entangled in the greed of the world, they had forgotten Allah. They only acted upon those commands of Allah that suited their temperament and nature.
The Comparison of the Unpracticing Scholar to a Donkey:
Consuming what is forbidden, openly lying, breaking promises, deceit, altering the Book of Allah according to their own desires, consuming usury, and unlawfully acquiring the wealth of non-Jews and considering it lawful and pure for themselves had become their second nature. That is why Allah gave their example as a donkey upon whose back books have been loaded. It does not know whether the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are loaded on its back or stones. In other words, Allah declared those people to be donkeys who claimed to be learned and knowledgeable. From this, the principle is automatically derived that a scholar who does not act upon his knowledge or acts badly is not a scholar but a donkey, who carries the burden of books and knowledge on his back for nothing.
[10] Here, the signs of Allah refer to those glad tidings and the attributes of the Last Prophet that were present in the Torah, and denying this Last Prophet was tantamount to denying the signs of Allah.
