Parables of the QuranA parable of the Quran · Al-Jumu'a 62:5

The donkey carrying books

مثل الحمار يحمل أسفارًا

Those given the Torah who did not act on it are like a donkey carrying books: knowledge not acted on is a burden.

Quran

What it means

Those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not carry it out are like a donkey carrying volumes of books (62:5).

As-Sa'di explains that the donkey gains nothing from the books but their weight; so too knowledge that is not acted on is only a burden and a proof against its holder. The verse speaks of the People of the Book, whose greatest duty in the Torah was to believe in Muhammad ﷺ, and its lesson holds for anyone who knows the truth and does not live by it.

Evidence

QuranAl-Jumu'a (Friday)Quran 62:5

مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا۟ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًۢا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٥

The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on[1687] is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books].[1688] Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allāh. And Allāh does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Translator's notes

[1687] i.e., neglected their responsibility towards it by not putting its teachings into practice. [1688] But does not benefit from their contents.

Saheeh International · QuranEnc v1.1.2

Another translation: Al-Hilali & Muhsin Khan · QuranEnc v1.1.2

5. 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).

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