Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Jumu'ah Verse 5

Mufti Taqi Usmani

The example of those who were ordered to bear (the responsibility of acting upon) the Torah, then they did not bear it, is like a donkey that carries a load of books. Evil is the example of those who have rejected Allah’s verses. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The example of those who were entrusted with ˹observing˺ the Torah but failed to do so, is that of a donkey carrying books.[[ Meaning, they can carry the physical burden of the books, but not understand a word of them.]] How evil is the example of those who reject Allah’s signs! For Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Ruwwad Translation Center

The similitude of those who were given the Torah but failed to uphold it, is like that of a donkey laden with books. How terrible is the similitude of those who reject the verses of Allah! And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

A. J. Arberry

The likeness of those who have been loaded with the Torah then they have not carried it, is as the likeness of an ass carrying books. Evil is the likeness of the people who have cried lies to God's signs. God guides never the people of the evildoers.

Abdul Haleem

Those who have been charged to obey the Torah, but do not do so, are like asses carrying books: how base such people are who disobey God’s revelations! God does not guide people who do wrong.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

The likeness of those who were laden with the Taurat and then they bare it not, is as the likeness of the ass bearing tomes. Hapless is the likeness of the people who belie the signs of Allah. And Allah guideth not a wrong doing people. J

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The similitude of those who were charged with the (obligations of the) Mosaic Law, but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is that of a donkey which carries huge tomes (but understands them not). Evil is the similitude of people who falsify the Signs of Allah; and Allah guides not people who do wrong.

Abul Ala Maududi

The parable of those who were charged with the Torah and then they failed to live up to it is that of a donkey laden with books. Even more evil is the parable of the people who gave the lie to the Signs of Allah. Allah does not direct such wrong-doers to the Right Way.

Ahmed Ali

The likeness of those who were charged with (the law of) the Torah which they did not observe, is that of a donkey who carries a load of books (oblivious of what they contain). How wretched the semblance of the people who deny the words of God! God does not show an unjust people the way.

Ahmed Raza Khan

The example of those who were entrusted with the Taurat, and did not carry out its commands, is like the donkey carrying books; what a wretched example is of the people who denied the signs of Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust.

Ali Quli Qarai

The example of those who were charged with the Torah, then failed to carry it, is that of an ass carrying books. Evil is the example of the people who deny Allah’s signs, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing lot.

Ali Ünal

The parable of those entrusted to carry the Torah, who subsequently do not carry it out in practice, is that of a donkey carrying a load of books (it transports what it does not understand). How evil is the example of those who (ignore what their Book teaches and) deny God’s Revelations (sent down for them and containing news of the Last Messenger)! God does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Amatul Rahman Omar

The case of those who were charged to observe (the law of) Torah but did not carry out (its commandments in its true spirit), is like the case of a donkey that carries (a load of) volumes (of Books; he neither understands them nor gathers any advantage from them). Wretched is the case of the people who cry lies to the Message of Allâh. And Allâh guides no unjust people to success.

English Literal

(The) example/proverb (of) those who were made to carry/endure the Torah then they did not carry/endue it (are) as/like (the) example/proverb (of) the donkey, (it) carries/endures portions of the Torah , how bad (is the) example/proverb (of) the nation those who denied/falsified with God`s verses/evidences? And God does not guide the nation the unjust/oppressive.

Faridul Haque

The example of those who were entrusted with the Taurat, and did not carry out its commands, is like the donkey carrying books; what a wretched example is of the people who denied the signs of Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust.

Hamid S. Aziz

The similitude of those who were charged with the Law of Moses, then they did not observe it, is as the similitude of the ass bearing books. Evil is the likeness of the people who reject the revelations of Allah; and Allah does not guide wrongdoing people.

Hilali & Khan

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the (obligation of the) Taurat (Torah) (i.e. to obey its commandments and to practise its legal laws), but who subsequently failed in those (obligations), is as the likeness of a donkey who carries huge burdens of books (but understands nothing from them). How bad is the example (or the likeness) of people who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah. And Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers, disbelievers, etc.).

Maulana Mohammad Ali

That is Allah’s grace; He grants it to whom He pleases. And Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

The likeness of those who were charged with the Taurat, then they did not observe it, is as the likeness of the ass bearing books, evil is the likeness of the people who reject the communications of Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

The likeness of those who are entrusted with the Law of Moses, yet apply it not, is as the likeness of the ass carrying books. Wretched is the likeness of folk who deny the revelations of Allah. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.

Muhammad Sarwar

Those who were to carry the responsibility of the Torah but ignored, are like donkeys laden with books. How terrible is the example of the people who reject the revelations of God. God does not guide the unjust.

Qaribullah & Darwish

The likeness of those who were loaded with the Torah, but did not carry it, is like that of a donkey carrying books. Evil is the example of the people who have belied the verses of Allah. Allah does not guide the evildoers.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah, but did not carry it, is as the likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books. How bad is the example of people who deny the Ayat of Allah. And Allah does not guide the people who are wrongdoers.

Wahiduddin Khan

Those who were charged with bearing the Torah, but did not do so are like an ass carrying a load of books. How unfortunate are those who belie the sign of God. God does not guide the wrongdoers.

Talal Itani

The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah, but then failed to uphold it, is like the donkey carrying works of literature. Miserable is the example of the people who denounce God’s revelations. God does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Tafsir jalalayn

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Torah, those who were charged with implementing it, then failed to uphold it, [then] failed to act in accordance with it, in what pertains to the descriptions of the Prophet (s), and so did not believe in him, is as the likeness of an ass carrying books, in that it does not benefit from them. Evil is the likeness of the people who deny God's signs, those confirming the truth of the Prophet (s) -- (the object of rebuke is omitted but is implied to be hdh'l-mathalu, `this likeness'). And God does not guide the evildoing folk, the disbelievers.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Admonishing the Jews and challenging Them to wish for Death

Allah the Exalted says,

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah, but did not carry it, is as the likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books.

Allah the Exalted admonishes the Jews who were entrusted with the Tawrah and were ordered to abide by it.

However, they did not abide by it, and this is why Allah resembled them to the donkey that carries volumes of books. Surely, when the donkey carries books, it will not understand what these books contain because it is only carrying these books using its strength.

This is the example of those who were entrusted with the Tawrah; they read its letter but did not understand its meanings nor abided by them. Rather, they even corrupted and changed the Tawrah. Therefore, they are worse than the donkey, because the donkey cannot understand. They, on the other hand, could have understood using their minds, but their minds were of no benefit.

This is why Allah the Exalted said in another Ayah,

أُوْلَـيِكَ كَالَانْعَـمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُوْلَـيِكَ هُمُ الْغَـفِلُونَ

They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless. (7;179),

and said,

بِيْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِأيَاتِ اللَّهِ

وَاللَّهُ لَاا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ




How bad is the example of people who deny the Ayat of Allah? And Allah does not guide the people who are wrongdoers.

Allah the Exalted said,

قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُوا إِن زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاء لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ