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Responsibility · Quran 62:5

Carrying books and bearing responsibility

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The passage

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

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.

Marmaduke Pickthall · Quran 62:5

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Reading diagram

Entrusted with scripture

The verse identifies those entrusted with the Torah.

A load of books

The comparison names a donkey carrying books.

Responsibility

The commentary distinguishes carrying a text from benefiting through acting on it.

An editorial reading aid. Nodes show the named imagery, contrasts, or sequence, not a complete interpretation.

Commentary before reflection

Read with the source

Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar explains the comparison as carrying the Torah without acting on it, like a donkey bearing books without understanding them.

Al-Tafsir al-Muyassar ↗

Original concise English paraphrase of the retrieved Arabic commentary.

A reflection to try

Read the original context. What distinction does the commentary make between carrying a text and acting on it?

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