َ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿۵﴾ قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ هَادُوا إِنْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ لِلَّهِ مِنْ دُونِ النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُا الْمَوْتَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ ﴿۶﴾ وَلَا يَتَمَنَّوْنَهُ أَبَدًا بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّالِمِينَ ﴿۷﴾

﴾5﴿ Masalul lazeena hum milut tawraata summa lam yahmiloohaa kamasalil himaari yah milu asfaaraa; bi'sa masalul qawmil lazeena kaazzaboo bi aayaatil laah; wallaahu laa yahdil qawmazzaalimeen
﴾6﴿ Qul yaaa ayyuhal lazeena haadoo in za'amtum annakum awliyaaa'u lilaahi min doonin naasi fatamannawul mawta in kuntum saadiqeen
﴾7﴿ Wa laa yatamannaw nahooo abadam bimaa qaddamat aydeehim; wallaahu 'aleemum biz zaalimeen

﴾5﴿ The example of those who were entrusted with the responsibility of the Torah but did not uphold it is like that of a donkey carrying books. How wretched is the example of people who deny the signs of Allah! And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people
﴾6﴿ Say, O Jews, if you claim that you are indeed the friends of Allah, to the exclusion of other people, then wish for death—if you are truthful
﴾7﴿ And they will never wish for death because of what their hands have sent forth. And Allah is All-Knowing of the wrongdoers

[5] After affirming the truthfulness of the Messenger, this verse is a warning to those who deny him despite having knowledge.
It is a refutation of the Jews’ earlier claim—that they said: “You are unlettered, and we are scholars and people of the Book; we are better than you, and it is not necessary for us to believe in an unlettered Prophet.”
The essence of this refutation is that a scholar without action is like a donkey carrying books—there is no virtue in that.
"(Like a donkey carrying books)"—The detailed example is like placing large books on the back of a donkey.
The load is on its back, causing pain to its sides, but the donkey gains no benefit from it.
Sometimes, due to its ignorance, it sits down in the middle of the road and blocks the path.
Likewise, a scholar who memorizes the Book of Allah, exerts effort in reading it, but does not act upon it—he bears a heavy burden and hardship, yet derives no benefit from it, neither in this world nor the Hereafter.
Furthermore, such a scholar, due to opposition or jealousy, may even resist the people of truth and become an obstacle to guidance.
"Asfāran" (books)—is the plural of sifr, meaning large books.
The reference is to someone who appears as a great scholar but has no action.
Due to the general wording of this verse, it also includes the scholars of this Ummah who do not act upon their knowledge.
In fact, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in that this even includes one who memorizes the Qur'an, completes its recitations, but does not reflect on it, follow it, judge by it, or make himself aware of its meanings.
"(What an evil example)"—This parable originally refers to those who reject the Book of Allah, in which the mention of the Seal of the Prophets is found in the Torah, yet they deny it.
And in the Qur’an is the message of monotheism, which they also deny.
However, the denial and rejection by the Jews and corrupt scholars is not always explicit—it often occurs through distortion, deception, and concealment.
[6,7] This is a refutation of the second claim of the Jews, which was: “Why do you speak badly of us by giving examples like that of a donkey? We are the friends (awliya) of Allah.”
This verse challenges that claim by inviting them to mubahalah (mutual invocation of Allah’s curse).
"(Then wish for death)"—Ibn Kathir said: it means pray for death to come upon the misguided party from either side.
He gave this interpretation in Surah Al-Baqarah as well.
Ibn al-Qayyim also mentioned this explanation in Bada’i‘ al-Tafsir under Surah Al-Baqarah.
This mubahalah (invocation of Allah’s judgment) is with the Jews here, whereas in Surah Aal ‘Imran (3:61), it is with the Christians, and in Surah Maryam (19:75), it is with the general polytheists.