The likeness of a donkey

The likeness of a donkey which carries huge burdens of books.

Your actions will prove your knowledge and it’s comprehension. Your deeds are the reflections of your understanding. Without the proper implementation, the knowledge is waste. That is why we were told to ask for beneficial knowledge.

What if you have lot of knowledge but nothing in practice?

Allah ﷻ says: Chapter Al-Jumu’ah

مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

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.Surah Al-Jumu’ah 62:5

Admonishing the people of Torah

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,

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

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

Are we criticizing a specific group of people here?

Not at all! This is applicable to anyone who has lots of knowledge but not in practice or do things in opposite. May Allah ﷻ forbid and save us all. Allah ﷻ with Great Wisdom, always use a reference in the Last Testament (Noble Qur’an) and tells us to do good like so and so and do not do things or be like so and so. We should take it as a reference of encouragement or warning such passages. One who just read and acquire lots of literatures but do things exactly the opposite is not an example for the community.

Muslims (one who says ‘I submit to the Al-Mighty God’-Allah) should be extremely careful with these verses (Aayah), as they are directly addressing to you. And if you don’t follow what Allah ﷻ and His Rasool ﷺ recommends, you will be the worst of the creation.

Reference: Tafsir ibn Kathir (abridged) English version.