Tafsir of Al-Jumu'ah 62:5

The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Torah and were tasked to carry it: He likens the Jews to a donkey carrying books—meaning large volumes of knowledge—because they were the bearers of the Torah, its readers, and the guardians of its contents, yet they did not act upon it nor benefit from its verses. This is because the Torah contained the description of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and the glad tidings of him, yet they did not believe in him. The donkey walks with these books, knowing nothing of them except the burden and fatigue upon its sides and back. Everyone who possesses knowledge but does not act upon it is like this.

"Wretched is the likeness of the people who deny the signs of Allah": This refers to the Jews who denied the signs of Allah that indicate the truth of the prophethood of Muhammad (ﷺ).

"Were entrusted with the Torah": Meaning they were charged with knowing it and acting upon it.

"Then did not take it on": Meaning they did not act upon it, so it is as if they did not carry it at all.

• Variant readings: It is read as ḥummilū (were entrusted with), meaning they were made to carry it, then did not carry it in reality due to the lack of action. It is also read as yaḥmilu (carrying) the books.
• Grammatical note: If you ask, "What is the grammatical position of yaḥmilu?" I say: It is in the accusative state (naṣb) as a circumstantial qualifier (ḥāl), or in the genitive state (jarr) as an adjective (waṣf), because the donkey is like the "vile person" in the poet's saying: "And I pass by the vile person who insults me."

"Say, 'O you who are Jews, if you claim that you are allies of Allah, excluding the [rest of] the people, then wish for death, if you should be truthful.' But they will not wish for it, ever, because of what their hands have put forth. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers. Say, 'Indeed, the death from which you flee - indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do.'"