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,
[أُوْلَـئِكَ
كَالأَنْعَـمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْغَـفِلُونَ]
(They are like cattle, nay even more astray; those! They are the heedless.)
(7:179), and said,
[بِئْسَ مَثَلُ
الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَايَـتِ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لاَ يَهْدِى
الْقَوْمَ الظَّـلِمِينَ]
(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 يأَيُّهَا
الَّذِينَ هَادُواْ إِن زَعمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ
النَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ ]
(Say: "O you Jews! If you pretend that you are friends of Allah, to the
exclusion of other people, then long for death if you are truthful.'') meaning,
`if you claim that you are on the correct guidance and that Muhammad and his
Companions are being led astray, then invoke Allah to bring death to the
misguided group among the two, if you are truthful in your claim.' Allah said,
[وَلاَ
يَتَمَنَّونَهُ أَبَداً بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْديهِمْ]
(But they will never long for it, because of what their hands have sent
before them!) meaning because of the disbelief, injustice and sins that they
commit,
[وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ
بِالظَّـلِمينَ]
(And Allah knows well the wrongdoers.) We mentioned this challenge to the
Jews before in Surat Al-Baqarah, where Allah said,
[قُلْ إِن كَانَتْ
لَكُمُ الدَّارُ الاٌّخِرَةُ عِندَ اللَّهِ خَالِصَةً مِّن دُونِ النَّاسِ
فَتَمَنَّوُاْ الْمَوْتَ إِن كُنْتُمْ صَـدِقِينَ - وَلَن يَتَمَنَّوْهُ أَبَدًا
بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالظَّـلِمينَ - وَلَتَجِدَنَّهُمْ
أَحْرَصَ النَّاسِ عَلَى حَيَوةٍ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُواْ يَوَدُّ أَحَدُهُمْ
لَوْ يُعَمَّرُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ وَمَا هُوَ بِمُزَحْزِحِهِ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ أَن
يُعَمَّرَ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ ]
(Say: "If the home of the Hereafter with Allah is indeed for you specially
and not for others, of mankind, then long for death if you are truthful.'' But
they will never long for it because of what their hands have sent forth before
them. And Allah is Aware of the wrongdoers. And verily, you will find them the
greediest of mankind for life and (even greedier) than those who ascribe
partners to Allah. One of them wishes that he could be given a life of a
thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from
punishment. And Allah is Seer of what they do.) (2:94-96) We explained these
meanings there, stating that the challenge was for the Jews to invoke Allah to
destroy the misguided group, either they or their enemies. We also mentioned a
similar challenge against the Christians in Surah Al `Imran,
[فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ
فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ
أَبْنَآءَنَا وَأَبْنَآءَكُمْ وَنِسَآءَنَا وَنِسَآءَكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا
وأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَتُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْكَـذِبِينَ
]
(Then whoever disputes with you concerning him [`Isa] after (all this)
knowledge that has come to you, say: "Come, let us call our sons and your sons,
our women and your women, ourselves and yourselves -- then we pray and invoke
the curse of Allah upon those who lie.'')(3:61) and against the idolators, in
Surah Maryam,
[قُلْ مَن كَانَ فِى
الضَّلَـلَةِ فَلْيَمْدُدْ لَهُ الرَّحْمَـنُ مَدّاً]
(Say whoever is in error, the Most Gracious will extend [circumstances] for
him.)(19:75) Imam Ahmad, may Allah be pleased with him recorded that Ibn `Abbas
said, "Abu Jahl, may Allah curse him, said, `If I see Muhammad praying at the
Ka`bah, I will step on his neck.' When the Prophet heard of that, he said,
«لَوْ فَعَلَ
لَأَخَذَتْهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عَيَانًا وَلَوْ أَنَّ الْيَهُودَ تَمَنَّوُا
الْمَوْتَ لَمَاتُوا وَرَأَوْا مَقَاعِدَهُمْ مِنَ النَّارِ، وَلَوْ خَرَجَ
الَّذِينَ يُبَاهِلُونَ رَسُولَ اللهِصلى الله عليه وسلّم لَرَجَعُوا لَا يَجِدُونَ
أَهْلًا وَلَا مَالًا»
(Had he done so, the angels would have snatched him away in public. Had the
Jews wished for death, they would all have perished and saw their seats in
Hellfire. Had those accepted for invoking the curse of Allah with Allah's
Messenger, they would not have found families or property when they returned
home.)'' Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa'i recorded it. His saying;
[قُلْ إِنَّ
الْمَوْتَ الَّذِى تَفِرُّونَ مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ مُلَـقِيكُمْ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ
إِلَى عَالِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَـدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
]
(Say: "Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you
will be sent back to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will inform
you about what you used to do.'') is like His saying in Surat An-Nisa':
[أَيْنَمَا
تَكُونُواْ يُدْرِككُّمُ الْمَوْتُ وَلَوْ كُنتُمْ فِى بُرُوجٍ
مُّشَيَّدَةٍ]
(Wheresoever you may be, death will overtake you even if you are in
fortresses built up strong and high.)
[يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى
ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ
تَعْلَمُونَ - فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَوةُ فَانتَشِرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ
وَابْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَّعَلَّكُمْ
تُفْلِحُونَ ]
(9. O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah on
Al-Jumu`ah (Friday), then hasten (Fas`aw) to the remembrance of Allah and leave
off business. That is better for you if you did but know!) (10. Then when the
Salah is complete, you may disperse through the land, and seek the bounty of
Allah, and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.)
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