Ritualistic Reading

Qur'aanic Verse 62:5:

Transliteration:

5. Mathalu allatheena hummiloo alttawrata thumma lam yahmilooha kamathali alhimari yahmilu asfaran bi/sa mathalu alqawmi allatheena kaththaboo bi-ayati Allahi waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena

Translation:

5. Those who were given the responsibility of bearing [following the instructions in] the Torah, but did not do so are like an ass carrying a load of books.⁴ Terrible is the example of those who deny Allah’s signs/Verses! And Allah does not guide the wicked people.

Study Note:

4. The reference, of course, is to the Jews here. But the simile equally applies to most modern-day Muslims. Like how the Jews treat the Torah, the Muslims treat the Qur’aan! Both practise just ritualistic reading of their respective Scripture without bothering to follow its instructions.

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An extract from yet-to-be-published Qur'aanic Studies Manzil VII.

Mohammad Shafi