His saying, exalted and glorified is He: "The example of those who were burdened with the Torah, then did not carry it, is like the example of a donkey carrying books. Wretched is the example of the people who denied the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people." "Say, O you who are Jews, if you claim that you are allies of Allah, apart from the people, then wish for death, if you are among the truthful." "And they will never wish for it because of what their hands have sent before, and Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers." "Say, indeed, the death from which you flee will surely meet you; then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do." Those who were burdened with the Torah are the Children of Israel and the scholars contemporary to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him. And "were burdened" means: they were tasked with fulfilling its commands and prohibitions. This is the completeness of a person carrying the trust, and it is not like carrying on the back, even if it is derived from it. And He, exalted is He, mentioned that they did not carry it, meaning: they did not obey its command and did not adhere to its limits when they denied Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, while the Torah speaks of his prophethood. So every good they did not benefit from carrying it is like the example of a donkey carrying books; they are the same to him as dung and other things. And Yahya ibn Ya'mur read: "were burdened" with a فتح on the حاء and a مُخفَّفَة ميم. And the Abbasid al-Ma'mun read: "He burdens" with a ضم on the ياء and a فتح on the حاء and a شَدَّة on the ميم that is opened. And in the Mushaf of Ibn Mas'ud: "like the example of a donkey" without the definite article. And "the book" is the collection of pages arranged together. Then He, exalted is He, clarified the condition of their example and its corruption by His saying: "Wretched is the example of the people." And the meaning is: wretched is the example, the example of the people. And His saying, exalted is He: "Say, O you who are Jews, if you claim..." The verse was narrated to have been revealed because the Jews of Medina, when the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, appeared, addressed the Jews of Khaybar regarding him. They mentioned his prophethood, saying: If you see his followers, we will obey you, and if you see otherwise, we will oppose him with you. Then the response from the people of Khaybar came saying: We are the children of Ibrahim, the friend of the Most Merciful, and the children of Uzair, the son of Allah, and among us are the prophets. When has prophethood been among the Arabs? We are more deserving of prophethood than Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, and there is no way to follow him. So the verse was revealed meaning: If you are with Allah in this status, then desire the departure from this lowly life, which is more beloved to you, so wish for death if you are truthful in believing yourselves to be in this status.

Then Allah, the Most High, informed them that they do not wish for it nor do they throw it away except out of aversion due to their knowledge of their bad state with Allah and their distance from Him. This is what is necessary from the words of the verse. Many of the interpreters have narrated that Allah, the Most High, made this verse a miracle for Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, and a clear sign. He informed him that if any one of them wishes for death in a few days, he would die and depart from this world. The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said to them: "Wish for death" in the context of demonstrating the miracle and showing the verse. No one wished for it out of fear of death and confidence in the truthfulness of Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him.

Then Allah, the Most High, warned them of the death from which they cannot escape, and then of what comes after it, which is the return to Allah, the Most High. Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, recited: "You flee from it, yet it will meet you," omitting "for indeed it."

And His saying, the Most High: "So He will inform you" means the informing of a punisher who will punish them with torment. Ibn Abi Ishaq recited: "So wish for death" with the 'waw' being broken, and likewise Yahya ibn Yamur.