Tafseer: Warning against Memorizing the Qur'aan without Acting upon it

Tafseer: Warning against Memorizing the Qur'aan without Acting upon it

The similitude of the one, who
memorizes the Qur'aan but does not act in accordance to it, is like a
donkey, which carries a load of
books, but does not understand!
"Allah says in Soorah al-Jumu'ah
(62): 5,
"The similitude of those
entrusted with Tawrah, but who
subsequently failed is that of a
donkey, which carries a load of
books."
Imaam Ibn Katheer (rahimahullah)
writes in the Tafseer of this verse,
"In this verse, Allah, the Exalted,
admonishes the Jews who were
entrusted with the Divine Book of
Allah, 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 Tawrah, they read its letter but did not understand it's meaning, nor abided by them.

Rather, they even corrupted and
changed the Tawrah - Therefore,
there situation is worse than the
donkey, because the donkey is not
blessed with understanding, while
they had been given the power to
understand but they did not use it.
This is why Allah says about them in
another verse, "They are like cattle,
nay even more astray, for they are
heedless (of the warnings)." [Soorah
al-A'raf (7): 179]
Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullah)
writes in the Tafseer of this verse
(Soorah al-Jumu'ah (62): 5), "Allah
compares the one who carries His
Book, that he may believe in it, act
upon it and call (the people) to it,
but who then fails to do so,
neglecting to 'bear' it except in a
literal sense, (meaning) reciting it,
without putting it into practice and
without understanding, without
obeying it, without judging in
accordance with it and without
fulfilling its commands - to a donkey
who carries a load of books or
scriptures, without knowing what is
in them. So the benefit, which he
receives from them, is that he carries
them on his back - no more! …And
this similitude, though it may have
been revealed concerning the Jews, is
equally applicable to anyone who
'bears' the Qur'aan and neglects to
act upon it, does not fulfill the
obligation towards it and does not
take care of it."

Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam) said: "…The Qur'aan is
proof on your behalf or against
you." [Saheeh Muslim (432)]
This Hadeeth divides the reciters of
the Qur'aan into two categories, first,
those who recite the Qur'aan and it
becomes a proof for them on the
Day of Judgment. This is for him,
who acts by the orders of the
Qur'aan and stays away from that
which the Qur'aan forbids. He judges
by it and is pleased with its laws and
regulations. He contemplates its
meaning and acts in accordance with
it. Allah says: "This is a Book, We
have sent down to you full of
blessing, so that they may ponder
over its verses and so that the
people of reflection take
heed." [Soorah Sad (38): 29]
Second Category is of such people
who recite the Qur'aan, but it
becomes a proof against them on the
Day of Judgment. This refers to those
who neither act in accordance to the
orders of the Qur'aan, nor refrain
from what it forbids. This is a
warning to those people who have
merely memorized the Arabic text of
the Qur'aan without understanding or
putting into practice its
commandments, whilst believing that
reciting the Qur'aan will earn reward
for them and cancel their evil deeds!
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam) is authentically reported
to have mentioned numerous
blessings and rewards for the reciters
of the Qur'aan, some among them
are, "Whoever reads a single letter
from Allah's Book will receive a
blessing, and each blessing is worth
ten times its value." [at-Tirmidhee,
Authenticate by Shaikh al-Albanee in
Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhee vol: 3,
no: 2327]
Abu Usamah (radhiallahu anhu) also
quoted Allah's Messenger (sallallahu
alaihe wa-sallam) saying: "Recite
Qur'aan, for verily it will interceded
for its companion (who recites it
often) on the Day of
Resurrection." [Saheeh Muslim (no:
1757)]

But, when Allah's Messenger r
mentioned these virtues of reciting
the Qur'aan, he (sallallahu alaihe wa-
sallam) was addressing the Sahabah,
who not only spoke and understood
the language of the Qur'aan but they
were always ready to apply the
verses of the Qur'aan in their lives.
For example, when the verse, "O you
who believe! Do not raise your voice
over that of the Prophet (sallallahu
alaihe wa-sallam) and do not speak
loudly to him as you speak aloud to
one another, lest your deeds may be
rendered fruitless, while you know
not." [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 2] was
revealed, one of the companions of
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam), Thaabit Ibn Qays
(radhiallahu anhu), assumed that it
referred to him, since he was noted
for his loud voice. So, he got up and
left the gathering and went home in
grief. When Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) noticed
his absence, he sent another
companion to inquire. When the
companion returned and informed
Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alaihe
wa-sallam) about the situation, he
(sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam) sent for
Thaabit and assured him that he will
be among the people of Paradise.
[Saheeh al-Bukharee vol: 6, no: 214]
So, the Sahabah used to reflect
upon the verses of the Qur'aan and
apply them in their lives, verses of
the Qur'aan were instructions for
them to be acted upon and not
merely to be read or memorized.
Therefore, when Allah's Messenger
(sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam)
mentioned the virtues of reciting the
Qur'aan, he was encouraging the
Sahabah to read the Qur'aan as
much as they could, and act
according to its instructions.

Thus, in order to gain the rewards of
reciting Qur'aan, it is important that
we understand its meaning and act in
accordance to its commandments.
Allah says: "Verily, there is indeed
a reminder for him who has a
heart or gives ear while he is
heedful." [Soorah Qaf (50): 37]