knowledge; the singular is sifr. Al-Farra’ said: They are large books. (1) That is, just as a donkey carries them without knowing what they contain or benefiting from them, so too the Jews recite the Torah without benefiting from it, because they have gone against what it contains. “Wretched is the likeness of the people who deny the signs of Allah; and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people”—those who wronged themselves by denying the prophets, peace be upon them. That is, those whom He knew beforehand would not believe, He does not guide.

“Say, ‘O Jews, if you claim that you are allies of Allah to the exclusion of other people, then wish for death, if you are truthful. But they will never wish for it because of what their hands have sent ahead; and Allah knows 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 seen, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”’”