One of the aspects of the days of ignorance among the Jews,
Christians, pagans and other than them among the disbelieving sects is to
conceal the truth while possessing knowledge of it. This is more evident among
the People of the Scripture of the Jews and the Christians. They know the truth
but they conceal it and do not make it clear to the people for the sake of
their worldly interest or in order to please the people. The greatest form of
concealment is that they know the attributes of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi
was sallam) in the Tawrah and Injeel; and they know the
authenticity of his message and what he came with; yet they conceal it.
They denied the
message of Muhammad (sallallaahu alayhi was sallam) as mentioned by Allah the
exalted concerning them in various places in the Qur’aan. One of such places is
the saying of the exalted: “Those to whom We
gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of
them conceal the truth while they know [it]. The truth is from your Lord, so
never be among the doubters. [Soorah al-Baqarah: 146-147]. This aayah is in the context of
changing the Qiblah from Jerusalem to Ka’bah. They knew that the Qiblah of the
Messenger of Allaah would be Ka’bah – the Qiblah of Ibraaheem (alayhis salaam).
They knew this
in their books, yet they rejected the changing of the Qiblah and concealed what
they possessed of knowledge concerning that. In addition, everyone who conceals
the truth while knowing it without explaining it to the people, other than the
Jews and the Christians, even if the person is among the Muslims, he is upon
the way of the Jews and the Christians as stated by the exalted: “And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from
those who were given the Scripture, [saying], ‘You must make it clear to the
people and not conceal it. But they threw it away behind their backs and
exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.”
[Soorah Aal-Imraan: 187].
The Most High
also said: “Indeed, those who conceal what We
sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in
the Scripture - those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse. Except
for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they
concealed]. Those - I will accept their repentance, and I am the Accepting of
repentance, the Merciful.” [Soorah
al-Baqarah: 159-160] The condition for the acceptance of their
repentance is to explain what they have concealed; general repentance is not sufficient;
it is a must to explain [what they have concealed].
Therefore, it
obligatory upon whoever knows the truth to explain it to the people and not to
exchange it for a small price by concealing it in other to attain any worldly
gains or for the sake of pleasing the people. Allaah has more right that one
should fear and seek His pleasure. So it is not permissible to conceal the
truth for one who has the ability to explain it and make it manifest. As for
one who does not have the ability to do so or he fears that a greater fitnah
may occur by explaining the truth, such a person is excused. However, whoever
does not have a barrier in explaining the truth but conceals the truth for the
sake of his interest and wellbeing, such a person is cursed by Allaah and
cursed by those who curse.
This is the
attribute of the Jews and it is applicable to everyone who conceals the truth
for the sake of following desires without making it clear to the people. If he
is asked about the ruling of an issue, he responds with other than the truth
while he knows the correct response. This is part of concealing the truth. Allah
the Mighty and Majesty has commanded that one should speak the truth even if it
is against oneself. “Be persistently standing
firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or
parents and relatives” [Soorah an-Nisaa: 135]. So it is
obligatory to speak the truth in giving testimonies and other than it.
Concealing the knowledge,
which gives life to the people and guides them to the straight path is worse
than concealing testimony. Therefore, it is obligatory to explain the truth and
not to conceal it. For instance, if a person sees the people upon falsehood or
superstitions or shirk, he should not be silent; rather it is obligatory upon
him to explain the truth and he should not leave the people to engage in graves
and tombs worship and to indulge in misguided innovations. He should not be
silent and say I have no business with the people. Or he sees the people
engaging in prohibited dealings without saying anything. This is concealment of
knowledge and lack of sincerity to the Ummah. Allaah did not give you this knowledge
in order for you to remain silent; rather He gave you in order for you make it
clear to the people, invite to Allaah upon sure knowledge and make effort to
bring out people from darkness into light.
It is not
permissible for the scholars to be silent while they have the ability to
explain the truth especially when they see people in misguidance, shirk,
innovation and superstition. Silence will not do them any good. If they say
nothing, this is considered concealment of knowledge which Allaah condemned the
Jews and the Christians for. Why would a person say something contrary to the
truth while he knows it and deliberately issue a fatwa contrary to it in order
to please the people or to get along with the people with regard to what they
are upon? The truth is more deserving of being followed; so you should seek the
pleasure of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and do not please the people while
they are upon falsehood.
It is stated in
a hadeeth “Whoever seeks the pleasure of Allah at the risk of displeasing
the people, Allah will be pleased with him and the people will be pleased with
him. And whoever seeks the pleasure of the people at the risk of displeasing Allah, Allah will be displeased
with him and the people will be displeased with him.”[1]
Source: Sharh
Masaa’il al-Jaahiliyyah, p. 281-284 by Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan bin
Abdullaah al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him)
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