Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan wrote:
"...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). Translated by Abdus-Samee' Abdus-Salaam.
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