Bismillah

Crime of Concealing Knowledge *

By Khalid El-Gharib



Conveying the knowledge of revelation is an obligation and sacred trust upon the scholars and the inheritors of the message revealed by Almighty Allah. A great reward is promised for those who teach people the knowledge of revelation. Conversely, a severe punishment is prepared for those learned scholars who tend to conceal or hide the religious truth out of envy or a worldly desire. In the Noble Qur'an, Almighty Allah informs us of the previous nations that deviated from the right path and warns us of following their footsteps.


Among the deviations of the People of the Book is that they used to conceal the revealed knowledge for a little gain. Are Muslims of today following their footsteps?

Sin of Concealing Truth

Almighty Allah says,

(Verily those who conceal the clear proofs and the guidance that We revealed, after We had made it clear for the people in the Book, are the ones whom Allah shall curse, and those who curse shall curse them (too), except those who repent and amend and make manifest (the truth) - these it is to whom I turn (mercifully), and I am the Accepter of repentance, Most Merciful.) (Al-Baqarah 2:159-160)

These verses were revealed after the People of the Book had concealed the truth mentioned in their books about the prophecy of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Ibn `Abbas narrated that Mu`adh ibn Jabal and other Companions asked some Jewish named Rabbis about the way Prophet Muhammad is mentioned in the Torah. The man then concealed - out of hatred and envy - the description of the coming of Muhammad and the description of his personality, which were mentioned in the Torah (As-Seyouti, Ad-Dur Al-Manthoor). Almighty Allah then revealed the above-mentioned verses to His Prophet.

In these verses, Almighty Allah openly declares His indignation at those who conceal and obscure the clear signs and certain proofs of the truthfulness of Muhammad and the fact that he is the Messenger of Allah. Those people intentionally veiled the expected advent and prophecy of Muhammad, even though they are well aware of his characteristics, which are mentioned in their books. Almighty Allah says,

[I will ordain My mercy also for) those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet, who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them.] (Al-A`raf 7:157)

Those people used to juggle the laws of religion and tamper with the Torah and the Gospel, and thus they deserved the expulsion from Allah's Mercy and the curse of angels and humankind. On the other hand, everything in this world asks for forgiveness for the true scholar, even the fish in the sea, as mentioned in a Prophetic hadith.

Mercy is granted, though, to those who repent concealing religious knowledge, do righteous deeds by believing in the truthfulness of the Prophet, and declare openly the revelations they have in their books.

Hence, the signs of true and sincere repentance are doing righteous deeds, declaring the truth, and acting upon it. These should be followed by a trust in Allah's mercy and His acceptance of the repentance. These repentant people will have their repentance accepted, and Allah, Most Merciful, will inundate them with rivers of mercy and forgiveness.

Although these verses were revealed in response to the scholars of the People of the Book, they still apply to all those who conceal the word of Allah and distort the laws of His Shari`ah. This implication is based on the scholarly principle that a lesson can be derived from the generality of the expression in a particular occasion. This interpretation is reasonable and is further compatible with the following hadith: "Those who conceal something (a religious truth) that they know when asked about it will have a bridle of fire put on them on the Day of Resurrection" (Abu Dawud; At-Tirmidhi).

The Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) were eloquent Arabs who represented an authoritative source for the exegesis of the Qur'an. They understood the general nature of these verses and the fact that they also apply to anyone who commits a similar act, including Muslims. Abu Hurairah said, "Had it not been for two verses in the Qur'an, I would not have narrated a single hadith." He then recited verses 159 and 160 of Surat Al-Baqarah (quoted above).

Sacred Trust

In fact, the wisdom and guidance that Almighty Allah revealed along with the divine laws and commandments that He sent down are for the benefit of the entire humanity. Comprehending and conveying the knowledge of revelation represent an obligation and a sacred trust upon the Prophets, scholars, and knowledgeable people. `Abdullah ibn `Umar reported the Prophet as saying, "Convey (my teachings) to the people, even if it were a single verse or a sentence (from the Qur'an or the Sunnah)" (Al-Bukhari). Therefore, hiding the religious truth from the people is an infringement of the essence of Allah's message that was revealed to His Prophets and Messengers.

This act of concealment is also a betrayal of the duty that the scholars are entrusted with. Almighty Allah says,

[And (remember) when Allah made a covenant with those who were given the Book: You shall certainly make it known to humankind and you shall not hide it. But they cast it behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain, so evil is that which they buy.] (Aal `Imran 3:187)

For this reason, Almighty Allah has prepared a severe punishment for those who conceal knowledge from people, let alone those who tamper with the Law of Allah and distort His books. Indeed, concealing revealed knowledge is a great sin whose doer deserves Allah's curse and the exclusion from His Mercy.

The verses clearly demonstrate how Islam encourages its followers to disseminate knowledge and enlightenment. This helps propagate the message of Allah and extricate the Ummah from the iniquity of ignorance and misguidance. The dissemination of knowledge is an act of worship, while the concealment of it is a crime and a sin.

Unfortunately, part of the Muslim Ummah nowadays does not seem to be aware of the lesson that should be learned from the misdeeds of previous nations concerning the concealment of religious knowledge. On the contrary, some Muslims seem to be following the footsteps of the People of the Book, whether intentionally or unintentionally, as foretold in numerous hadiths. Widespread ignorance and corruption soon followed, as Allah's Messenger foretold.

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Among the portents of the Hour [Day of Judgment] are [the following]: Religious knowledge will be taken away (by the death of sincere, learned scholars of religion); (religious) ignorance will prevail; drinking of alcoholic drinks (will be very common); and open, illegal sexual intercourse will prevail" (Al-Bukhari).

The compelling need for honest Muslim scholars who understand their times and who can sincerely declare the truth is felt by all Muslims. Today, we see many scholars and learned Muslim figures garnishing the falsehood of tyrant regimes. The Muslims must not listen to or follow this group of scholars known as `ulamaa' as-sultan (Arabic for scholars of the sultan).

Those scholars devote their knowledge to the interest of their ruling regimes and claim to be in the service of Islam. They stand for falsehood and distort the rulings of Shari `ah to harmonize with the desires of their rulers, neglecting the subverted condition of the Ummah. This can put those scholars under the category of those who cast the covenant of Allah behind their backs and bought thereby a little gain, as mentioned in verse 187 of Surat Aal `Imran.

We ask Almighty Allah to protect the true scholars of this Ummah from deviation and concealment of truth.