(Part 9)
Rifat Shafiq
8. Concealment of the Truth (Kitman al-Haq)
The concealment of the truth (Kitman al-Haq) is among the reprehensible traits of the Jews, which Allah Almighty repeatedly mentions in the Glorious Qur’an. Allah, Exalted and Majestic, has strongly censured this action of the Children of Israel and made it clear that no matter how much the truth is hidden, Allah will inevitably reveal it.
Allah almighty says:
﴿وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَادَّارَأْتُمْ فِيهَا وَاللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ﴾ (البقرة: 72)
˹This is˺ when a man was killed and you disputed who the killer was, but Allah revealed what you concealed.
When the Holy Prophet (PBUH)was sent as a Messenger, his qualities, signs, and glad tidings were clearly mentioned in the heavenly scriptures of the Jews. Yet, many of their scholars and leaders concealed these truths. They fully recognized that Muhammad (PBUH) was indeed the Messenger of Allah, but still they kept this reality hidden from the people.
The Qur’an describes this situation as follows:
﴿وَإِذَا جَاؤُوكُمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَقَدْ دَخَلُوا بِالْكُفْرِ وَهُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا بِهِ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْتُمُونَ﴾ (المائدة: 61)
“When they come to you ˹believers˺ they say, “We believe.” But they are committed to disbelief when they enter and when they leave. And Allah knows what they hide.”
The Islamic Jurists, explain that the primary reason the Jewish scholars concealed the truth was worldly desire. They feared that if they revealed the truth of the Prophet (PBUH), they would lose leadership, influence, and the material benefits they received from the people. For this reason, they sold the verses of Allah’s Book for a trivial price.
Allah, Exalted be He, says elsewhere in the Qur’an:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا﴾
Indeed, those who hide Allah’s revelations, trading them for a fleeting gain consume nothing but fire into their bellies.
Allama Ibn Kathir (RA) states regarding the exegesis of this ayah:
«اليهود هم الذين كتموا صفة محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم في كتبهم التي بأيديهم، لئلا تذهب رياستهم وما كانوا يأخذونه من العرب من الهدايا والتحف على تعظيمهم إياهم، فخشوا لعنهم الله إن أظهروا ذلك أن يتبعه الناس ويتركوهم، فكتموا ذلك إبقاء على ما كان يحصل لهم من ذلك، وهو نزر يسير، فباعوا أنفسهم بذلك، واعتاضوا عن الهدى واتباع الحق وتصديق الرسول والإيمان بما جاء عن الله بذلك النزر اليسير، فخابوا وخسروا في الدنيا والآخرة.»
The Jews were those who concealed the qualities and signs of (PBUH) in their scriptures, which were in their possession and testified to his prophethood and mission. They hid them out of fear of losing their leadership, authority, and the gifts and rewards that the Arabs used to give them in recognition and honor. They were afraid that if they revealed the truth, people would follow the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and abandon them. Therefore, they concealed this truth in order to retain the insignificant worldly gains that they were receiving.
With these small and insignificant worldly gains, they sold themselves, choosing the trivial worldly benefit over guidance, following the truth, affirming the Messenger, and believing in that which had come from Allah. Consequently, they failed and suffered loss in both this world and the Hereafter.
Similarly, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) speaks regarding concealment:
«مَنْ كَتَمَ عِلْمًا أَلْجَمَهُ اللَّهُ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَارٍ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»(رواه أبو داود)
Whoever conceals knowledge, Allah Almighty will restrain the fire from them on the Day of Judgment.
In short, concealing the truth is a reprehensible trait to which the Jews were prone and continue to be. On this basis, every Muslim should strive to protect themselves from engaging in this blameworthy act.
