Source Attribution
This excerpt is taken from the book Aḥkām wa Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani.
“The person to whom Allah has granted knowledge, and he conceals it, Allah will place a bridle of fire upon him on the Day of Resurrection.”
Another statement of the Prophet ﷺ is:
“Convey from me, even if it is one verse.”
Therefore, whatever amount of knowledge a person has regarding religious rulings, he should convey it to others. Concealing it is not permissible.
Regarding the severe warning for hiding divine rulings, Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ﴾
Translation:
“Indeed, those who conceal what We have sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones whom Allah curses, and those who curse also curse them.”
It becomes clear from this that the People of the Book used to conceal divine rulings, as is also established from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and other authentic sources.
This excerpt is taken from the book Aḥkām wa Masā’il in the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani.
❖ Question:
If a person comes to know a religious ruling and then conceals it, will such a person be made to wear a bridle of fire? I have seen many people who, despite knowing an issue, do not inform others. Is their behavior correct?✿ Answer:
Concealing knowledge is not permissible. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:“The person to whom Allah has granted knowledge, and he conceals it, Allah will place a bridle of fire upon him on the Day of Resurrection.”
Reference: Al-Ṭabarānī al-Kabīr: 10/102, ḥadīth 10089
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb: 116
Reference: Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī: 2649
Another statement of the Prophet ﷺ is:
“Convey from me, even if it is one verse.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3461
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān: 6656
Therefore, whatever amount of knowledge a person has regarding religious rulings, he should convey it to others. Concealing it is not permissible.
Regarding the severe warning for hiding divine rulings, Allah Almighty says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ﴾
Translation:
“Indeed, those who conceal what We have sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Book, they are the ones whom Allah curses, and those who curse also curse them.”
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 159
It becomes clear from this that the People of the Book used to conceal divine rulings, as is also established from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and other authentic sources.
