✦ Severe Warnings in Qur'an and Sunnah Against Concealing the Truth and Issuing False Fatwas ✦
✍ By: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam حفظه الله
Both Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ have issued stern warnings against those who conceal the truth or issue fatwas without proper knowledge. Such actions not only mislead people in this world, but also bring about severe punishment in the Hereafter. The following includes references from the Qur'an, Hadith, and the statements of the Companions and their successors.
Verse 1: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:159)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَاتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ...
Translation: Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs and guidance We revealed, after We made it clear to mankind in the Scripture, they are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.
Verse 2: Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:187)
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ...
Translation: And when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, saying, “You must explain it to the people and not conceal it,” they cast it behind their backs and traded it for a small price. What a wretched exchange they made!
Hadith 1: Sunan Abi Dawood (3658)
مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ...
Translation: Whoever is asked about knowledge and withholds it, he will be bridled with a rein of fire on the Day of Resurrection.
Hadith 2: Sahih Muslim (2699)
إِذَا ظَهَرَتِ الْفِتَنُ...
Translation: When tribulations spread and swords are drawn, mercy will be removed, trust will be taken away, and the gates of the heavens will be opened for curses.
Verse 1: Surah An-Nisa (4:171)
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ...
Translation: O People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your religion, and speak nothing but the truth about Allah.
Verse 2: Surah At-Tawbah (9:34)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟...
Translation: O you who believe! Verily, many of the scholars and monks devour people's wealth unjustly and turn others away from the path of Allah.
Hadith 1: Sahih Bukhari (680)
مَن أفتَى بغيرِ عِلمٍ...
Translation: Whoever issues a fatwa without knowledge, its sin is upon the one who gave it.
Hadith 2: Musnad Ahmad (21726)
أَجْرَؤُكُمْ عَلَى الْفُتْيَا...
Translation: The one who is boldest in issuing fatwas is the one who is boldest in entering the Fire.
Concealing the truth and issuing fatwas without knowledge are acts that are severely condemned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. There are grave warnings associated with them, and they incur serious consequences in the Hereafter. It is obligatory upon the scholars to convey Islamic knowledge with integrity, and to refrain from issuing any fatwa without proper research and understanding.
✿ May Allah protect us from this grave sin and guide us to act with sincerity and knowledge. Ameen.
✍ By: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salam حفظه الله
❖ Warnings for Concealing the Truth and Giving Incorrect Fatwas
Both Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ have issued stern warnings against those who conceal the truth or issue fatwas without proper knowledge. Such actions not only mislead people in this world, but also bring about severe punishment in the Hereafter. The following includes references from the Qur'an, Hadith, and the statements of the Companions and their successors.
① Qur'anic Warnings Against Concealing the Truth
Verse 1: Surah Al-Baqarah (2:159)
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَاتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ...
Translation: Verily, those who conceal the clear proofs and guidance We revealed, after We made it clear to mankind in the Scripture, they are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse.
Verse 2: Surah Aal-e-Imran (3:187)
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَـٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ...
Translation: And when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, saying, “You must explain it to the people and not conceal it,” they cast it behind their backs and traded it for a small price. What a wretched exchange they made!
② Condemnation of Concealing Knowledge in Hadith
Hadith 1: Sunan Abi Dawood (3658)
مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ فَكَتَمَهُ...
Translation: Whoever is asked about knowledge and withholds it, he will be bridled with a rein of fire on the Day of Resurrection.
Hadith 2: Sahih Muslim (2699)
إِذَا ظَهَرَتِ الْفِتَنُ...
Translation: When tribulations spread and swords are drawn, mercy will be removed, trust will be taken away, and the gates of the heavens will be opened for curses.
③ Warnings for Issuing False or Uninformed Fatwas
Verse 1: Surah An-Nisa (4:171)
يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ...
Translation: O People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your religion, and speak nothing but the truth about Allah.
Verse 2: Surah At-Tawbah (9:34)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟...
Translation: O you who believe! Verily, many of the scholars and monks devour people's wealth unjustly and turn others away from the path of Allah.
④ Prophetic Warnings Regarding Fatwa Without Knowledge
Hadith 1: Sahih Bukhari (680)
مَن أفتَى بغيرِ عِلمٍ...
Translation: Whoever issues a fatwa without knowledge, its sin is upon the one who gave it.
Hadith 2: Musnad Ahmad (21726)
أَجْرَؤُكُمْ عَلَى الْفُتْيَا...
Translation: The one who is boldest in issuing fatwas is the one who is boldest in entering the Fire.
❖ Summary
Concealing the truth and issuing fatwas without knowledge are acts that are severely condemned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. There are grave warnings associated with them, and they incur serious consequences in the Hereafter. It is obligatory upon the scholars to convey Islamic knowledge with integrity, and to refrain from issuing any fatwa without proper research and understanding.
✿ May Allah protect us from this grave sin and guide us to act with sincerity and knowledge. Ameen.
