On Concealing Truth

Edited 260309 1044 (Comment by Gukita refers)

At our usrah last night Ustaz Sihabudddin expounded on the tafsir of verses 159 - 162 of Surah Al-Baqarah:


Muhammad Asad Translation

[2:159]BEHOLD, as for those who suppress aught of the evidence of the truth and of the guidance which We have bestowed from on high, after We have made it clear unto mankind through the divine writ - these it is whom God will reject, and whom all who can judge will reject

[2:160]Excepted, however, shall be they that repent, and put themselves to rights, and make known the truth: and it is they whose repentance I shall accept-for I alone am the Acceptor of Repentance, the Dispenser of Grace
[2:161]Behold, as for those who are bent on denying the truth and die as deniers of the truth -their due is rejection by God, and by the angels,, and by all [righteous] men

[2:162]In this state shall they abide; [and] neither will their suffering, be lightened, nor will they be granted respite.

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Examples of concealing the truth are:

1. not clarifying the true situation - for reasons known only to the concealor
   
2. deviating the truth of Allah's signs - this is usually in matters of faith and belief
   
3. outrightly falsifying Allah's guidance - eg. declaring a law or ruling as irrelevant

The external manifestations of Allah's signs can be seen by all. However, Allah's guidance (hidayah) is bestowed only to whom Allah chooses. It is the responsibility of the guided to upkeep and further strengthen their hidayah, through the following steps:

1. maintain acts of worship including all permissible actions intended for Allah - ibadah
   
2. improve goodness and strength of character - akhlak
3. multiply meritorious and pious deeds
4. increase religious knowledge and awareness

When the guided chose to conceal the truth of Allah's signs and guidance, the consequence is that they will be rejected / cursed by Allah as well as by others who have the right to reject / curse them.


There are 3 levels of rejection / curse:

1. Aathim - being in sin due to misdeed eg. being disrespectful of one's parents
2. Adzab - as a punishment eg. being in turn, disrespected by one's own children
3. La'nat - being rejected by Allah and be without his mercy. For the examples above, having a family that's totally unsupportive and dysfunctional.

Only when they repent (taubah), and right themselves and openly declare the truth, will Allah accept their repentance. For it is Allah and only Allah who accepts repentance and who is the most merciful.


The conditions for the acceptance of taubah are:

1. be fully remorseful of the wrong-doing
2. persistently stay away from sinful acts and disobedience to Allah
3. be determined to not repeat the wrong ever again
   
4. ask for forgiveness from the wronged person
5. demonstrate positive change in acts and character

Allah gives stern warning that la'nat of Allah and the angels will certainly befall, one after the other, on people who deny the truth, and who until their deaths are still in a state of kufur i.e denial, rejection and disbelief.

Allahu a'lam

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Yusuf Ali Translation

002.159 Those who conceal the clear (Signs) We have sent down, and the Guidance, after We have made it clear for the People in the Book,-on them shall be God's curse, and the curse of those entitled to curse,-

002.160 Except those who repent and make amends and openly declare (the Truth): To them I turn; for I am Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.

002.161 Those who reject Faith, and die rejecting,- on them is God's curse, and the curse of angels, and of all mankind;

002.162 They will abide therein: Their penalty will not be lightened, nor will respite be their (lot).

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Malay Translation

[2:159] Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang menyembunyikan apa yang telah Kami turunkan dari keterangan-keterangan dan petunjuk hidayah, sesudah Kami menerangkannya kepada manusia di dalam Kitab Suci, mereka itu dilaknat oleh Allah dan dilaknat oleh sekalian makhluk.
[2:160] Kecuali orang-orang yang bertaubat, dan memperbaiki (amal buruk mereka) serta menerangkan (apa yang mereka sembunyikan); maka orang-orang itu, Aku terima taubat mereka, dan Akulah Yang Maha Penerima taubat, lagi Maha Mengasihani.
[2:161] Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang kafir, dan mereka mati sedang mereka tetap dalam keadaan kafir, mereka itulah orang-orang yang ditimpa laknat Allah dan malaikat serta manusia sekaliannya.
[2:162] Mereka kekal di dalam laknat itu, tidak diringankan azab sengsara dari mereka dan mereka pula tidak diberikan tempoh atau perhatian.