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Concealment of Truth: Commentary of the Quran (Chapter 2:159-160) By: Mohammad Sobhanie

Commentary of the Quran

Commentary of the Quran (Chapter 2:159-160)

By: Mohammad Sobhanie

 

Concealment of Truth

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَـٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّـهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ ﴿١٥٩﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا فَأُولَـٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٠

Translation:

2:159 Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture – those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse,

2:160 Except for those who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed]. It is to these whom I turn (mercifully); and I am the Oft-returning (to mercy), the Merciful.

Commentary: The Qur’an, in the strongest possible terms, condemns the acts of concealing and distorting the truth, especially when related to the guiding of people to eternal bliss. Acts of concealment could include hiding certain verses of the Scriptures or distorting and misinterpreting of their genuine meanings.

Verses of the Qur’an attest that the advent of the Prophet of Islam and his characteristics were very vividly foretold in the preceding divine Scriptures. This knowledge was entrusted to scholars of the Scriptures so that they could acknowledge and support the Prophet upon his arrival and invite the people of the Book to join him in supporting his mission [Al-i-Imran, 3:187].

Upon the arrival of the Prophet, the scholars of the Scriptures recognized the Prophet like their own sons and daughters. Unfortunately, for their own personal worldly gains, some scholars did not acknowledge that the characteristics and signs of the Prophet of the Islam were in conformity with that of the foretold prophet in the Scriptures. Whenever their views about the Prophet were sought, they either refrained to comment or falsified the facts so that people were averted from believing the Prophet [Al-Baqara 2:146, 2:174].

The aforementioned verses condemn the actions of those who concealed the clear proofs [(الْبَيِّنَاتِ)] and guidance [(وَالْهُدَىٰ)] that was clearly explained to the people in the Scriptures [(مِن بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ)]. The word, [(الْبَيِّنَاتِ)] is translated to clear signs, proof and arguments which are clear pieces of evidence and testaments for the truth. In here, “…. clear proofs …in the Scripture” implies the verses of the Scriptures. The word [(الْهُدَىٰ)] is translated to guidance and it means the knowledge in the Divine Religion which leads mankind to achieving eternal bliss [Al-Mizan, Vol.1, P.585].

The verse warns that Allah (SWT) will deprive those who engage in such treachery from His mercy and blessings [(أُولَـٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّـهُ)], and advocates of the truth will invoke Allah (SWT) to deny those who concealed the truth from His mercy and blessing as they tried to deny others from divine guidance [(وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ)].

Nevertheless, there is hope and promise of redemption for those “who repent and correct themselves and make evident [what they concealed].

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَأَصْلَحُوا وَبَيَّنُوا … ﴿١٦٠

Allah (SWT) accepts this repentance since He is Oft-returning with His blessings and merciful to His servants [(التَّوَّابُ)], as surely, He is Most Merciful [(الرَّحِيمُ)].

…. فَأُولَـٰئِكَ أَتُوبُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ وَأَنَا التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿١٦٠

اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسِنْ عَاقِبَتَنَا فِي الْأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا وَأَجِرْنَا مِنْ خِزْيِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الْآخِرَة

 

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