إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّـٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّـٰعِنُونَ 159
Translations
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 Allāh and cursed by those who curse,
Transliteration
Inna alladhina yaktumuna ma anzalna mina al-bayyinati wa-al-huda min ba'da ma bayyannahu li-al-nasi fi al-kitabi, ula'ika yalcunuhum Allah wa yalcunuhum al-la'inun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah condemns those who conceal clear signs (bayyinат) and guidance that Allah has revealed and made plain to people in the Scripture. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this primarily as referring to the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) who concealed or distorted scriptural truths about the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic teachings, though the principle applies to any who knowingly hide divine guidance. Such people incur the curse of Allah and all creation, as they deprive others of essential religious knowledge and truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah addressing the People of the Book and those who reject faith. It follows the description of the pious believers and precedes warnings about hypocrisy, establishing a contrast between those who accept divine guidance and those who deliberately conceal or reject it. The context reflects the early Medinan period when the Prophet encountered Jewish and Christian communities.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever hides knowledge, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection.' This reinforces the severity of concealing divinely-given knowledge. Additionally, there are hadith traditions about scholars who hide knowledge being among those cursed by Allah and the angels.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the sacred responsibility to share and preserve Islamic knowledge honestly, without distortion or concealment. It serves as a warning that the deliberate suppression of truth carries severe spiritual consequences, motivating believers to uphold transparency and authenticity in matters of faith.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ إِنَّ ٱلْبَقَرَ تَشَـٰبَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّآ إِن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is. Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us. And indeed we, if Allāh wills, will be guided."
أَيَوَدُّ أَحَدُكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ لَهُۥ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ وَأَصَابَهُ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَلَهُۥ ذُرِّيَّةٌ ضُعَفَآءُ فَأَصَابَهَآ إِعْصَارٌ فِيهِ نَارٌ فَٱحْتَرَقَتْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Would one of you like to have a garden of palm trees and grapevines underneath which rivers flow in which he has from every fruit? But he is afflicted with old age and has weak [i.e., immature] offspring, and it is hit by a whirlwind containing fire and is burned. Thus does Allāh make clear to you [His] verses that you might give thought.
أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطَ كَانُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۗ قُلْ ءَأَنتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَـٰدَةً عِندَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Or do you say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants were Jews or Christians? Say, "Are you more knowing or is Allāh?" And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allāh? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do.
يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
O Children of Israel, remember My favor that I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds [i.e., peoples].