وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 42
Translations
And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].
Transliteration
Wa lā talbisū al-ḥaqqa bil-bāṭil wa taktumū al-ḥaqq wa antum ta'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah prohibits mixing truth with falsehood and concealing knowledge of the truth while being fully aware of it. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a divine command against intellectual dishonesty, particularly directed at the People of the Book who deliberately distorted religious teachings. The verb 'labasa' (to mix/confuse) emphasizes the deceptive intertwining of truth and falsehood, while the emphasis on 'knowing' ('wa antum ta'lamūn') underscores the moral culpability of those who consciously suppress truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah addressing the Children of Israel, specifically referencing their historical pattern of concealing or misrepresenting divine revelations. The broader Medinan context addresses the hypocrites and People of the Book in Madinah who possessed knowledge of the truth regarding Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but deliberately obscured it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever conceals knowledge which Allah has given him, Allah will bridle him with a bridle of fire on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari), emphasizing the obligation to share truth rather than conceal it.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must maintain integrity in their statements and refuse to obscure truth for personal gain or worldly benefit; possessing knowledge carries the moral duty to share it honestly rather than hide or distort it for convenience or self-interest.
Related Ayahs
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ
And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
ٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth. It is those who are the losers.
مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِى كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٍ مِّا۟ئَةُ حَبَّةٍ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَـٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.