159. " verily, those who conceal what we have revealed of
the clear evidence
and the guidance, after we made it clear for mankind in the book;
they are those that allah does curse them
and (also) curse them (all) those who curse (such ones)."
160." except those who repent, and amend (themselves) and make
manifest (the truth). these it is unto whom i turn (mercifully; and i am
the oft-returning (to mercy), the merciful (to people)."
occasion of revelation:
jalal-id-din suyuty
has narrated in his book, 'asbab-un-nuzul,
from ibn-abbas that several muslim people, such as ma`ath-ibn-jabal,
sa`d-ibn-ma`ath, and kharijat-ibn-ziyd asked scholars of the jews
several questions about some subjects in the torah (which concerned
the advent of the prophet (p.b.u.h.)). they concealed the reality of the
subject and, (in their answers), did not refer to the main idea. the
above verse was revealed about them.1
commentary:
in the
occasion of revelation
it was mentioned that the addresseesin this verse were the scholars of the jews, but the meaning is general
and never limits the concept of the verse to them only. it covers all
whosoever that conceal the truth.
this holy verse intensively blames such people, saying:
" verily, those who conceal what we have
revealed of the clear evidence
and the guidance, after we made it clear for mankind in the book;
they are those that allah does curse them
and (also) curse them (all) those who curse (such ones)."
by this verse, we realize that
both allah and the servants of
allah and angels totally hate this action. in other words, concealing
the fact is an action that stimulates the wrath of all adherents of truth
from jinn, mankind, and angels.
what a treachery is greater than that the scholars, for the sake of
their personal interest, hide the messages and evidences of allah,
which are his deposits, and cause people to go astray.
the phrase: " after we made it clear for mankind in the book;"
indicates that such persons, in fact, attempt to spoil the struggles of
prophets and the devotions of the godly people alongside the path of
the propagation of the messages of allah. this action is really a great
sin so that none can ignore.
* * * *
the qur'an, as a book of
guidance, never blocks up the way of
return and does not shut the windows of hope to people. it never makes
people despair for the mercy of allah, however much they are sinful.
hence, in the next verse, it shows the way of repentance of this great
sin, thus:
" except those who repent, and amend
(themselves) and make
manifest (the truth). these it is unto whom i turn (mercifully); and i am
the oft-returning (to mercy), the merciful (to people)."
the phrase: " and i am the
oft-returning (to mercy), the merciful
(to people),"
regarding that it has occurred next to the phrase: " these it
is unto whom i turn (mercifully)" refers to the particular affection and
kindness of allah unto the repentant ones. it says if they return,
allah will return, too. if they return to the obedience and servitude,
and reveal the fact, allah will return to mercy and again shower over
them the blessings he had ceased.