English

KFGQPC HAFS

Mahmoud Khaleel Al-Husary

Ibn Kathir (Abridged)

Malak Faris Abdalsalaam

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. The majority view is that it is general, encompassing all things one may conceal within one's self. [Majority view] On this view, there are two opinions concerning this ruling:
(i) One view is that it has been abrogated by the subsequent ayah: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity." (2:286) [Ibn Masʿūd, Abū Hurayrah, Ibn ʿAbbās, al-Ḥasan, al-Shaʿbī, Ibn Sīrīn, Saʿīd ibn Jubayr, Qatādah, ʿAṭāʾ al-Khurāsānī, al-Suddī, Ibn Zayd, Muqātil]
(ii) The second view is that the ruling remains in effect, and so it is general that all hidden matters will be  taken to account: then Allah will punish or forgive according to His will. [Ibn ʿUmar, al-Ḥasan, Abū Sulaymān al-Dimashqī, Qāḍī Abū Yaʿlā] Ibn Abī Ṭalḥah narrated from Ibn ʿAbbās that he said: "This ayah is not abrogated. Rather, when Allah gathers the creation, He will say to them, 'I will inform you of what you concealed within yourselves, which My angels did not see.' As for the believers, He will inform them and forgive them for what they had within themselves. This is the meaning of His saying: 'Allah will bring you to account for it', meaning: He will inform you of it. As for the people of polytheism and doubt, He will inform them of what they concealed of disbelief, as indicated in His saying: 'He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills'."

2. The second opinion is that the verse refers to a specific type of concealed matter. Based on this view, the verse is considered still effective, not abrogated. Those who hold this view have two interpretations:
(i) It refers to concealing testimony. [Ibn ʿAbbās in one narration, ʿIkrimah, al-Shaʿbī]
(ii) It refers to doubt vs. certainty. [Mujāhid]

What is meant by "concealing within yourselves"? Has the ruling here been abrogated?