What is the ruling on concealing some knowledge from the common people regarding certain matters of creed?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner says: What is the ruling on concealing some knowledge from the common people regarding certain matters of creed, such as the descent of Allah the Exalted in the last part of the night, for fear that they will not grasp or understand it?
Answer:
You do not go to the common people and answer their questions about the descent and the rising above the Throne, and these matters. Teach them the meaning of "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Teach them the rulings of ablution and the rulings of prayer.
Teach them these matters. As for answering their questions on issues their minds cannot digest and they have not yet reached, such as the rising above the Throne, the elevation, and the descent, do not answer them on these matters. 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Inform the people of what they know. Do you want Allah and His Messenger to be lied about?"
Proceed gradually with the people. Start with the common people by beginning with the basic principles. With the students of knowledge, expand the scope. In other words, every level has its appropriate discourse. Yes.
This questioner says: What is the ruling on concealing some knowledge from the common people regarding certain matters of creed, such as the descent of Allah the Exalted in the last part of the night, for fear that they will not grasp or understand it?
Answer:
You do not go to the common people and answer their questions about the descent and the rising above the Throne, and these matters. Teach them the meaning of "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." Teach them the rulings of ablution and the rulings of prayer.
Teach them these matters. As for answering their questions on issues their minds cannot digest and they have not yet reached, such as the rising above the Throne, the elevation, and the descent, do not answer them on these matters. 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Inform the people of what they know. Do you want Allah and His Messenger to be lied about?"
Proceed gradually with the people. Start with the common people by beginning with the basic principles. With the students of knowledge, expand the scope. In other words, every level has its appropriate discourse. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم كتمان بعض العلم في بعض مسائل العقيدة عن العوام؟ لمعالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.