Concealing Knowledge for the Public Interest and the Hadith of the Two Vessels

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Question:
And this questioner says: The hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)

I have memorized two kinds of knowledge from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) . I have propagated one of them to you and if I propagated the second, then my pharynx (throat) would be cut (i.e. killed).

حفظت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وعاءين، فأما أحدهما فبثثته، وأما الآخر فلو بثثته لقطع مني هذا البلعوم

Sahih al-Bukhari 120

, is this not concealing knowledge?

Answer:
Yes, concealing knowledge for the public interest, my brother. If concealing knowledge is for the public interest, it is prescribed. Do not inform them so that they become complacent. As for what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Mu'adh when he said

Shall I not inform the people? Shall I not give the people glad tidings of this? That whoever does not associate anything with Allah

الا اخبر الناس الا ابشر الناس بهذا ان من لا يشرك بالله شيئا

Will Allah not punish him? No, he said: No, do not inform them so that they become complacent.

لا يعذبه الله؟ لا قال لا لا تخبرهم فيتكلوا

, here is knowledge that is only for the select few and is not disseminated to the common people. It is concealed from the common people because if they were informed of it, it would corrupt their religion; they would become complacent, and because they do not understand or comprehend what is intended. So concealing knowledge for the public interest is obligatory if its dissemination leads to fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). This is a rule, so take it with you.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,

Source قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، من أحاديث الفتن — youtube.com (51:00)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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