Permissibility of Withholding Knowledge to Avert Harm
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Regarding the warning against withholding religious knowledge, does this also include withholding worldly knowledge, considering that revealing some worldly knowledge might lead to harm?The Shaykh: You didn't understand?The questioner: There is a warning for the one who withholds knowledge.
The Shaykh: Withholding knowledge.
The questioner: Withholding religious knowledge?The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner: Does this include worldly knowledge, considering that revealing some worldly knowledge might lead to harm?The Shaykh: Withholding worldly knowledge is not forbidden; a person is not prohibited from withholding it. For example, if he learns about computers, or something of mathematics or engineering, he may withhold it. However, we see that the most miserly of people is the one who prevents the teaching of these things. What prevents him if he knows?The questioner: It may lead to harm—O Shaykh—especially if it is in the field of circuits. There may be some things that ordinary people use, and he knows that there is harm in them, which might lead to that harm?The Shaykh: So, if he fears harm, he withholds everything, even religious knowledge, if he fears harm. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say to Mu'adh: (What is the right of Allah over the servants, and what is the right of the servants over Allah? And he informed him,Mu'adh said to him: Should I not give the people good news,He said: Do not give them good news so that they become complacent) Anything that results in harm is prevented and not spread. However, religious knowledge is specifically characterized by the fact that whoever is asked about knowledge and withholds it—and it is religious knowledge—he will be bridled on the Day of Resurrection with a bridle of fire—we seek refuge in Allah from that—unless he withholds it for a benefit, in which case there is no harm.
The Shaykh: Withholding knowledge.
The questioner: Withholding religious knowledge?The Shaykh: Yes.
The questioner: Does this include worldly knowledge, considering that revealing some worldly knowledge might lead to harm?The Shaykh: Withholding worldly knowledge is not forbidden; a person is not prohibited from withholding it. For example, if he learns about computers, or something of mathematics or engineering, he may withhold it. However, we see that the most miserly of people is the one who prevents the teaching of these things. What prevents him if he knows?The questioner: It may lead to harm—O Shaykh—especially if it is in the field of circuits. There may be some things that ordinary people use, and he knows that there is harm in them, which might lead to that harm?The Shaykh: So, if he fears harm, he withholds everything, even religious knowledge, if he fears harm. Did not the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say to Mu'adh: (What is the right of Allah over the servants, and what is the right of the servants over Allah? And he informed him,Mu'adh said to him: Should I not give the people good news,He said: Do not give them good news so that they become complacent) Anything that results in harm is prevented and not spread. However, religious knowledge is specifically characterized by the fact that whoever is asked about knowledge and withholds it—and it is religious knowledge—he will be bridled on the Day of Resurrection with a bridle of fire—we seek refuge in Allah from that—unless he withholds it for a benefit, in which case there is no harm.