Al-Mā’idah 5:15

The issue

This verse addresses both the Jews and Christians, stating that Muhammad had

come to them, “to explain to you much of what ye had hidden of the Book.” However,

Muhammad did not present or explain the documents that were allegedly concealed

by the Jews and Christians. Therefore, the scholars are obliged to present an opinion in

this regard. They say that the concealed matters are (a) the news about the coming of

Muhammad and (b) the verse on the stoning of adulterers (al-rajm).

But the Qur’ān does not support these opinions of the scholars, for there is nothing

in the Qur’ān pointing to any concealed documents. Muhammad himself did not

outline the nature of the concealed things. As stated in this part of the verse, “and to

pardon much,” al-Qurtubī offers this comment: “[I]t means he overlooked many things

that he did not inform you about.”

This verse clearly states that Muammad did not “reveal” these hidden issues. Moreover,

the scholars’ ruling—that the concealed issues are the prophecy of Muhammad (as the

messenger of Allah) and the verse on stoning—is not supported by the Qur’ān or by

any events recorded about the life (sira) of Muhammad.

Even after the Muslim fighters and invaders had spread into the world and entered

many worship centers of the Jews and Christians, discovering and examining their

libraries, did they ever find any of these concealed manuscripts—especially those

pointing to a prophecy announcing Muh. ammad’s status as prophet?

Although this verse states that Muhammad did not specifically mention the concealed

issues, nevertheless, one account portrays Muhammad’s silence as a miracle—yes, a

miracle, not an inability:

A Jewish rabbi came to Muhammad and asked him about that which he had opted not to mention. However, Muhammad did not show him but “avoided him.” So the Jew went back to his people, saying,

I think he was honest in what he said.” Because he (the rabbi) had found a prophecy in his book (stating) that what he asked him (Muhammad) would not be revealed to him (Muhammad).”

Questions: (1) How did the narrator of this account know about the dialogue that

took place between the Jewish man and his people? (2) If, according to the story, the

rabbi confessed that Muhammad was honest, then why did he not become one of

Muh. ammad’s followers?

The question posed by the Jewish scholar to Muhammad is expected, since an accuser

should provide evidence. When the rabbi came to Muhammad, he was expecting to

hear a clear explanation; however, avoidance was Muhammad’s answer.

Perhaps the following story is a more plausible version:

• Muhammad accused the Jews of concealing certain matters.

• A Jewish scholar, representing his people, came to Muhammad and asked him

to present the proof of his accusation and to reveal what the Jews had allegedly

concealed.

• When Muhammad did not have an answer, his inability to provide the information

embarrassed him in front of his followers. Therefore, he decided to ignore the Jew,

which made the Jew uncomfortable and caused him to leave.

• After the Jew left, Muhammad told his fellow Muslims that he had ignored the Jew

because he did not receive a revelation from heaven.

M. al-Rāzī mentions in his book that Muhammad possibly did not reveal the hidden

matters for the following reason:

[H]e (Muhammad) followed the heavenly commands and did not deal

with any religious matters on his own but only according to inspiration.

So whatever he was commanded to reveal he did reveal, and whatever

he was not commanded to reveal he refrained from revealing until the

time at which he was ordered to reveal it.

Following M. al-Rāzī’s reasoning, if Muhammad was following commands from

heaven when he would not reveal what was concealed, why then for this verse did he

not reveal later those “matters” that the People of the Book had supposedly hidden?

An accusation without evidence is pure fabrication. If one accepts, for the sake of argument, the accusation that the People of the Book hide certain facts, then Muhammad is an accomplice in this crime as he, too, did not reveal the hidden things.