Qur'an 2:159

Qur'an 2:159

Verse's Information
Name	Verse of Kitman
Sura	al-Baqara
Verse	159
Juz'	2
Content Information
Cause of Revelation	Refusal of Jewish rabbis (Aḥbār) to answer questions about the Torah
Place of Revelation	Medina
Topic	Theological
About	Cursing those who conceal Divine verses

Qur'an 2:159, known as the Verse of Kitmān (Arabic: آية الكتمان, Verse of Concealment) is the 159th verse of Sura al-Baqara concerning the condemnation and blaming of those who conceal the verses of the Quran, teachings, and rulings of the Divine religion, by God and the Angels. Based on the occasion of revelation of the verse, some consider the concealers to be the People of the Book who denied the attributes of Prophet Muhammad (s) mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. However, some exegetes do not limit the meaning of the verse to its occasion of revelation and consider it to include anyone who conceals what God has revealed.

It is narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that a number of Sahaba asked a group of Jewish rabbis (Aḥbar) about certain issues mentioned in the Torah, and they refused to answer. Then this verse was revealed regarding them. It is also said that this verse was revealed regarding the scholars of the People of the Book who concealed the ruling of Stoning (rajm) for the adulterer and the prophecy of the appearance of Muhammad (s) in their book.

“ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَا أَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّاهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِي الْكِتَابِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ اللَّاعِنُونَ

Indeed those who conceal what We have sent down of manifest proofs and guidance, after We have clarified it in the Book for mankind—they shall be cursed by Allah and cursed by the cursers, ” — Qur'an 2: 159

Regarding the meaning of "bayyinat" (clear proofs) and "huda" (guidance) in exegeses, various opinions have been expressed, including: "Bayyinat" refers to proofs revealed in heavenly books, and "huda" refers to rational proofs. "Bayyinat" refers to arguments God explained to people through Prophets and Imams (a) and the miracles issued from them, and "huda" refers to knowledge, rulings, and laws God explained for human happiness in this world and the Hereafter through Prophets, heavenly books, and reports of the Infallibles. "Bayyinat" refers to verses of the Quran, and "huda" refers to teachings and rulings of the Divine religion which the verses explain.

Citing that cursing (laʿn) a believer is not considered permissible in narrations, Sayyid 'Abd al-Husayn Tayyib inferred from this verse that concealing "what God has revealed" causes disbelief, and for this reason, cursing the concealer is permissible. The Verse of Kitman is one of the verses used to argue for the authority (hujjiyya) of Solitary Report (Khabar al-Waḥid). However, it is said that most scholars of Usul al-fiqh have objected to this argument and rejected its indication.