Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:42

Al-Baqarah (2:42)

{وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ} (And do not mix the truth with falsehood)

Know that His saying, the Exalted, {وَآمِنُوا بِمَا أَنزَلْتُ} (And believe in what I have sent down) is a command to abandon disbelief and misguidance.

And His saying, {وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ} (And do not mix the truth with falsehood), is a command to abandon incitement and misleading.

Know that misleading others can only occur through two paths:

1. If the other party has already heard the proofs of the truth, then misleading them is only possible by confusing those proofs for them.
2. If they have not heard them, then misleading them is only possible by concealing those proofs from them and preventing them from reaching them.

Therefore, His saying, {وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ}, refers to the first category: confusing the proofs for them.

And His saying, {وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ} (and conceal the truth), refers to the second category: preventing them from reaching the proofs.

Know that the more apparent interpretation of the bā’ (preposition) in {بِالْبَاطِلِ} (with falsehood) is the bā’ of assistance (like in your saying, "I wrote with a pen"). The meaning is: Do not mix the truth with falsehood by means of the doubts you present to the listeners. This is because the texts in the Torah and the Gospel concerning the command for Muhammad (peace be upon him) were subtle texts requiring inference to know them. Furthermore, they used to debate these texts and obscure the path of evidence for those who contemplated them by casting doubts. This is what is meant by {وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ}, which is mentioned in His saying: {وَجَادِلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيَدْحَضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ} (And they disputed by falsehood, seeking thereby to invalidate the truth) (Ghafir: 5).

As for {وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ} (while you know), it means you know the great harm that results to you on the Day of Resurrection from misleading creation. This is because that mixing (of truth and falsehood) became a diversion for people from accepting the truth until the Day of Resurrection, calling them to persist in falsehood until that Day, and there is no doubt that its impact is immense. Although this address was directed at them (the People of the Book), it is a warning to all other creation and a caution against similar actions. Thus, although the address is specific in form, it is general in meaning.

Then, there are two discussions here:

The reason for this qualification (by knowledge) is that proceeding with a harmful action while knowing it is harmful is more egregious than proceeding with it while ignorant of its harmful nature. Since they were aware of the corruption inherent in mixing (truth with falsehood), their proceeding with it was more reprehensible. The verse indicates that one who knows the truth must reveal it and it is forbidden for them to conceal it. And Allah knows best.

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(And establish prayer and give zakāh and bow with those who bow. Do you order people to righteousness and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not use reason? And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah], Who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return. O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds.)