Tafsir of Al-Baqarah 2:42-43

"And do not mix the truth..."

The ba in "with falsehood" (bi-l-bāṭil):

• If it is a connective (ṣilah), like in the phrase "I mixed the thing with (bi) the thing," it means: Do not write in the Torah what is not from it, so that the revealed truth becomes mixed with the falsehood you have written, making it impossible to distinguish between the truth of the Torah and your falsehood.
• If it is the ba of seeking assistance (istiʿānah), like in the phrase "I wrote with (bi) the pen," it means: Do not make the truth appear confused and ambiguous through the falsehood you write.

"And conceal [the truth]" (wa-taktumū):

• It is in the jussive mood (jazm), falling under the scope of the prohibition, meaning: "And do not conceal."
• Or, it is in the subjunctive mood (manṣūb) due to an implied an, with the waw serving as a conjunction, meaning: Do not combine the mixing of truth with falsehood and the concealing of the truth, similar to saying: "Do not eat fish and drink milk."

If you ask: Their mixing and their concealing are not two distinct acts such that they would be forbidden from combining them, for when they mix truth with falsehood, they have already concealed the truth. I say: Rather, they are distinct. The "mixing of truth with falsehood" is what we mentioned regarding their writing into the Torah what is not from it.

• Their "concealing of the truth" is for them to say, "We do not find in the Torah the description of Muhammad (peace be upon him) or such-and-such a ruling," or to erase it.
• Or, to write it in a way contrary to what it actually is.
• In the codex of ‘Abdullah [ibn Mas‘ūd], it is written as wa-taktumūna (and you are concealing).

"While you know" (wa-antum taʿlamūn):

• Meaning: While you are aware that you are mixing and concealing. This is more reprehensible for them, as ignorance of an ugly act might sometimes excuse the one who commits it.

"And establish prayer and give zakah"

• Meaning: The prayer and zakah of the Muslims.

"And bow with those who bow" (wa-rkaʿū maʿa al-rākiʿīn):

• Meaning: From among them [the Muslims], because the Jews do not have bowing (rukūʿ) in their prayer.
• It is said that "bowing" means submission and compliance to what is required of them in the religion of God.
• It is also permissible that "bowing" refers to prayer itself, just as prayer is sometimes expressed as "prostration" (sujūd). It is a command to pray with the worshippers—that is, in congregation—as if it were said: "Establish prayer and perform it with the worshippers, not alone."