In this Ayah, Allah chastises the People of the Scriptures, from whom Allah took
the covenant by the words of their Prophets, that they would believe in Muhammad
and describe him to the people, so that they would recognize and follow him when
Allah sent him. However, they hid this truth and preferred the the small amounts
and the material gains instead of the rewards of this life and the Hereafter that
they were promised. This is a losing deal and a failing trade, indeed.
These Ayat also contain a warning for the scholars not to imitate their behavior,
so that they do not suffer the same fate and become like them. Therefore, the scholars
are required to spread the beneficial knowledge that they have, encouraging the
various righteous good deeds. They are also warned against hiding any part of their
knowledge. A Hadith states that the Prophet said,
«مَنْ سُئِلَ عَنْ عِلْمٍ
فَكَتَمَهُ، أُلْجِمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ بِلِجَامٍ مِنْ نَار»
(Whoever was asked about knowledge that he knew but did not disclose it, will be
tied with a bridle made of fire on the Day of Resurrection.)
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