What you did does not constitute 'concealing of knowledge'

26-9-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

I search various matters of fiqh and get diverse opinions and answers. Sometimes I am not fully able to understand them, but I do get the main points. When someone asks me about a matter, I say that I am not sure, there are diverging opinions. Or sometimes I say that I don't know. I do this out of the fear that I may say something wrong or misleading which may make someone commit a sin or quit a halal habit. So should I tell them everything I learnt, or should I ask them to look up themselves? Is this considered concealing knowledge? Also, note that I am not a student or knowledge of Islam

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

You are not required to inform people if they ask you what you have no knowledge of. In fact, it is not permissible for you to say what you do not know. Your fear of telling them what you have not understood of the rulings is in its place, and it is not a matter of concealing knowledge. There is nothing wrong with you asking them to look for someone of knowledge who can answer their questions, or they search in a way that suits their situation for someone who will answer their questions and illuminate their path.

Allah knows best.