Mixing truth with falsehood (talbis al-haqq)

التلبيس بين الحق والباطل

Sha'rawi holds that talbis means putting one thing into another so that the appearance changes, as a garment is worn over the body. He reads the verse as referring to an attempt by some People of the Book to mix truth with falsehood. In his view this included altering the scriptures and denying the good tidings of the Prophet ﷺ that they contained. He says this concealment was not hidden from their own learned men ¹².

Summary

Sha'rawi explains talbis as putting one thing into another so that the appearance changes, as a person dresses in a garment. He reads the verse (Al Imran 71) as addressing some People of the Book who mixed truth with falsehood and concealed it knowingly ¹.

Forms of talbis

Sha'rawi counts among these the alteration of the Torah and the Gospel by adding what neither Moses nor Jesus brought. His chief example is the denial of the tidings of the Prophet, which he says were present in their books. They professed faith in Moses and Jesus and then denied the final prophet, though they knew Islam to be the true religion ¹².

The verse in context

Sha'rawi reports that some of the People of the Book told their companions to believe in what was sent down to the believers at the start of the day and to disbelieve at its end. He reads this as a ruse to spread doubt among the unlettered believers. He treats the following verse as the reply, stating that guidance is God's guidance and that bounty is in his hand ²³.

Note on this entry

This is Sha'rawi's reading alone, taken from a scanned copy whose edition is not yet verified, and it is presented under his name. No history of the textual transmission of these scriptures from scholarly sources has been added, and no other commentary on the meaning of talbis is set out (needs_source). See also Misleading others and bearing their burden and People of the Book.

Opinions on the question

The question: Does the verse refer to altering scripture and concealing its tidings? How should its context among the People of the Book be read?

First opinion · Sunni tradition (the museum's frame)Main reference

Talbis is mixing truth with falsehood, including concealing the tidings of the Prophet

Sha'rawi holds that the greatest talbis was denying the tidings of the Prophet while professing faith in Moses and Jesus, and that some of them knew this in their hearts {cite:tafsir-sharawi-khawatir-scan-vol-2 p.1538}.

Held by: Muhammad Mutawalli al-Sha'rawi

More opinions (1)

Academic viewSecondary opinion

Historical readings of the scriptures of the People of the Book and their alteration

No academic reading is set out here; it needs a named source (needs_source).

The covenant of God and oaths, and selling them for a little price

Sha'rawi holds that the verse threatening those who sell God's covenant and oaths for a small price applies to anyone who sells a sign of God for gain, in any age or religion. He says the occasion of its revelation concerned a group of the People of the Book who professed faith and then denied it for food and clothing. He reads the word khuluq as a settled disposition in the soul.

Mixing truth with falsehood (talbis al-haqq)

At a glance