Surah Al-Baqarah 2:43

The Prohibition of hiding the Truth and distorting It with Falsehood

Allah forbade the Jews from intentionally distorting the truth with falsehood and from hiding the truth and spreading falsehood,

(And mix not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth while you know (the truth)).

So Allah forbade them from two things; He ordered them to make the truth known, as well as explaining it. Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas mentioned the Ayah,

(And mix not truth with falsehood) and said; "Do not mix the truth with falsehood and the facts with lies." Qatadah said that,

(And mix not truth with falsehood) means, "Do not mix Judaism and Christianity with Islam,

(while you know (the truth).) that the religion of Allah is Islam, and that Judaism and Christianity are innovations that did not come from Allah." It was reported that Al-Hasan Al-Basri said similarly.

Also, Muhammad bin Ishaq narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that,

(nor conceal the truth while you know (the truth).) means, "Do not hide the knowledge that you have of My Messenger and what he was sent with. His description, which you know about, can be found written in the Books that you have."

It is possible that it means, "..although you know the tremendous harm that this evil will cause people, misguiding them and leading them to the Fire, because they will follow the falsehood that you mixed with the truth in your claims."

(And perform As-Salat and give Zakah, and bow down along with Ar-Raki`in.)

Muqatil said, "Allah's statement to the People of the Book,

(And perform As-Salah) commands them to perform the prayer behind the Prophet ,

(and give Zakah) commands them to pay the Zakah to the Prophet , and

(and bow down along with Ar-Raki`in) commands them to bow down with those who bow down among the Ummah of Muhammad . Allah therefore commands the People of the Book to be with, and among the Ummah of Muhammad ." In addition, Allah's statement,

(And bow down along with Ar-Raki`in) means, "And be among the believers performing the best deeds they perform, such as, and foremost, the prayer." Many scholars said that this Ayah (2:43) is proof for the obligation of performing the prayer in congregation (for men only). I will explain this ruling in detail in Kitab Al-Ahkam Al-Kabir, Allah willing.

Pada ayat ini terdapat tiga macam perintah Allah yang ditujukan kepada Bani Israil, ialah:

1.Agar mereka melaksanakan salat setiap waktu dengan cara yang sebaik-baiknya, melengkapi segala syarat dan rukunnya, serta menjaga waktu-waktunya yang telah ditentukan, menghadapkan seluruh hati kepada Allah dengan tulus dan khusyuk, sesuai dengan syariat yang dibawa Nabi Musa a.s.

2.Agar mereka menunaikan zakat, karena zakat merupakan salah satu pernyataan syukur kepada Allah atas nikmat yang telah dilimpahkan-Nya, dan menumbuhkan hubungan yang erat antarsesama manusia, dan menyucikan hati, karena zakat itu merupakan pengorbanan harta benda untuk membantu fakir miskin, dan dengan zakat itu pula dapat dilakukan kerja sama dan saling membantu dalam masyarakat, di mana orang-orang yang miskin memerlukan bantuan dari yang kaya dan sebaliknya, yang kaya memerlukan pertolongan orang-orang yang miskin. Dalam hubungan ini Rasulullah saw. telah bersabda:

"Orang Mukmin terhadap Mukmin yang lain tak ubahnya seperti sebuah bangunan, masing-masing bagiannya saling menguatkan." (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim)

3.Agar mereka rukuk bersama orang-orang yang rukuk. Maksudnya ialah agar mereka masuk Islam dan melaksanakan salat berjamaah seperti halnya kaum Muslimin. Dalam hubungan ini Rasulullah telah bersabda:

"Salat berjamaah itu lebih utama dengan dua pulu tujuh derajat daripada salat seorang diri". (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim)

Kita telah mengetahui, bahwa salat menurut agama Islam terdiri dari bermacam-macam gerakan jasmaniyah, seperti rukuk, sujud, iktidal, dan sebagainya. Tetapi pada akhir ayat ini salat tersebut hanya diungkapkan dengan kata-kata "rukuk. Hal ini dimaksudkan untuk menekankan agar mereka menunaikan salat dengan benar seperti yang dikehendaki syariat Islam seperti yang diajarkan Rasulullah saw, bukan salat menurut cara mereka dahulu, yaitu salat tanpa rukuk.