which they invented. Allah joined the two without repeating the negative particle because mixing truth with falsehood necessarily entails concealing the truth. He did not mention only the act that entails the other, because the consequent act is itself intended by the prohibition.

This reveals to you some of the wisdom and hidden meanings in the Quran. Mixing truth with falsehood necessarily entails concealing the truth because whoever does so—as the People of the Book did when they invented a religion Allah had not ordained, commanding what He had not commanded, forbidding what He had not forbidden, and making assertions contrary to what He had declared—must conceal whatever revealed truth contradicts his innovation. If he does not conceal the revealed truth that states something contrary to his assertions, he cannot achieve his aim. The same applies to revealed truth that permits what he has forbidden or removes an obligation he has imposed.

Revealed truth consists either of commands, prohibitions and permissions, or of statements. In innovations concerning what revelation states—such as innovations relating to the names and attributes of Allah Most High, the prophets and the Last Day—they inevitably make assertions contrary to what Allah has stated. In innovations concerning commands—such as disobedience to the Messenger sent to them and similar matters—they inevitably command what conflicts with Allah’s commands. The earlier scriptures speak of the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, and command that he be followed.

The purpose here is to draw a lesson, for the Children of Israel have passed away or disbelieved; their accounts were related only as a lesson for us. Some of the early scholars used to say:

“The Children of Israel have passed away; it is you who are meant.”

Among the familiar proverbs is:

“You are the one I mean; listen, O neighbour!”

Thus, in what Allah addressed to the Children of Israel there is a lesson for us: we must not mix truth with falsehood or conceal the truth.