of which My angels were unaware.’ As for the believers, He will inform them and forgive them for the thoughts they entertained. This is the meaning of His words:
‘Allah will call you to account for it.’
That is, Allah will inform you of it. As for the people of polytheism and doubt, He will inform them of the denial they concealed. This is the meaning of His words:
‘Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills.’”
It has also been reported from Ibn ʿAbbās that this verse was revealed concerning the concealment of testimony. The same was reported from ʿIkrimah and al-Shaʿbī. Concealing testimony constitutes neglecting an obligation, just like concealing a defect that must be disclosed or withholding knowledge that must be made known. Mujāhid said that it concerns doubt and certainty. This too concerns neglecting an obligation, since certainty is obligatory.
It is reported from ʿĀ’ishah: “Whatever you disclose, Allah will call you to account for it. As for what you conceal, its reckoning is in the punishment hastened for you in this world.”
This may be among the things for which a servant is punished with distress. Thus, when Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah was asked about distress whose cause is unknown, he said: “It is a sin you intended in secret but did not commit, so you were recompensed for it with anxiety.” Sins have their punishments: secret sins are punished secretly, and public sins publicly.
A report traced back to the Prophet is also narrated from her. She said:
“I asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) about this verse:
‘Whether you disclose what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will call you to account for it.’
He replied: ‘O ʿĀ’ishah, this is Allah’s reproach of His servant through the misfortune and fever that befall him—even a thorn-prick, or an article he puts in his sleeve and then cannot find, becoming alarmed over it, only to discover it in the bosom of his garment—until the believer emerges free of his sins, just as red gold emerges from the furnace.’”