كتم

Core meaning

To withhold: to keep back what one knows and is bound to say or show.

Uses

1. تَكْتُمُوا۟, يَكْتُمُونَ, كَتَمَ → "withhold" : to withhold the truth one knows, or the testimony one holds.

   • «وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ» — "and do not withhold the truth" (2:42)
   • «وَلَا تَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ» — "And do not withhold testimony" (2:283)
   • «كَتَمَ شَهَٰدَةً عِندَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ» — "withholds a testimony he holds, coming from God" (2:140)

2. يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا → "withhold what We have sent down" : to withhold the Scripture received, instead of making it clear.

   • «يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ» — "withhold what We have sent down of clear proofs and guidance" (2:159)
   • «وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ» — "and you will not withhold it" (3:187)

3. تُبْدُونَ … تَكْتُمُونَ → "make appear … withhold" : the pair of what one makes appear and what one withholds, which God knows.

   • «يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَ» — "knows what you make appear and what you withhold" (5:99)
   • «وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ» — "and what you were withholding" (2:33)

4. يَكْتُمُ إِيمَٰنَهُۥٓ → "withhold one's faith" : to keep one's faith to oneself before a hostile power.

   • «يَكْتُمُ إِيمَٰنَهُۥٓ» — "who withheld his faith" (40:28)

Evidence from the text

What one withholds is nearly always owed to others: the truth one knows (2:42, 2:146, 3:71), the testimony one holds (2:140, 2:283, 5:106), what God has sent down of the Scripture (2:159, 2:174, 3:187), what God has created in the wombs (2:228), what He has given of His favour (4:37). The text makes it a fault: whoever withholds testimony has "a transgressive core" (2:283).

Before God nothing is withheld: He knows what one makes appear and what one withholds (2:33, 5:99, 21:110, 24:29), and on the Day, those who disowned will be unable to withhold anything from Him (4:42). Only one use carries no blame: the man of Fir'awn's clan who withholds his faith yet speaks up for Moussa (40:28).

Distinctions

• خفى — to hide: to put out of sight; to withhold is to keep back a word or a knowledge that is owed
• سرر — to keep secret, without the blame that falls on one who withholds what is owed

See also

بدو (to make appear, its opposite) · شهد (the testimony one must not withhold)