Not all that is known should be said

THE PRINCIPLE: “NOT ALL THAT IS KNOWN SHOULD BE SAID; NOT ALL THAT IS SAID SHOULD BE SPREAD.”  lmaam al-Bukhari, rahimahullah, said: ‘Chapter: Selecting some people to impart knowledge to, fearing that others will not understand it.” [stated by al Bukhari in his saheeh [1/300] Anas bin Maalik radiallahu ‘anhu relates: Once Mu’aadh was riding along with Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when he said to him: ‘O Mu’aadh ibn Jabal!’ Mu’aadh replied: At your service 0 Messenger of Allaah. So he said: ‘O Mu’aadh’ To which Mu’aadh replied: At Your service 0 Messenger of Allaah, saying this three times. So the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: ‘There is no one who testifies that none has the right to be worshippcd except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah - truthfully from his heart - except that Allaah will forbid the Fire to him.” Mu’aadh said: 0 Messenger of Allaah, shall I not inform the people and give them the glad tidings? So he said: ‘No! For they will then depend solely upon it.’ So Mu’aadh related this at the time of his death, fearing that he would be sinful [if be did not convey this knowledge]. [related by al Bukhari in his saheeh [#28] Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-’Uthaymeen said about the above hadeeth: “The permissibility of restricting knowledge to some people over others, whereby if some people were to be informed of certain parts of knowledge, it would cause fitnah (trial and discord).  Read more of this post