Prohibition of concealing the truth:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Do not let the fear of the people or their status in the society or their relation with you or the fear of being labeled prevents you from speaking the truth.

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا الْحَقَّ بِالْبَاطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾

{And mix not truth with falsehood, nor conceal the truth while you know (the truth).} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 42]

It was narrated from Abu Sa`eed Al-Khudree رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم stood up to deliver a sermon, and one of the things he said was:

أَلَا لَا يَمْنَعَنَّ رَجُلًا هَيْبَةُ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحَقٍّ إِذَا عَلِمَهُ

“Verily, the fear of people should not prevent a man from speaking the truth, if he knows it.” Then Abu Sa`eed wept and said: "By Allaah, we have seen things that made us scared (and we did not speak up).” [Sunan Ibn Maajah (4007) and graded as “Saheeh li ghairihee” by Shaikh al-Albaanee and also by Shaikh Shu`aib al-Arnaoot. Also reported in Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2191) but its chain is “Dha`eef”]

In the narration of Musnad Ahmad the wordings are:

لَا يَمْنَعَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ هَيْبَةُ النَّاسِ أَنْ يَقُولَ فِي حَقٍّ إِذَا رَآهُ، أَوْ شَهِدَهُ أَوْ سَمِعَهُ

“The fear (or prestige) of the people should not prevent anyone of you from speaking the truth if he sees it or witnesses it or hears it.” [Musnad Ahmad (11017) and it is “Saheeh”]

In another Hadeeth of Musnad Ahmad it is:

أَلَا لَا يَمْنَعَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ رَهْبَةُ النَّاسِ، أَنْ يَقُولَ بِحَقٍّ إِذَا رَآهُ أَوْ شَهِدَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُقَرِّبُ مِنْ أَجَلٍ، وَلَا يُبَاعِدُ مِنْ رِزْقٍ

“Verily, the fear of people should not prevent anyone of you from speaking the truth, if he sees it or witnesses it. For it (i.e. speaking the truth) does not hasten death nor does it cut off the provision.”  [Musnad Ahmad (11474)]

Shaikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله said in al-Saheehah (168/1/325)

In this Hadeeth: there is clear prohibition of hiding the truth because of the fear of the people or due to greed in sustenance.

Anyone who hides the truth fearing that the people may harm him by anyone of the means of harm like, being beaten or abused or cutting off the provision or fearing that they may not respect him or something similar – all of this comes under this prohibition and opposes (the Sunnah) of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.

So if this is the state of the one who hides the truth while he knows it, then what will be the condition of the one who not only hides it but rather makes false accusations against the innocent Muslims and accuses them in their religion and their `Aqeedah (Creed), keeping pace with the mob or fearing that they will accuse him instead with false accusations if he does not keep pace with their misguidance and accusations?!

O Allaah! Keep us firm upon the truth and when you have willed Fitnah for your slaves, then take us to You, without making me suffer from Fitnah.