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Concealing Truth

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Concealing Truth

كِتْمَانُ الْحَقّ

Concealing Truth (كِتْمَانُ الْحَقّ) refers to the profound act of deliberately hiding, distorting, or suppressing divine revelations and undeniable facts, despite knowing them to be true. In Islamic tradition, this theme carries significant spiritual weight, as it obstructs people from guidance and betrays a sacred trust. The Quran frequently addresses this serious transgression, particularly in its portrayals of the People of the Scripture. They are admonished for their actions, as Allah warns, [And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it]]. This concealment was often driven by worldly motives, exchanging eternal guidance for fleeting earthly gains. The Quran vividly describes those who [write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price], highlighting the grave consequence for such deliberate fabrication. Furthermore, it questions how a party of them could [distort the Torah after they had understood it while they were knowing]. This concept serves as a powerful reminder for all believers to uphold honesty, bear witness to the truth, and never compromise divine guidance for personal advantage or fear. It emphasizes the importance of transparency in matters of faith and the severe accountability for misleading others.

Quran 11 verses

وَلَا تَلْبِسُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Wa laa talbisul haqqa bilbaatili wa taktumul haqqa wa antum ta'lamoon

And do not mix the truth with falsehood or conceal the truth while you know [it].

اور حق کو باطل کے ساتھ نہ ملاؤ، اور سچی بات کو جان بوجھ کر نہ چھپاؤ

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: (6) Verse 42 explicitly shows that it is not permissible to mix truth and falsehood together in such a way that the addressee falls into a confusion as to what the truth is, and that it is forbidden to conceal the truth because of fear or greed. Imam al-Qurtubi (رح) has, in his commentary, related a...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And do not obscure confuse the truth that I have revealed to you with falsehood that you fabricate; and do not conceal the truth the description of Muhammad (s) wittingly that is knowing it to be the truth.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Prohibition of hiding the Truth and distorting It with Falsehood Allah forbade the Jews from intentionally distorting the truth with falsehood and from hiding the truth and spreading falsehood, وَلاَ تَلْبِسُواْ الْحَقَّ بِالْبَـطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُواْ الْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (And mix not trut...

وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ نَفْسًا فَٱدَّٰرَْٰٔتُمْ فِيهَا وَٱللَّهُ مُخْرِجٌ مَّا كُنتُمْ تَكْتُمُونَ

Wa iz qataltum nafsan faddaara'tum feehaa wallaahu mukrijum maa kuntum taktumoon

And [recall] when you slew a man and disputed over it, but Allah was to bring out that which you were concealing.

اور جب تم نے ایک شخص کو قتل کیا، تو اس میں باہم جھگڑنے لگے۔ لیکن جو بات تم چھپا رہے تھے، خدا اس کو ظاہر کرنے والا تھا

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The murderer had his supporters who wanted to hide his crime, and hence began accusing different people. But Allah willed that the criminal should be brought to book, and appointed a miraculous way of identifying him -- that is, the dead body of the murdered man should be touched with a part of the ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when you killed a living soul and disputed thereon iddāra’tum the tā’ of the root-form itdāra’tum has been assimilated with the dāl — and God disclosed what you were hiding this is a parenthetical statement; the story begins here with wa-idh qataltum nafsan ‘and when you killed a soul’… and cont...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Bringing the murdered Man back to Life Al-Bukhari said that, فَادَرَأْتُمْ فِيهَا (And disagreed among yourselves as to the crime) means, "Disputed." This is also the Tafsir of Mujahid. `Ata' Al-Khurasani and Ad-Dahhak said, "Disputed about this matter." Also, Ibn Jurayj said that, وَإِذْ قَتَلْتُمْ...

أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ لَكُمْ وَقَدْ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ كَلَٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ يُحَرِّفُونَهُۥ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا عَقَلُوهُ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Afatatma'oona ai yu'minoo lakum wa qad kaana fareequm minhum yasma'oona Kalaamal laahi summa yuharri foonahoo mim ba'di maa'aqaloohu wa hum ya'lamoon

Do you covet [the hope, O believers], that they would believe for you while a party of them used to hear the words of Allah and then distort the Torah after they had understood it while they were knowing?

(مومنو) کیا تم امید رکھتے ہو کہ یہ لوگ تمہارے (دین کے) قائل ہو جائیں گے، (حالانکہ) ان میں سے کچھ لوگ کلامِ خدا (یعنی تورات) کو سنتے، پھر اس کے سمجھ لینے کے بعد اس کو جان بوجھ کر بدل دیتے رہے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The Muslims used to take great pains in trying to make the Jews accept Islam. Having recounted so many stories of the perversity of the Jews, the Holy Qur'an points out to the Muslims that they cannot expect such a people to be sensible, and asks them not to worry much about them. For, some of the J...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Are you then so eager O believers that they the Jews should believe you seeing there is a party of them a group of their rabbis that heard God’s word in the Torah and then tampered with it changing it and that after they had comprehended it after they had understood it knowingly? knowing full well t...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): There was little Hope that the Jews Who lived during the Time of the Prophet could have believed Allah said, أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ (Do you covet) O believers, أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ لَكُمْ (That they will believe in your religion) meaning, that these people would obey you They are the deviant sect of Jews whose ...

وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتُحَدِّثُونَهُم بِمَا فَتَحَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لِيُحَآجُّوكُم بِهِۦ عِندَ رَبِّكُمْ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

Wa izaa laqul lazeena aamanoo qaalooo aamannaa wa izaakhalaa ba'duhum ilaa ba'din qaalooo atuhaddisoonahum bimaa fatahal laahu 'alaikum liyuhaajjookum bihee 'inda rabbikum; afalaa ta'qiloon

And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We have believed"; but when they are alone with one another, they say, "Do you talk to them about what Allah has revealed to you so they can argue with you about it before your Lord?" Then will you not reason?

اور یہ لوگ جب مومنوں سے ملتے ہیں تو کہتے ہیں، ہم ایمان لے آئے ہیں۔ اور جب آپس میں ایک دوسرے سے ملتے ہیں تو کہتے ہیں، جو بات خدا نے تم پر ظاہر فرمائی ہے، وہ تم ان کو اس لیے بتائے دیتے ہو کہ (قیامت کے دن) اسی کے حوالے سے تمہارے پروردگار کے سامنے تم کو الزام دیں۔ کیا تم سمجھتے نہیں؟

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Some of the Jews, seeing the growing power of the Muslims in Madinah and around it, pretended to have accepted Islam. In order to assure the Muslims of their sincerity and to win their favour, these hypocrites would now and then disclose to them that the Torah itself had given out the good tidings o...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And when they the hypocrites from among the Jews meet those who believe they say ‘We believe’ that Muhammad (s) is a prophet and that he is the one of whom we have been given good tidings in our Book; but when they go in private one to another they their leaders the ones not involved in the hypocris...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): There was little Hope that the Jews Who lived during the Time of the Prophet could have believed Allah said, أَفَتَطْمَعُونَ (Do you covet) O believers, أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ لَكُمْ (That they will believe in your religion) meaning, that these people would obey you They are the deviant sect of Jews whose ...

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ يَكْتُبُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ يَقُولُونَ هَٰذَا مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ لِيَشْتَرُوا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا كَتَبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَوَيْلٌ لَّهُم مِّمَّا يَكْسِبُونَ

Fawailul lillazeena yaktuboonal kitaaba bi aydddhim summa yaqooloona haazaa min 'indil laahi liyashtaroo bihee samanan qaleelan fawilul lahum mimaa katabat aydeehim wa wailul lahum mimmaa yaksiboon

So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn.

تو ان لوگوں پر افسوس ہے جو اپنے ہاتھ سے تو کتاب لکھتے ہیں اور کہتے یہ ہیں کہ یہ خدا کے پاس سے (آئی) ہے، تاکہ اس کے عوض تھوڑی سے قیمت (یعنی دنیوی منفعت) حاصل کریں۔ ان پر افسوس ہے، اس لیے کہ (بےاصل باتیں) اپنے ہاتھ سے لکھتے ہیں اور (پھر) ان پر افسوس ہے، اس لیے کہ ایسے کام کرتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Allah reminds the Jews that He is omniscient, and knows what they try to keep concealed as well as what they say or do openly. So, it would make no difference at all, if the hypocrites tried to conceal their infidelity from the Muslims, or the other group, not to disclose the verses of the Torah whi...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: So woe a severe chastisement to those who write the Scripture with their hands that is fabricating it themselves then say ‘This is from God’ that they may sell it for a small price of this world these are the Jews the ones that altered the description of the Prophet in the Torah as well as the ‘ston...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Meaning of `Ummi Allah said, وَمِنْهُمْ أُمِّيُّونَ (And there are among them Ummyyun people) meaning, among the People of the Book, as Mujahid stated. Ummyyun, is plural for Ummi, that is, a person who does not write, as Abu Al-`Aliyah, Ar-Rabi`, Qatadah, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and others said. Thi...

أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطَ كَانُوا۟ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَٰرَىٰ قُلْ ءَأَنتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ ٱللَّهُ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن كَتَمَ شَهَٰدَةً عِندَهُۥ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ

Am taqooloona inna Ibraaheema wa Ismaa'eela wa Ishaaq wa Ya'qooba wal asbaata kaanoo Hoodan aw Nasaaraa; qul 'a-antum a'lamu amil laah; wa man azlamu mimman katama shahaadatan 'indahoo minallaah; wa mallaahu bighaafilin 'ammaa ta'maloon

Or do you say that Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants were Jews or Christians? Say, "Are you more knowing or is Allah?" And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

(اے یہود ونصاریٰ) کیا تم اس بات کے قائل ہو کہ ابراہیم اور اسمٰعیل اور اسحاق اور یعقوب اور ان کی اولاد یہودی یا عیسائی تھے۔ (اے محمدﷺ ان سے) کہو کہ بھلا تم زیادہ جانتے ہو یا خدا؟ اور اس سے بڑھ کر ظالم کون، جو خدا کی شہادت کو، جو اس کے پاس (کتاب میں موجود) ہے چھپائے۔ اور جو کچھ تم کر رہے ہو، خدا اس سے غافل نہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: These three verses bring to an end the section of the Surah in which certain claims of the Jews and the Christians have been refuted -- for example, their assertion that Sayyidna Ibrahim (علیہ السلام) (Abraham), Sayyidna Ismail (علیہ السلام) (Ishmael), Sayyidna Ishaq (علیہ السلام) (Isaac), Sayyidna ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Or nay do you say taqūlūna also read yaqūlūna ‘do they say?’ ‘Abraham Ishmael Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes — they were Jews or they were Christians?’ Say to them ‘Have you then greater knowledge or has God? that is God has greater knowledge; He dissociated Abraham from both groups when He said Abr...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah directed His Prophet to pre-empt the arguments with the idolators: قُلْ أَتُحَآجُّونَنَا فِى اللَّهِ (Say (O Muhammad to the Jews and Christians), "Dispute you with us about Allah) meaning, "Do you dispute with us regarding the Oneness of Allah, obedience and submission to Him and in avoiding ...

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَعْرِفُونَهُۥ كَمَا يَعْرِفُونَ أَبْنَآءَهُمْ وَإِنَّ فَرِيقًا مِّنْهُمْ لَيَكْتُمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ

Allazeena aatainaahumul kitaaba ya'rifoonahoo kamaa ya'rifoona abnaaa'ahum wa inna fareeqam minhum layaktumoonal haqqa wa hum ya'lamoon

Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].

جن لوگوں کو ہم نے کتاب دی ہے، وہ ان (پیغمبر آخرالزماں) کو اس طرح پہچانتے ہیں، جس طرح اپنے بیٹوں کو پہچانا کرتے ہیں، مگر ایک فریق ان میں سے سچی بات کو جان بوجھ کر چھپا رہا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Verses 144 and 145 have told us how the People of the Book اھل الکتاب knew in their hearts that a divine commandment itself had instituted the Baytullah بیت اللہ as the Qiblah قبلہ of the Muslims, and yet denied this fact in public. Now, the two present verses show that their conduct towards the Hol...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those to whom We have given the Scripture they recognise him Muhammad (s) as they recognise their sons because of the descriptions of him in their Scripture ‘Abd Allāh Ibn Salām said ‘I recognised him the moment I saw him as I would my own son; but my recognition of Muhammad (s) was more intense’; e...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Jews know that the Prophet is True, but they hide the Truth Allah states that the scholars of the People of the Scripture know the truth of what Allah's Messenger ﷺ was sent with, just as one of them knows his own child, which is a parable that the Arabs use to describe what is very apparent. S...

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْبَيِّنَٰتِ وَٱلْهُدَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا بَيَّنَّٰهُ لِلنَّاسِ فِى ٱلْكِتَٰبِ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَلْعَنُهُمُ ٱللَّٰعِنُونَ

Innal lazeena yaktumoona maaa anzalnaa minal baiyinaati walhudaa mim ba'di maa baiyannaahu linnaasi fil kitaabi ulaaa'ika yal'anuhumul laahu wa yal'anuhumul laa 'inoon

Indeed, those who conceal what We sent down of clear proofs and guidance after We made it clear for the people in the Scripture - those are cursed by Allah and cursed by those who curse,

جو لوگ ہمارے حکموں اور ہدایتوں کو جو ہم نے نازل کی ہیں (کسی غرض فاسد سے) چھپاتے ہیں باوجود یہ کہ ہم نے ان لوگوں کے (سمجھانے کے) لئے اپنی کتاب میں کھول کھول کر بیان کردیا ہے۔ ایسوں پر خدا اور تمام لعنت کرنے والے لعنت کرتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: As part of the debated issue of Qiblah قبلہ several verses earlier, the text has pointed out how the people of the Book went about concealing the truth concerning the prophethood of the Holy Prophet for whom the Ka'bah کعبہ was appointed as the Qiblah قبلہ . It was Verse 146, where it was said: الَّ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: The following was revealed concerning the Jews Those who conceal from people the clear proofs and the guidance that We have revealed such as the ‘stoning’ verse and the description of Muhammad (s) after We have shown them clearly in the Scripture the Torah — they shall be cursed by God that is He wi...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Eternal Curse for Those Who hide Religious Commandments These Ayat sternly warn against those who hide the clear signs that the Messengers were sent with which guide to the correct path and beneficial guidance for the hearts, after Allah has made such aspects clear for His servants through the B...

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ وَيَشْتَرُونَ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ مَا يَأْكُلُونَ فِى بُطُونِهِمْ إِلَّا ٱلنَّارَ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ

Innal lazeena yaktumoona maaa anzalal laahu minal kitaabi wa yashtaroona bihee samanan qaleelan ulaaa'ika maa yaakuloona fee butoonihim illan Naara wa laa yukallimu humul laahu Yawmal Qiyaamati wa laa yuzakkeehim wa lahum 'azaabun aleem

Indeed, they who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book and exchange it for a small price - those consume not into their bellies except the Fire. And Allah will not speak to them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them. And they will have a painful punishment.

جو لوگ (خدا) کی کتاب سے ان (آیتوں اور ہدایتوں) کو جو اس نے نازل فرمائی ہیں چھپاتے اور ان کے بدلے تھوڑی سی قیمت (یعنی دنیاوی منفعت) حاصل کرتے ہیں وہ اپنے پیٹوں میں محض آگ بھرتے ہیں۔ ایسے لوگوں سے خدا قیامت کے دن نہ کلام کرے گا اور نہ ان کو (گناہوں سے) پاک کرے گا۔اور ان کے لئے دکھ دینے والا عذاب ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Mentioned in the earlier verses were unlawful things which are tangible. Now, the verses that follow take up the intangible deeds that have been made unlawful. These are evil deeds, inner and outer. For instance, religious scholars among the Jews were addicted to giving out false verdicts in favour ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Those who conceal what God has revealed of the Scripture comprising all the descriptions of Muhammad (s) meaning the Jews and sell it for a little price in this world taking this little price in its place from the debased ones among them for fear of losing out if they were to manifest it sc. the tru...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Criticizing the Jews for concealing what Allah revealed Allah said: إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَكْتُمُونَ مَآ أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْكِتَـبِ (Verily, those who conceal what Allah has sent down of the Book.) Meaning the Jews who concealed their Book's descriptions of Muhammad ﷺ, all of which testify to his tr...

يَٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ لِمَ تَلْبِسُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ وَتَكْتُمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Yaaa Ahalal Kitaabi lima talbisoonal haqqa bilbaatili wa taktumoonal haqqa wa antum ta'lamoon

O People of the Scripture, why do you confuse the truth with falsehood and conceal the truth while you know [it]?

اے اہلِ کتاب تم سچ کو جھوٹ کے ساتھ خلط ملط کیوں کرتے ہو اور حق کو کیوں چھپاتے ہو اور تم جانتے بھی ہو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The words in أَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ (you are yourselves a witness - 70) and in أَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ (you know ( 71) should not be taken to mean that disbelief will become permissible for them if they do not attest to the truth or have no knowledge about it. This is because kufr (disbelief) is intrinsica...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O People of the Scripture! Why do you confound why do you mix truth with falsehood by distorting and falsifying scripture and conceal the truth the descriptions of the Prophet while you know? that it is the truth?
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Envy the Jews Feel Towards Muslims; Their Wicked Plots Against Muslims Allah states that the Jews envy the faithful and wish they could misguide them. Allah states that the punishment of this behavior will fall back upon them, while they are unaware. Allah criticizes them, يأَهْلَ الْكِتَـبِ لِم...

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ

Wa iz akhazal laahu meesaaqal lazeena ootul Kitaaba latubaiyinunnahoo linnaasi wa laa taktumoona hoo fanabazoohu waraaa'a zuhoorihim washtaraw bihee samanan qaleelan fabi'sa maa yashtaroon

And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.

اور جب خدا نے ان لوگوں سے جن کو کتاب عنایت کی گئی تھی اقرار کرلیا کہ (جو کچھ اس میں لکھا ہے) اسے صاف صاف بیان کرتے رہنا۔ اور اس (کی کسی بات) کو نہ چھپانا تو انہں نے اس کو پس پشت پھینک دیا اور اس کے بدلے تھوڑی سی قیمت حاصل کی۔ یہ جو کچھ حاصل کرتے ہیں برا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In continuation of the description of evils practiced by the Jews mentioned in previous verses, the first of the present two verses (187, 188) takes up yet another evil practice of theirs. This is their habit of going back on solemn pledges and covenants - for Allah Almighty had taken pledge from th...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And mention when God made covenant with those who had been given the Scripture that is the pledge taken from them in the Torah ‘You shall expound it read tubayyinunnahu or yubayyinunnahu ‘they shall expound it’ the Book to people and not conceal it’ read taktumūnahu ‘you shall not conceal it’ or yak...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Chastising the People of the Scriptures for Breaking the Covenant and Hiding the Truth In this Ayah, Allah chastises the People of the Scriptures, from whom Allah took the covenant by the words of their Prophets, that they would believe in Muhammad ﷺ and describe him to the people, so that they woul...

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