Al-Mutaffifin | The Defrauding
[83:1] Woe to the curtailers.
[83:2] who, when they measure something to receive from people, take it in full,
[83:3] and when they measure or weigh something to give it to them, give less than due.
[83:4] Do they not think that they have to be raised up.
[83:5] on a Great Day,
[83:6] the Day when all the people will stand before the Lord of the worlds?
[83:7] Never! (i.e. they should never act in such a way.) Indeed the record of deeds of the sinners is in Sijjin.
[83:8] And what may let you know what Sijjin is?
[83:9] A register, inscribed!
[83:10] Woe that day to the deniers,
[83:11] who deny the Day of Requital!
[83:12] And none denies it but every sinful transgressor.
[83:13] When Our verses are recited to him, he says, ‘(These are) tales of the ancients’.
[83:14] No! But that which they used to commit has covered their hearts with rust.
[83:15] No! Indeed they will be screened off from their Lord on that Day.
[83:16] Then they will have to enter the Hell.
[83:17] Then it will be said, ‘This is what you used to deny’.
[83:18] No! The record of deeds of the righteous is in Illiyyun.
[83:19] And what may let you know what Illiyyun is?
[83:20] A register inscribed,
[83:21] attended by those (angels) who are blessed with nearness to Allah!
[83:22] Indeed the righteous will be in absolute bliss.
[83:23] While (sitting) on thrones they will be watching (the scenes of Paradise).
[83:24] You will recognize the glamour of bliss on their faces.
[83:25] They will be served with a pure sealed wine to drink,
[83:26] the seal of which will be of musk. It is this (bliss) in aspiring for which the competitors should race each other.
[83:27] And it will be blended with (a drink from) Tasnim,
[83:28] a spring from which will drink those who are blessed with nearness.
[83:29] Indeed those who were guilty used to laugh at those who believed,
[83:30] and when they passed by them, they used to wink at one another,
[83:31] and when they went back to their family, they went enjoying their mockery,
[83:32] and when they saw them, they said, ‘Surely these are the ones who have gone astray’.
[83:33] while they were not sent as watchmen over them.
[83:34] So, today those who believed will laugh at the disbelievers.
[83:35] While (sitting) on thrones, they will be seeing.
[83:36] whether the disbelievers have been paid back for what they used to do.
[83:1] Woe to the curtailers.
[83:2] who, when they measure something to receive from people, take it in full,
[83:3] and when they measure or weigh something to give it to them, give less than due.
[83:4] Do they not think that they have to be raised up.
[83:5] on a Great Day,
[83:6] the Day when all the people will stand before the Lord of the worlds?
[83:7] Never! (i.e. they should never act in such a way.) Indeed the record of deeds of the sinners is in Sijjin.
[83:8] And what may let you know what Sijjin is?
[83:9] A register, inscribed!
[83:10] Woe that day to the deniers,
[83:11] who deny the Day of Requital!
[83:12] And none denies it but every sinful transgressor.
[83:13] When Our verses are recited to him, he says, ‘(These are) tales of the ancients’.
[83:14] No! But that which they used to commit has covered their hearts with rust.
[83:15] No! Indeed they will be screened off from their Lord on that Day.
[83:16] Then they will have to enter the Hell.
[83:17] Then it will be said, ‘This is what you used to deny’.
[83:18] No! The record of deeds of the righteous is in Illiyyun.
[83:19] And what may let you know what Illiyyun is?
[83:20] A register inscribed,
[83:21] attended by those (angels) who are blessed with nearness to Allah!
[83:22] Indeed the righteous will be in absolute bliss.
[83:23] While (sitting) on thrones they will be watching (the scenes of Paradise).
[83:24] You will recognize the glamour of bliss on their faces.
[83:25] They will be served with a pure sealed wine to drink,
[83:26] the seal of which will be of musk. It is this (bliss) in aspiring for which the competitors should race each other.
[83:27] And it will be blended with (a drink from) Tasnim,
[83:28] a spring from which will drink those who are blessed with nearness.
[83:29] Indeed those who were guilty used to laugh at those who believed,
[83:30] and when they passed by them, they used to wink at one another,
[83:31] and when they went back to their family, they went enjoying their mockery,
[83:32] and when they saw them, they said, ‘Surely these are the ones who have gone astray’.
[83:33] while they were not sent as watchmen over them.
[83:34] So, today those who believed will laugh at the disbelievers.
[83:35] While (sitting) on thrones, they will be seeing.
[83:36] whether the disbelievers have been paid back for what they used to do.
Tafsir
Overview of Surah Al-Mutaffifin
- Title and Position: Surah Al-Mutaffifin is the 83rd chapter of the Quran. The title “Al-Mutaffifin” translates to “The Defrauders,” referring to those who give less than due in measure and weight, engaging in deceitful business practices.
- Verses and Structure: This surah contains 36 verses. It condemns the unethical behavior of cheating in trade and warns of the consequences in the afterlife for those who persist in such injustices.
- Themes and Messages: Major themes include the denunciation of fraudulent practices, the recording of human deeds, the contrasting fates of the righteous and the wicked, and the vivid descriptions of the afterlife.
- Significance in Islamic Thought: Surah Al-Mutaffifin is significant for its emphasis on ethical conduct in business, the importance of honesty and fairness, and its stark reminders of accountability and the realities of heaven and hell.
Detailed Explanation
- Condemnation of Fraud: The surah begins by strongly condemning those who cheat in measurements and weights, illustrating the moral depravity and lack of fear of God in such individuals.
- Record of Deeds: It highlights the meticulous recording of human actions, asserting that every deed, whether good or bad, is noted and will be scrutinized on the Day of Judgment.
- Fate of the Righteous and the Wicked: The surah contrasts the outcomes for the wicked, who will face severe punishment in hell, with the righteous, who will be rewarded with bliss in paradise.
- Scenes of the Afterlife: Vivid descriptions of the afterlife serve to warn and remind individuals of the inevitable consequences of their earthly choices, urging them to adhere to the path of righteousness.
- Call to Reflection: Surah Al-Mutaffifin encourages reflection on one’s actions and their eventual outcomes, promoting a life lived in accordance with divine guidance and ethical principles.
FAQs
- Why is Surah Al-Mutaffifin named “The Defrauders”?
- The surah is named after its opening verses, which address the unethical behavior of those who defraud others by tampering with measurements, emphasizing the moral and spiritual implications of such actions.
- What does the surah say about the recording of deeds?
- It emphasizes that every action, no matter how small, is recorded by vigilant angels, reinforcing the concept of divine oversight and the thoroughness of the judgment to come.
- How are the righteous and the wicked contrasted in the surah?
- The surah delineates the destinies of the righteous and the wicked, depicting the joy and satisfaction awaiting the righteous in paradise and the humiliation and punishment awaiting the wicked in hell.
- What lessons can be drawn from Surah Al-Mutaffifin?
- The surah teaches the importance of honesty and fairness, particularly in business dealings, and serves as a reminder of the afterlife’s realities, encouraging a life of integrity and mindfulness of divine accountability.
- The surah is named after its opening verses, which address the unethical behavior of those who defraud others by tampering with measurements, emphasizing the moral and spiritual implications of such actions.
- It emphasizes that every action, no matter how small, is recorded by vigilant angels, reinforcing the concept of divine oversight and the thoroughness of the judgment to come.
- The surah delineates the destinies of the righteous and the wicked, depicting the joy and satisfaction awaiting the righteous in paradise and the humiliation and punishment awaiting the wicked in hell.
- The surah teaches the importance of honesty and fairness, particularly in business dealings, and serves as a reminder of the afterlife’s realities, encouraging a life of integrity and mindfulness of divine accountability.
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