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83: Al-Mutaffifin - المطففين
Introduction
This Surah is close in time to the last one and the next one. It condemn all fraud-in daily dealings, as well as and especially in matters of religious and higher spiritual Life.
83:1
[ Original ]
وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Woe to those that deal in fraud,-
Tafseer Commentary
6011 "Fraud" must here be taken in a widely general sense. It covers giving short measure or short weight, but it covers much more than that. The next two verses make it clear that it is the spirit of injustice that is condemned-giving too little and asking too much. This may be shown in commercial dealings, where a man exacts a higher standard in his own favour than he is willing to concede as against him. In domestic or social matters an individual or group may ask for honour, or respect, or services which he or they are not willing to give on their side in similar circumstances. It is worse than one-sided selfishness: for it is double injustice. But it is worst of all in religion or spiritual life: with what face can a man ask for Mercy or Love from Allah when he is unwilling to give it to his fellow-men? In one aspect this is a statement of the Golden Rule. 'Do as you would be done by'. But it is more completely expressed. You must give in full what is due from you, whether you expect or wish to receive full consideration from the other side or not.
83:2
[ Original ]
الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure,
83:3
[ Original ]
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due.
83:4
[ Original ]
أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُمْ مَبْعُوثُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Do they not think that they will be called to account?-
Tafseer Commentary
6012 Legal and social sanctions against Fraud depend for their efficacy on whether there is a chance of being found out. Moral and religious sanctions are of a different kind. 'Do you wish to degrade your own nature?' 'Do you not consider that there is a Day of Account before a J udge Who knows all, and Who safeguards all interests, for He is the Lord and Cherisher of the Worlds? Whether other people know anything about your wrong or not, you are guilty before Allah.'
83:5
[ Original ]
لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
On a Mighty Day,
83:6
[ Original ]
يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
A Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds?
83:7
[ Original ]
كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Day! Surely the record of the wicked is (preserved) in Sijjin.
Tafseer Commentary
6013 This is a word from the same root as Sijn, a Prison. It rhymes with and is contrasted with "Illiyin in verse 18 below. It is therefore understood by many Commentators to be a place, a Prison or a Dungeon in which the Wicked are confined pending their appearance before the Judgement Seat. The mention of the Inscribed Register in verse 9 below may imply that Sijjin is the name of the Register of Black Deeds, though verse 9 may be elliptical and may only describe the place by the significance of its contents.
83:8
[ Original ]
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And what will explain to thee what Sijjin is?
83:9
[ Original ]
كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
(There is) a Register (fully) inscribed.
Tafseer Commentary
6014 If we take Sijjin to be the Register itself, and not the place where it is kept, the Register itself is a sort of Prison for those who do wrong. It is inscribed fully: i.e., no one is omitted who ought to be there, and for every entry there is a complete record, so that there is no escape for the sinner. (R).
83:10
[ Original ]
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Woe, that Day, to those that deny-
83:11
[ Original ]
الَّذِينَ يُكَذِّبُونَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Those that deny the Day of Judgement.
Tafseer Commentary
6015 The fact of Personal Responsibility for each soul is so undoubted that people who deny it are to be pitied, and will indeed be in a most pitiable condition on the Day of Reckoning, and none but the most abandoned sinner can deny it, and he only denies it by playing with Falsehoods.
83:12
[ Original ]
وَمَا يُكَذِّبُ بِهِ إِلَّا كُلُّ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And none can deny it but the Transgressor beyond bounds the Sinner!
83:13
[ Original ]
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
When Our Signs are rehearsed to him, he says, "Tales of the ancients!"
Tafseer Commentary
6016 Cf. 6:25; 68:15; etc. They scorn Truth and pretend that it is Falsehood.
83:14
[ Original ]
كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
By no means! but on their hearts is the stain of the (ill) which they do!
Tafseer Commentary
6017 The heart of a man, as created by Allah, is pure and unsullied. Every time that a man does an ill deed, it marks a stain or rust on his heart. But on repentance and forgiveness, such stain is washed off. If there is no repentance and forgiveness, the stains deepen and spread more and more, until the heart is sealed (2:7), and eventually the man dies a spiritual death. It is such stains that stand in the way of his perceiving Truths which are obvious to others. That is why he mocks at Truth and hugs Falsehood to his bosom.
83:15
[ Original ]
كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَنْ رَبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَمَحْجُوبُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Verily, from (the Light of) their Lord, that Day, will they be veiled.
Tafseer Commentary
6018 The stain of evil deeds on their hearts sullies the mirror of their hearts, so that it does not receive the light. At Judgement the true Light, the Glory of the Lord, the joy of the Righteous, will be hidden by veils from the eyes of the Sinful. Instead, the Fire of Punishment will be to them the only reality which they will perceive.
83:16
[ Original ]
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُو الْجَحِيمِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Further, they will enter the Fire of Hell.
83:17
[ Original ]
ثُمَّ يُقَالُ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Further, it will be said to them: "This is the (reality) which ye rejected as false!
83:18
[ Original ]
كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْأَبْرَارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Day, verily the record of the Righteous is (preserved) in 'Illiyin.
Tafseer Commentary
6019 l Iliyin: the oblique form of the nominative 'Iliyun, which occurs in the next verse. It is in contrast to the Sijjin which occurs in verse 7 above, where see n. 6013. Literally, it means the 'High Places', but it is probably not the same as the 'Heights' (A'raf) mentioned in 7:46. Nor need we necessarily identify it with the "dwellings on high" (gh urufat) mentioned in 34:37. Applying the reasoning parallel to that which we applied to Sijjin, we may interpret it as the Place where is kept the Register of the Righteous.
83:19
[ Original ]
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And what will explain to thee what 'Illiyun is?
83:20
[ Original ]
كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
(There is) a Register (fully) inscribed,
Tafseer Commentary
6020 This repeats verse 9 above, where see n. 6014. But the Register is of the opposite kind, that of the Righteous. It contains every detail of the Righteous. (R).
83:21
[ Original ]
يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
To which bear witness those Nearest (to Allah).
Tafseer Commentary
6021 See 56:11, n. 5227; also n. 5223. Those Nearest to Allah will be witnesses to this Righteous Record; or as it may also be rendered, they will be present at the Record, and watch this Record. Metaphorically, the hightest spiritual dignitaries are always helping and assisting at the piling up of the good record of every soul that strives for good, however humble in rank that soul may be.
83:22
[ Original ]
إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Truly the Righteous will be in Bliss:
83:23
[ Original ]
عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
On Thrones (of Dignity) will they command a sight (of all things):
Tafseer Commentary
6022 Cf . 36:56.
83:24
[ Original ]
تَعْرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ نَضْرَةَ النَّعِيمِ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Thou wilt recognise in their Faces the beaming brightness of Bliss.
83:25
[ Original ]
يُسْقَوْنَ مِنْ رَحِيقٍ مَخْتُومٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Their thirst will be slaked with Pure Wine sealed:
Tafseer Commentary
6024 The Wine will be of the utmost purity and flavour, so precious that it will be protected with a seal, and the seal itself will be of the costly material of musk, which is most highly esteemed in the East for its perfume. Perhaps a better interpretation of the "seal" is to take it as implying the final effect of the drink: just as a seal closes a document, so the seal of the drink will be the final effect of the delicious perfume and flavour of musk, heightening the enjoyment and helping in the digestion. (R).
83:26
[ Original ]
خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
The seal thereof will be Musk: And for this let those aspire, who have aspirations:
Tafseer Commentary
6025 If you understand true and lasting values, this is the kind of pure Bliss to aspire for, and not the fleeting enjoyments of this world, which always leave a sting behind.
83:27
[ Original ]
وَمِزَاجُهُ مِنْ تَسْنِيمٍ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
With it will be (given) a mixture of Tasnim:
Tafseer Commentary
6026 Tasnim literally indicates height, fulness, opulence. Here it is the name of a heavenly Fountain, whose drink is superior to that of the Purest Wine. It is the nectar drunk by Those Nearest to Allah {n. 5227 to56:11), the highest in spiritual dignity; but a flavour of it will be given to all, according to their spiritual capacity. See n. 5835 to 76:5 (Kafur fountain), and n. 5849 to 76:17-28 (Salsabil), (R).
83:28
[ Original ]
عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
A spring, from (the waters) whereof drink those Nearest to Allah.
83:29
[ Original ]
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا كَانُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَضْحَكُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Those in sin used to laugh at those who believed,
83:30
[ Original ]
وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِهِمْ يَتَغَامَزُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And whenever they passed by them, used to wink at each other (in mockery);
83:31
[ Original ]
وَإِذَا انْقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمُ انْقَلَبُوا فَكِهِينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And when they returned to their own people, they would return jesting;
83:32
[ Original ]
وَإِذَا رَأَوْهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ لَضَالُّونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
And whenever they saw them, they would say, "Behold! These are the people truly astray!"
Tafseer Commentary
6027 The wicked laugh at the righteous in this world in many ways. (1) They inwardly laugh at their Faith, because they feel themselves so superior. (2) In public places, when the righteous pass, they wink at each other and insult them. (3) In their own houses they run them down. (4) Whenever and wherever they see them, they reproach them with being fools who have lost their way, when the boot is really on the other leg. In the Hereafter all these tricks and falsehoods will be shown for what they are, and the tables will be reversed.
83:33
[ Original ]
وَمَا أُرْسِلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَافِظِينَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But they had not been sent as keepers over them!
Tafseer Commentary
6028 But the wicked critics of the Righteous have no call in any case to sit in judgement over them. Who set them as Keepers or guardians over the Righteous? Let them look to their own condition and future first.
83:34
[ Original ]
فَالْيَوْمَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
But on this Day the Believers will laugh at the Unbelievers:
Tafseer Commentary
6029 The tables will then be reversed, and he laughs best who laughs last.
83:35
[ Original ]
عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
On Thrones (of Dignity) they will command (a sight) (of all things).
Tafseer Commentary
6030 A repetition of verse 23 above, but with a different shade of meaning. The Righteous on their Thrones of Dignity will be able to see all the true values restored in their own favour: but they will also see something else: they will also see the arrogant braggarts brought low, who brought about their own downfall by their own actions.
83:36
[ Original ]
هَلْ ثُوِّبَ الْكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ
[ Abdullah Yusuf Ali ]
Will not the Unbelievers have been paid back for what they did?
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