Surah 83: Al-Mutaffifin
The Holy Qur’an with English Translation and Commentary (Five Volume Commentary)
[a]In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
[a] See 1:1.
[b]Woe unto those who give short measure;[4626]
[b] 11:85; 26:182-184; 55:9.
[4626] Important Words:
المطففین (those who give short measure) is derived from طفف which means, he made defective and deficient. طفف علی عیاله means, he was niggardly to his family. طفف المکیال والمیزان means, he gave short measure and short weight. طفیف means, little in quantity; also base, low, vile, mean; paltry or contemptible (Lane).
Commentary:
The word المطففین has been used here in a general sense. Stress is laid on honesty, justice and equity in all sorts of dealings with men. See Introduction to the Surah.
Those who, when they take by measure from other people, take it full;
[c]But when they give by measure to others or weigh to them, they give them less.
[c] 55:10.
Do not such people know that they will be raised again[4627]
[4627] Commentary:
In the heyday of their power and prosperity nations, like individuals, are apt to forget the most sure and certain truth writ large on the face of history that sin and injustice never go unpunished. There is a Day of Reckoning in the afterlife, when men shall have to render account of their actions to their Lord and Master, but a day of reckoning comes upon a people in this very life, when their evil doings exceed legitimate bounds and they meet their nemesis.
Unto an awful day,[4628]
[4628] Commentary:
"An awful day", besides referring to the Last Day of Judgement, signifies the day of reckoning when a whole people are punished for their sins of omission and commission. Their power and glory depart and they sink into the depths of misery and degradation.
The history of mankind is the story of the rise of different peoples at different times to the dizzy heights of grandeur and prosperity and of their day of reckoning when they sink into oblivion.
The day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?
[a]Nay! the record of the wicked is in Sijjin.[4629]
[a] 45:29; 69:26.
[4629] Important Words:
سجین (Sijjin) is wrongly considered by some commentators of the Holy Qur’an as a non-Arabic word. According to such eminent authorities as Farra’, Zajjaj, Abu ‘Ubaidah and Mubarrad, it is an Arabic word derived from the root سجن (sajana). Lisan considers it as equivalent to سجن (sijn) meaning, a prison. سجین is a register or book in which the record of evil deeds of the wicked is said to be kept in the next world. The word also means, anything hard, vehement and severe; continuous, lasting or everlasting (Lane & Aqrab).
And what should make thee know what Sijjin is?[4629A]
[4629A] Commentary:
It is worthy of note that two expressions of almost identical import have been used in the Holy Qur’an, viz. ما أدرک and ما یدریک, both meaning, "what should make thee know." The former expression is used in answer to an inquiry in the past tense, thus making the answer definite and certain. The latter expression is invariably followed by the word لعل which connotes that the answer is vague and indefinite.
It is a Book written comprehensively.[4630]
[4630] Important Words:
کتاب means, a book; a record or register; a revealed Scripture; Divine decree; judgement or sentence, etc. (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
In view of different significations of سجین and کتاب the verse under comment, along with v. 8, would signify that the register in which the record of the evil deeds of the wicked are kept is known by the name سجین i.e. the name of the book would show that their punishment would be severe and lasting. Or the verse may mean that the wicked will be kept in a place of disgrace and ignominy and this is an irrevocable decision. Or سجین and علیین may be the names of two portions of the Holy Qur’an, the former dealing with the wicked rejecters of the Divine Message and with the punishments to be meted out to them, and the latter with the righteous servants of God and the rewards to be bestowed upon them. Thus the meaning of the verse would be that the verdicts recorded in these two portions cannot be recalled and so cannot be altered or changed.
Woe, on that day, unto those who reject,
Who deny the Day of Judgement.