Al-Mutaffifin (المطففين)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ
Wailul lil mutaffifeen
WOE UNTO THOSE who give short measure:
الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ
Allazeena izak taaloo 'alan naasi yastawfoon
those who, when they are to receive their due from [other] people, demand that it be given in full –
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
Wa izaa kaaloohum aw wazanoohum yukhsiroon
but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due!
أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُمْ مَبْعُوثُونَ
Alaa yazunnu ulaaa'ika annahum mab'oosoon
Do they not know that they are bound to be raised from the dead
لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
Li Yawmin 'Azeem
[and called to account] on an awesome Day –
يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Yawma yaqoomun naasu li Rabbil 'aalameen
the Day when all men shall stand before the Sustainer of all the worlds?
كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ
Kallaaa inna kitaabal fujjaari lafee Sijjeen
NAY, VERILY, the record of the wicked is indeed [set down] in a mode inescapable!
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ
Wa maa adraaka maa Sijjeen
And what could make thee conceive what that that mode inescapable will be?
كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ
Kitaabum marqoom
A record [indelibly] inscribed!
وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Wailuny yawma'izil lil mukazzibeen
Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth –
الَّذِينَ يُكَذِّبُونَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Allazeena yukazziboona bi yawmid deen
those who give the lie to the [coming of] Judgment Day:
وَمَا يُكَذِّبُ بِهِ إِلَّا كُلُّ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ
Wa maa yukazzibu biheee illaa kullu mu'tadin aseem
for, none gives the lie to it but such as are wont to transgress against all that is [and are] immersed in sin:
إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
Izaa tutlaa'alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen
[and so,] whenever Our messages are conveyed to them, they but say, "Fables of ancient times!"
كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
Kallaa bal raana 'alaa quloobihim maa kaanoo yaksiboon
Nay, but their hearts are corroded by all [the evil] that they were wont to do!
كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَنْ رَبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَمَحْجُوبُونَ
Kallaaa innahum 'ar Rabbihim yawma'izil lamah jooboon
Nay, verily, from [the grace of] their Sustainer shall they on that Day be debarred;
ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُو الْجَحِيمِ
Summa innahum lasaa lul jaheem
and then, behold, they shall enter the blazing fire
ثُمَّ يُقَالُ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ
Summa yuqaalu haazal lazee kuntum bihee tukazziboon
and be told: "This is the [very thing] to which you were wont to give the lie!"
كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْأَبْرَارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ
Kallaaa inna kitaabal abraari lafee'Illiyyeen
NAY, VERILY - the record of the truly virtuous is [set down] in a mode most lofty!
وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ
Wa maaa adraaka maa 'Illiyyoon
And what could make thee conceive what that mode most lofty will be?
كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ
Kitaabum marqoom
A record [indelibly] inscribed,
يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
Yashhadu hul muqarra boon
witnessed~ by all who have [ever] been drawn close unto God.
إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ
Innal abraara lafee Na'eem
Behold, [in the life to come] the truly virtuous will indeed be in bliss:
عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ
'Alal araaa'iki yanzuroon
[resting on couches, they will look up [to God]:
تَعْرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ نَضْرَةَ النَّعِيمِ
Ta'rifu fee wujoohihim nadratan na'eem
upon their faces thou wilt see the brightness of bliss.
يُسْقَوْنَ مِنْ رَحِيقٍ مَخْتُومٍ
Yusqawna mir raheeqim makhtoom
They will be given a drink of pure wine whereon the seal [of God] will have been set,
خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ
Khitaamuhoo misk; wa fee zaalika falyatanaafasil Mutanaafisoon
pouring forth with a fragrance of musk. To that [wine of paradise], then, let all such aspire as [are willing to] aspire to things of high account:
وَمِزَاجُهُ مِنْ تَسْنِيمٍ
Wa mizaajuhoo min Tasneem
for it is composed of all that is most exalting
عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا الْمُقَرَّبُونَ
'Ainaiy yashrabu bihal muqarraboon
a source [of bliss] whereof those who are drawn close unto God shall drink.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا كَانُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَضْحَكُونَ
Innal lazeena ajramoo kaanoo minal lazeena aamanoo yadhakoon
BEHOLD, those who have abandoned themselves to sin are wont to laugh at such as have attained to faith
وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِهِمْ يَتَغَامَزُونَ
Wa izaa marroo bihim yataghaamazoon
and whenever they pass by them, they wink at one another [derisively];
وَإِذَا انْقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمُ انْقَلَبُوا فَكِهِينَ
Wa izan qalabooo ilaaa ahlihimun qalaboo fakiheen
and whenever they return to people of their own kind, they return full of jests;
وَإِذَا رَأَوْهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ لَضَالُّونَ
Wa izaa ra awhum qaalooo inna haaa'ulaaa'i ladaaal loon
and whenever they see those [who believe,] they say, "Behold, these [people] have indeed gone astray!"
وَمَا أُرْسِلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَافِظِينَ
Wa maaa ursiloo 'alaihim haafizeen
And, withal, they have no call to watch over [the beliefs of] others...
فَالْيَوْمَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ
Fal yawmal lazeena aamanoo minal kuffaari yadhakoon
But on the Day [of Judgment], they who had attained to faith will [be able to] laugh at the [erstwhile] deniers of the truth:
عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ
'Alal araaa'iki yanzuroon
[for, resting in paradise] on couches, they will look on [and say to themselves]:
هَلْ ثُوِّبَ الْكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ
Hal suwwibal kuffaaru maa kaanoo yaf'aloon
"Are these deniers of the truth being [thus] requited for [aught but] what they were wont to do?"
Meaning
Defrauding
Ayas
36
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
83
Surah Al-Mutaffifin addresses the themes of honesty, justice, and accountability. The key themes include:
Defrauding in business: The Surah warns against cheating and dishonesty in trade and business, particularly defrauding others by giving less than what is due, whether in weights or measures.
The consequences of dishonesty: It emphasizes the severe consequences that those who engage in such practices will face on the Day of Judgment.
The righteous reward: The Surah contrasts the fate of the dishonest with the rewards that the righteous will receive in the Hereafter.
Warning against injustice: Surah Al-Mutaffifin serves as a reminder of the importance of honesty and integrity in all transactions, highlighting that no one will escape the consequences of their wrongful deeds.
The concept of accountability: The Surah underscores that everyone will be held accountable for their actions, particularly those related to injustice and dishonesty.
Affirmation of the Afterlife: It reinforces the reality of the Hereafter, where every individual will face the consequences of their actions, either in reward or punishment.
Encourages fairness and honesty: Reciting this Surah serves as a reminder to always be truthful and just, especially in business dealings and personal conduct.
Reflection on accountability: It encourages believers to reflect on their actions and consider the consequences of dishonesty and cheating, urging them to act with integrity.
Spiritual protection: It is believed that reciting Surah Al-Mutaffifin can help protect one from the consequences of dishonesty and lead to a righteous path.
Warning against dishonesty:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Woe to those who defraud, those who when they take the measure from people, take it in full, but when they give by measure or weight to others, they give less.” (Sahih Bukhari)
The fate of the unjust:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) also said: “Whoever cheats is not one of us. He who defrauds others will find his deeds weighed light on the Day of Judgment.” (Sahih Muslim)
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”