In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. 'Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Mutaffifin (The Defrauders).
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Woe to those who give less than due.
“Those who when they take the measure from mankind demand it full,” (83:2)
“But if they measure unto them or weight for them, they cause them loss.” (83:3)
It is the valley of the pus flowing from the inhabitants of Hell, located at its lowest depths.
For those who diminish the rights of people and cheat them in their measures when they measure for them.
Or their scales when they weigh for them.
Withholding the full measure that is due to them.
Those who, when they take a measure from people for a right they are owed.
They demand it in full, receiving their due measure completely.
Yet when they measure or weigh for others, they give them less than what is due.
“Do such (men) not consider that they will be raised again” (83:4)
For a momentous Day.
“The day when (all) mankind stand before the Lord of the Worlds?” (83:6)
Do these defrauders of people in their measures and scales not think?
That they will be resurrected from their graves after their death?
For a Day whose affair is momentous, whose matter is grave, and whose terror is horrific.
“Nay, but the record of the vile is in Sijjin -” (83:7)
“Ah! what will convey unto thee what Sijjin is! -” (83:8)
A written record.
Woe, that Day, to the deniers.
“Those who deny the Day of Judgment” (83:11)
“Which none denieth save each criminal transgressor,” (83:12)
When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."
No, the matter is not as these disbelievers think—that they will not be resurrected or punished.
Indeed, the record of their deeds, in which their worldly actions were inscribed, is in Sijjin.
Which is the seventh, lowest earth.
And what can make you know, O Muhammad, what that record is?
Then the Almighty, whose mention is exalted, explained it, saying:
A written record.
Woe, that Day, to those who deny these verses.
Those who deny the Day of Recompense and Judgment.
And none denies the Day of Judgment except every transgressor.
Who transgresses against Allah in his speech and opposes His command.
Sinful toward his Lord.
When Our proofs and evidences, which We clarified in Our Book, are recited to him.
The Book which We sent down to Muhammad, peace be upon him.
He says, "These are but the tales of the ancients," which they wrote down from hadiths and reports.
“Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.” (83:14)
“Nay, but surely on that day they will be covered from (the mercy of) their Lord.” (83:15)
Indeed, they will be cast into Hell.
It will be said, "This is what you used to deny."
No, the matter is not as they claim.
Rather, their sins have stained their hearts, overcoming and engulfing them.
Their sins have surrounded them and covered them.
The matter is not as these deniers of the Day of Resurrection say.
That they have a position of closeness with Allah.
Indeed, on that Day, they will be veiled from their Lord, so they will not see Him.
Nor will they see any of His honor reaching them.
Then, they will surely enter Hell and be roasted therein.
Then it will be said to these deniers of the Day of Judgment:
"This punishment that you are in today,"
"Is the punishment that you used to claim in the world you would taste."
While you were denying it and rejecting it.
"So taste it now, for you have been scorched by it."
No, indeed, the record of the righteous is in 'Illiyyun.
And what can make you know what 'Illiyyun is?
A written record.
Witnessed by those brought near.
No, indeed, the record of the righteous—those who were dutiful to Allah by performing His obligations and avoiding His prohibitions—
Is in a place of loftiness and elevation.
In a heaven above a heaven, and a height above a height.
And what can make you know, O Muhammad, what 'Illiyyun is?
A written record, containing a guarantee from Allah for them against the Fire on the Day of Resurrection and their success in entering Paradise.
This record, written with Allah’s guarantee for the righteous among His servants against the Fire and for their success in Paradise, is witnessed by:
The angels brought near to Him from every one of the seven heavens.
Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss.
On thrones, observing.
You will recognize in their faces the radiance of bliss.
They will be given to drink of a pure, sealed wine.
The seal of which is musk.
“Whose seal is musk - for this let (all) those strive who strive for bliss -” (83:26)
And its mixture is from Tasnim.
“A spring whence those brought near (to Allah) drink.” (83:28)
Indeed, the righteous—those who were dutiful by fearing Allah and performing His obligations—
Will be in everlasting bliss that does not cease on the Day of Resurrection.
That is their bliss in the Gardens.
On couches within pavilions of pearl and chrysolite.
Looking at the honor, bliss, and joy that Allah has granted them in the Gardens.
You will recognize in the righteous, whom Allah has described, the radiance of bliss.
Meaning its beauty, luster, and brilliance.
They are given this pure wine, unadulterated.
Its end and final result is musk, for it is pleasant in scent.
Its scent at the end of their drinking is sealed with the fragrance of musk.
And in this bliss, which the Almighty has described as what He gives these righteous ones in the Resurrection,
Let people strive for it, and toward it let them compete in seeking it.
Let their souls be eager for it; and the mixture of this pure wine—
Is from a spring that descends upon them from above.
Those brought near to Allah drink it pure, and it is mixed for the people of Paradise.
“Lo! the guilty used to laugh at those who believed,” (83:29)
“And wink one to another when they passed them;” (83:30)
“And when they returned to their own folk, they returned jesting;” (83:31)
And when they saw them, they said, "Indeed, these are astray."
“Yet they were not sent as guardians over them.” (83:33)
Indeed, those who committed sins and disbelieved in Allah in the world,
Used to laugh at those who affirmed the oneness of Allah and believed in Him.
Mocking them.
And when those who committed crimes passed by the believers,
Some of them would wink at others in mockery and derision.
And when these criminals returned to their families from their gatherings,
They returned feeling delighted and self-satisfied.
And when the criminals saw the believers, they said to them:
"Indeed, these are astray from the path of truth and the straight way."
Yet these disbelievers were not sent—
Those who say to the believers, "Indeed, these are astray"—
As guardians over their deeds.
They were only tasked with believing in Allah and acting in obedience to Him.
And they were not made overseers over others,
To watch over their deeds and scrutinize them.
So on the Day of Resurrection, those who believed in Allah in the world,
Will laugh at the disbelievers.
While they are on their thrones in the pavilions,
Looking at them while they are in Paradise,
And the disbelievers are being punished in the Fire.
Have the disbelievers been rewarded for what they used to do in the world to the believers?
By their mockery of them and their laughter at them,
With the laughter of the believers at them in the Hereafter?