Surat Al-Mutaffifeen is a powerful reminder about honesty, justice, and faith in the Day of Judgment. Revealed in Al-Madinah, this Surah begins with a stern warning against those who cheat in measurement and dealings, the Mutaffifeen. But its message goes far beyond trade; it calls every Muslim to uphold fairness in all aspects of life, from business transactions to personal relationships.
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated: “When the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) came to Al-Madinah, the people of Al-Madinah were the most terrible people in giving measurement (i.e. they used to cheat). Thus, Allaah revealed:
ويل للمطففين
Woe to Al-Mutaffifeen
After this, they began to give good measure.” [An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah. Al-Albaani graded it Hasan in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, English reference, vol. 3, book 12, no. 2223]
The Meaning of Tatfeef
The meaning of the word Tatfeef in this context is to be stingy with measurement and weight, either by increasing it if it is due from others, or by decreasing it if one has to pay it himself.
This Surah is about the disruption of the least of the rights of the people. Al-Mutaffifeen are those who give less in measure and weight than due and demand their rights in full measure and ask for extra as well.
In other words, they are those who deal in fraud. Allaah threatened them with Wayl (punishment). So, what about those who disrupt the rights of Allaah (Ta’ala) by not believing in Him and in His Ayaat or Messengers?
The Theme of the Surah
The main theme of this Surah is Tatfeef (i.e. not dealing justly with people regarding their rights).
The Connection between the Title of the Surah with its Theme
The verses of the Surah describe the Mutaffifeen to be wicked and the records of their deeds to be in the lowest of the depths; and other verses describe Al-Abraar (the pious), whose deeds are in the highest dwellings of the heavens.
The Connection between the Beginning of the Surah with its End
The relationship of the beginning and end of the Surah is very clear. It starts with a declaration of war against Al-Mutaffifen– those who deal in fraud, who do not believe in the Day of Judgment, and who mock the believers. At the end of the Surah, Allaah (Ta’ala) says:
هل ثوِّب الكفار ما كانوا يفعلون
“Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?”
The Surah consists of four parts:
Part 1: Verses 1-6
A Declaration of war against Al-Mutaffifeen
The Surah starts with ‘ويل’ (Wayl) which recurs many times in the Qur’an. It is a threat of punishment to those who disobey Allaah. In this Surah in particular, Allaah threatens Al-Mutaffifeen. Who are the Mutaffifeen? In the following verses, Allaah tells us who they are.
الذين إذا اكتالوا على الناس يستوفون
Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full.
وإذا كالوهم أووزنوهم يخسرون
But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.
ألا يظن أولئك أنهم مبعوثون
Do they not think they will be resurrected
ليوم عظيم
For a tremendous Day –
يوم يقوم الناس لرب العالمين
The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?
They are those who, when they receive their rights from people, they demand it in full, while if they have to give people their rights by measure or weight, they give less than is due. If they buy something, they take their full rights, but if they are selling, they give with diminished weight. They have joined Ash-Shuhh and Al-Bukhl- stinginess and miserliness; Ash-Shuhh in asking their full rights without forgiveness, and Al-Bukhl by preventing what they should be giving to the people with full measurement. This does not only apply to buying and selling, but it occurs in many different forms:
- If a person hires someone and asks them to work to the best of their ability without giving them their full wages and rights, this is a kind of Tatfeef.
- A person describes someone with a deficient flawed description, even though he likes to be described in the most flattering way.
- In the relationship between husband and wife, many husbands demand their full rights from their wives, but they do not give full rights to their wives in return.
- This also happens between parents and children. Many parents demand dutifulness from their children, but they do not fulfill the rights their children have over them.
- In the Hadeeth of the bankrupt person: On the Day of Judgment a person will come with many good deeds, but they will all be exhausted by having to repay the people for the injustice in his dealings with them.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do you know who the bankrupt is?” They said: “The bankrupt among us is one who has neither money with him nor any property”. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The real bankrupt of my Ummah will be he who will come on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting and charity), but (he will find himself bankrupt on that day as he will have exhausted his good deeds) because he reviled others, brought calumny against others, unlawfully devoured the wealth of others, shed the blood of others and beat others; so his good deeds will be credited to the account of those (who suffered at his hand). If his good deeds fall short to clear the account, their sins will be entered in his account, and he will be thrown in the (Hell) Fire.” [Muslim no. 2581]
- Employees may go late to work or leave early, not working for the exact time that is required from them.
People who deal in this way do not know that they are transgressing against themselves and that it is considered injustice, a major sin.
What is the problem with them? They have lack of faith in the Day of Judgment, as is explained in the following verses.
Lessons from the Verses
- Tatfeef is considered stealing the wealth of the people and being unjust to them. If the verses consist of a threat for those who diminish and give less in weight and measure, then those who steal and take the wealth of others forcibly are more deserving of the threat and punishment on the Day of Judgment.
- The person who takes from the people what is due to him should also give them their full rights, regardless of who they are.
- Shaikh As Sa’dee mentioned that the deeds of Al-Mutaffifeen disclose the lack of belief they have in the Day of Resurrection. One will be questioned about everything, even something as thin as the skin of the date-seed. Therefore, the Muslim should always be preparing for that Day.
Part # 2: Verses 7-17
Threatening the wicked with a Painful Torment
Allaah mentions how He has prepared for Al-Fujjar (the wicked) a record or book in which all their deeds are counted, and they will be taken into account on the Day of Judgment. It is in Sijjin– a derivative of Sijn- a prison (or constricted place) and this place is in the HellFire. It is in the lowest depth of the earth which is where the HellFire is.
Allaah magnified the matter by repeating the inquiry “Do you know what it is? Did you ask about it?”
Allaah also mentions Al-Abraar, the people whose records of deeds will be in ‘Illiyyeen- the highest place in the heavens.
Lessons from the Verses:
- Allaah has prepared for the wicked from among the disbelievers, hypocrites and disobedient ones, a record in which their evil deeds are mentioned, a very constricted place (or prison) that is the HellFire, as a punishment for them.
- Those who belie the Day of Judgment actually belie the Qur’an, wherein Allaah has mentioned clear evidence that the Day of Judgment is truth and there is no doubt about it. Those who belie it receive three kinds of punishment:
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- The punishment of the HellFire
- The torment of being rebuked, scolded and blamed
- The punishment of being screened from Allaah and not being able to see Him -This indicates Allaah’s wrath and anger upon them which is even worse than the punishment of HellFire.
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- The verses implicitly indicate that the believers will see their Lord on the Day of Judgment in Jannah and they will enjoy the sweetness and enjoyment of seeing Allaah’s Countenance which will be greater than all the other pleasures that the people of Paradise will experience. They will rejoice at His Speech and be glad for His Nearness to them as it is confirmed in many verses and authentic narrations.
- In these verses there is a warning against (i.e. to refrain from) sins, for they stain the heart, gradually covering it until its light is extinguished and its insight, which is the ability to recognize things as they are, ceases to function. Accordingly, facts are turned upside down so the person will see falsehood as truth and truth as falsehood. This is one of the greatest punishments for committing sins. [Mentioned by Shaikh As-Sa’dee in Tayseer Al-Kareem]
Part # 3: Verses 18-28
The Reward of the Pious – The Promise of a Great Reward for Al-Abraar
The Qur’an is Mathaani, i.e. when Allaah mentions Al-Fujjar (the wicked), He also mentions Al-Abraar (the pious), and when He mentions the HellFire, He also mentions Paradise.
That is why Allaah mentions the state of the pious in the third part of the Surah after mentioning the state of the Mutaffifeen and the wicked, and their state on the Day of Resurrection. The pious people are those who believed in Allaah their Lord, their Messenger and all what he brought from their Lord, and those who did righteous deeds in this worldly life.
Allaah says: “Verily the Record of Al-Abraar (the righteous believers),” these people are in a situation that is opposite of the wicked people.
“is in ‘Illiyyin” meaning, their final destination is ‘Illiyyin, which is the opposite of Sijjin. It has been reported from Hilal ibn Yasaf that Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) asked Ka’b (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) about Sijjin while he was present, and Ka’b (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) said: “It is the seventh earth and in it are the souls of the disbelievers.” Then Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) asked him about ‘Illiyyin, so he said: “It is the seventh heaven and it contains the souls of the believers.” [At-Tabari]
‘Ali ibn Abi Talha reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) said that ‘Illiyyin means Paradise. Others said ‘Illiyyin is located at Sidrat al-Muntaha [A lote tree at the utmost boundary of the seventh heaven beyond which none can pass].
The obvious meaning is that the word ‘Illiyyin is derived from the word ‘Ulow, which means highness. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]
Al-Muqarraboon are the angels, according to the preponderant point of view. Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) says it refers to every person who seeks nearness to Allaah by obedience to Him. The more one is obedient and humble to Allaah, the more he is honored and elevated in rank with Allaah, as Allaah says in Surat Al-Mujadilah (58:11):
يرفع الله الذين آمنوا والذين أوتوا العلم درجات
“Allaah will exalt in degrees those of you who believe and those who have been granted knowledge”
Al-Abraar is plural for the word Barr. Al-Barr is the person whose goodness is abundant; he performs acts of obedience profusely, practices Ihsaan abundantly in his worship to Allaah and to the creatures of Allaah. Shaikh As-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah) said: “Al-Abraar are those whose hearts are pure because of what they contain of love of Allaah and knowledge of Him, and because of their good manners, and because of their having purified themselves physically by using their limbs and faculties in doing righteous deeds.” [Tafseer Surat Al-Insaan]
Lessons from the Verses:
- – Allaah made the book of records of Al-Abraar (the pious) in the highest place where the honorable angels and souls of the Prophets, Siddiqeen and martyrs will witness it.
- – Al-Abraar will be in eternal delight which will be the combined delight of the heart, soul, and body. They will be reclining on adorned couches, enjoying all of what Allaah has prepared for them, and looking at the glorious Face of Allaah.
- – The faces of Al-Abraar on the Day of Judgment will be shining with light, delight and beauty as a recompense for their Imaan. Their drink will be of pure sealed Raheeq which is one of the names of the wine in Paradise. Allaah will make the wine have a pleasant aroma for them, so the last thing that He will place in it will be musk. Thus, it will be sealed with musk.
- – These verses encourage the believers to compete with one another in doing righteous deeds. The believers should hasten towards eternal delight by performing good deeds that will make them reach it. This is the best thing that one spends his life doing.
Part # 4: Verses 29-36
The State of the Disbelievers (How they used to mock the believers in this worldly life) and the State of the Believers
Allaah tells us that in this world, the evildoers used to mock the believers, making fun of them, laughing at them, and winking in derision at one another when they passed by them, out of scorn and contempt towards them, yet despite that they felt secure, and no fear ever crossed their minds.
Allaah says: “And when they returned to their homes” in the morning or evening
“They returned exulting” that is, happy and rejoicing.
This was one of the greatest signs of their delusion, that they combined the worst of deeds with a sense of being secure in this world, to the extent that it was as if they had received a covenant and promise from Allaah that they would be among the blessed, and they regarded themselves as being guided and the believers as being misguided. This was a fabrication against Allaah, for they dared to speak about Him without knowledge.
“But on that Day” namely the Day of Resurrection, “those who believed will laugh at the disbelievers” when they see them immersed in punishment, when all that they used to fabricate will be lost from them.
The believers will be in the utmost comfort and security “sitting on couches” that are beautifully adorned, “gazing around” at what Allaah has prepared for them of bliss and gazing upon the noble Countenance of their Lord.
The disbelievers will be given a recompense that matches their deeds. Just as they laughed at the believers in this world and accused them of being misguided, the believers will laugh at them in the Hereafter, and they will see them subjected to a punishment that is the requital for misguidance. They will be requited for what they used to do based on divine justice and wisdom, for Allaah is All-Knowing, Most Wise.
Lessons from the Verses:
-Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “The state of the disbelievers throughout the generations is the same: mocking, defaming, and abusing the believers. Calling them names such as backwards, extremists and too strict, etc., the same way the Prophets and Messengers were called mad and magicians. So, the people are experiencing the same thing and should be patient, for on the Day of Judgment they will receive their recompense. The laughing of the disbelievers in this world will be followed by weeping and sorrow on the Day of Judgment, whereas the laughing of the believers will be in Jannah and is not followed with sorrow, grief, or weeping. It is an eternal laughter and enjoyment. Know the difference between the laugh of the people in this world and the laugh of the people in the Hereafter. Look at what Allaah has prepared for the people on the Day of Judgment: seats and thrones in Jannah that no eyes have ever seen or ears have ever heard about or anyone has ever imagined. This is the reward for the patience of those in the Dunya. The inquiry in the last verse is confirmation that the disbelievers will be requited and recompensed for what they used to do in this Dunya. This is from Allaah Who is All Just and All Wise, Whose decisions are based on justice, wisdom and graciousness. For the believers, His Decision and recompense is graciousness and for the disbelievers His Decision and requital is justice.”
Sources:
At-Tafseer Al-Mawdoo’i
Tafseer Surat Al-Mutaffifeen by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen
Tafseer Ibn Katheer
Tayseer Al-Kareem by Shaikh As-Sa’dee (Rahimahullaah)
