وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ WOE UNTO THOSE who give short measure: (1) الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ those who, when they are to receive their due from [other] people, demand that it be given in full – (2) وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due! (3) أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُمْ مَبْعُوثُونَ Do they not know that they are bound to be raised from the dead (4) لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ [and called to account] on an awesome Day – (5) يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ the Day when all men shall stand before the Sustainer of all the worlds? (6) كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ NAY, VERILY, the record of the wicked is indeed [set down] in a mode inescapable! (7) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ And what could make thee conceive what that mode inescapable will be? (8) كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ A record [indelibly] inscribed! (9) وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ Woe on that Day unto those who give the lie to the truth – (10) |
Abdullah Yusuf Ali Woe to those that deal in fraud,-6011 (Translation) 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. Buy this commentary from Amazon  .Other Translations of Verse : • Woe to those that deal in fraud,- (Abdullah Yusuf Ali) • Woe unto the defrauders: (Mohamed Marmaduke Pickthall) • Woe to the defrauders, (M. H. Shakir) • Woe to Al-Mutaffifin [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)], (Taqiuddin Hilali and Muhammad Muhsin Khan) • Woe Unto the scrimpers: (Abdul-Majid Daryabadi) • Woe to the diminishers, (Hassan Qaribullah and Ahmed Darwish) • Woe to the stinters, (Muhammad Ayub Khan) • Woe unto those who give short measure; (Sher Ali) • WOE UNTO THOSE who give short measure: (Muhammad Asad) • Woe to the stinters who, (Arthur John Arberry) |