Verse 18
The Consultation • makkah
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ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ۗ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ
55:8, 57:26.
Commentary:
The verse mentions two very important things which God has sent down for man’s guidance and benefit: (a) "the Book" i.e. the laws of the Shari‘ah, (b) "the Balance" i.e. standards by which human actions are appraised, judged, measured and weighed; or it may mean the faculty by which man can distinguish between right and wrong or, as some say, عدل (justice), which signifies the right use of the Book. In fact, in this life (and more so in the next life) all human actions are weighed in divine scales and he whose good actions outweigh his bad actions leads a life of bliss and happiness, and he whose bad deeds outweigh his good deeds burns in the fire of failure, regrets and sighs (101:7-12).
The word میزان (balance) may also refer to the Quran, meaning that the Quran does not say anything which is not supported by reason. Thus the Quran constitutes an infallible criterion (میزان) to judge what is right and what is wrong.
Elsewhere in the Quran (57:26) the expression أنزل (He has sent down) has also been used about الـحدید (iron) which represents power that enforces the Divine Law.
The words, and what will make thee know that the hour may be near at hand, mean that if disbelievers did not accept the Message of Islam and their bad deeds outstripped their good deeds, Divine punishment would overtake them very soon.
55:8; 57:26.
God has sent down two important things for man’s guidance and benefit: (a) "The Book," i.e. the laws of the Shari‘ah; (b) "The Balance," i.e. standards by which human actions are appraised, judged, measured and weighed. Or, "The Balance" may signify the faculty by which man can distinguish between right and wrong. In fact, in this life (and more so in the next life) all human actions are weighed in Divine scales. "The Balance" may also refer to the Qur’an itself, because it constitutes an infallible criterion (Mizan) to judge what is right and what is wrong.
Elsewhere in the Qur’an (57:26) the expression, 'He has sent down,' has also been used about "iron" which represents power that enforces Divine and human laws.