المطففين

See 1:1.

11:85; 26:182-184; 55:9.

Important Words:

المطففین (those who give short measure) is derived from طفف which means, he made defective and deficient. طفف علی عیالهmeans, he was niggardly to his family. طفف المکیال والمیزان means, he gave short measure and short weight. طفیف means, little in quantity; also base, low, vile, mean; paltry or contemptible (Lane).

Commentary:

The word المطففین has been used here in a general sense. Stress is laid on honesty, justice and equity in all sorts of dealings with men. See Introduction to the Surah.

55:10.

Commentary:

In the heyday of their power and prosperity nations, like individuals, are apt to forget the most sure and certain truth writ large on the face of history that sin and injustice never go unpunished. There is a Day of Reckoning in the afterlife, when men shall have to render account of their actions to their Lord and Master, but a day of reckoning comes upon a people in this very life, when their evil doings exceed legitimate bounds and they meet their nemesis.

Commentary:

"An awful day", besides referring to the Last Day of Judgement, signifies the day of reckoning when a whole people are punished for their sins of omission and commission. Their power and glory depart and they sink into the depths of misery and degradation.

The history of mankind is the story of the rise of different peoples at different times to the dizzy heights of grandeur and prosperity and of their day of reckoning when they sink into oblivion.

45:29; 69:26.

Important Words:

سجین (Sijjin) is wrongly considered by some commentators of the Quran as a non-Arabic word. According to such eminent authorities as Farra’, Zajjaj. Abu ‘Ubaidah and Mubarrad, it is an Arabic word derived from the root سجن(sajana). Lisan considers it as equivalent to سجن (sijn) meaning, a prison. سجین is a register or book in which the record of evil deeds of the wicked is said to be kept in the next world. The word also means, anything hard, vehement and severe; continuous, lasting or everlasting (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

It is worthy of note that two expressions of almost identical import have been used in the Quran, viz. ما أدرک and ما یدریک, both meaning, "what should make thee know." The former expression is used in answer to an inquiry in the past tense, thus making the answer definite and certain. The latter expression is invariably followed by the word لعل which connotes that the answer is vague and indefinite.

Important Words:

کتاب means, a book; a record or register; a revealed Scripture; Divine decree; judgement or sentence. etc. (Lane & Aqrab).

Commentary:

In view of different significations of سجین and کتاب the verse under comment, along with v. 8, would signify that the register in which the record of the evil deeds of the wicked are kept is known by the name سجین i.e. the name of the book would show that their punishment would be severe and lasting. Or the verse may mean that the wicked will be kept in a place of disgrace and ignominy and this is an irrevocable decision. Or سجین and علیین may be the names of two portions of the Quran, the former dealing with the wicked rejecters of the Divine Message and with the punishments to be meted out to them, and the latter with the righteous servants of God and the rewards to be bestowed upon them. Thus the meaning of the verse would be that the verdicts recorded in these two portions cannot be recalled and so cannot be altered or changed.

8:32; 16:25; 68:16.

Important Words:

ران (has rusted). ران الثوب means, the garment was or became rusty or covered with rust, dust, or filth. ران ھواہ علی قلبه means, his evil desire covered or overcame his heart. رین means, rust that overspreads the sword; dirt, filth or soil (Lane & Aqrab).

3:78.

Commentary:

The sight of God is granted to a believer in two stages. The first stage is that of belief, when the believer acquires a firm faith in the Divine attributes. This is the initial stage. The second or the higher stage consists in his being granted realization of the Divine Being. This stage is achieved after one has witnessed the manifestation of God’s powers and attributes in the form of great signs and miracles. The sinners, on account of their rusted hearts, will remain deprived of the realization of the Divine Being on the Day of Judgement. They will not see the face of God. The Surah particularly deals with the fraudulent behaviour of the Christian powers of the west.

The use of the particle کلا (by no means) three times after referring to the wicked deeds of disbelievers seems to suggest that the Christian powers of the west will receive three severe shocks, may be in the form of three world wars, two of which have already taken place.

23:104; 82:16.

52:15.

Important Words:

علیین is considered by some to have been derived from علا which means, it was or became high, and thus may mean, the most exalted ranks which the righteous will enjoy. The word may also mean liberty or freedom which signifies that the righteous will be free to go anywhere in Paradise. The word may also stand for those parts of the Quran which contain prophecies about the great progress and prosperity of believers. According to Ibn ‘Abbas the word means Paradise (Ibn Kathir), while Imam Raghib considers it to be the name of the dwellers thereof.

Commentary:

The word سجین being singular and علیین plural it appears that the punishment of evildoers will be static, i.e. stationary in one place, but the spiritual progress of the righteous will continue without interruption, assuming different forms. They will go from one rank to another.