Tafseer of Defrauding · Al-Mutaffifin · 83:1
Woe to those who give less [than due],
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the words of the Exalted: وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ("Woe to those who give short measure") (83:1).
The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: the valley that flows in the depth of Hell from the pus of the inhabitants of Hell is destined for those who give short measure (al-muṭaffifīn), that is to say: for those who shortchange the people and deprive them of their rights in their measures when they measure out for them, or in their weights when they weigh for them, with respect to the full measure that is rightfully due to them. The origin of this lies in the word aṭ-ṭafīf, which means the trifling, the scant. The muṭaffif is the one who diminishes the right of the rightful claimant in relation to the full and complete measure or the full and complete weight that is due to him. From this also comes the saying about a group of people who are equal in reckoning or number: "They are equal like the brim of the measuring vessel (ṭaff aṣ-ṣāʿ)," by which is meant: like the nearness of fullness which yet still remains below the full measure.
And in the spirit of what we have said about this, the people of interpretation (ahl at-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Abū as-Sāʾib related to me, saying: Ibn Fuḍayl related to us, on the authority of Ḍirār, on the authority of ʿAbdallāh, who said: a man said to him: "O Abū ʿAbd ar-Raḥmān, the people of Medina indeed give full measure." He said: "And what would prevent them from giving full measure, when Allah has said: وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ("Woe to those who give short measure"), up to His words: يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ("on the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds") (83:6)."
Ibn Ḥumayd related to us, saying: Yaḥyā ibn Wāḍiḥ related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn ibn Wāqid related to us, on the authority of Yazīd, on the authority of ʿIkrima, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, who said: "When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Medina, they were among the worst of people with respect to measuring. Then Allah revealed: وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ("Woe to those who give short measure"), and they began to measure in the proper manner."
Muḥammad ibn Khālid ibn Khidāsh related to me, saying: Salm ibn Qutayba related to us, on the authority of Qassām aṣ-Ṣayrafī, on the authority of ʿIkrima, who said: "I bear witness that every measurer and weigher is in the Fire." When something was said to him about that, he said: "There is none among them who weighs as he has it weighed for himself, nor who measures as he has it measured for himself, and Allah has said: وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ ("Woe to those who give short measure")."
