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Chapter 83

The Defraudersal-Muṭaffifīn ( المطففين )

36 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that opens with a dire divine warning of a debasing punishment awaiting in the Hereafter for those who practice cheating as a norm in commerce, and whom is calls The Defrauders because they insist on receiving a full amount in return for the partial measure that they themselves give. It takes its name from verse 1, which condemns the tradesmen who cheat customers by using short weights and measures (muṭaffifūn). It appears that the practice of cheating have been prevalent in Mecca, and is strongly condemned here and elsewhere in the Quran (e.g. 11: 84 ff.; 7: 85).«

The surah is also known as The Cheats, The Dealing in Fraud, The Defrauders, The Stinters, The Unjust, Those who Give Short Measure

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Yusuf Ali: In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

1
وَيلٌ لِلمُطَفِّفينَ

Yusuf Ali

This Sūra is close in time to the last one and the next one.
It condemns all fraud—in daily dealings, as well as and especially in matters of Religion and higher spiritual Life.
[83:1-36] Shun Fraud in all things: in little things of daily life, but specially in those subtler forms of higher life, which will be exposed to view at Judgment, however hidden they may be in this life. Give everyone his due for the Record of ill deeds and good is fully kept, and the stains of sin corrupt the soul. Reject not the Real now, nor mock: for the time will come when the True will come to its own, and then the mighty arrogant will be abased!
Woe to those that deal in fraud,—1
  • “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 God 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.