Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Mutaffifin (The Defrauding) begins with a severe warning against those who cheat in business weights and measures, demanding full measure but giving less to others. It outlines the records of deeds—Sijjin for the wicked and 'Illiyyun for the righteous—and warns that those who mock the believers in this life will be mocked by them in the Hereafter.
Transliteration
Waylun lilmutaffifeena
Translation
Woe to the defrauders
Revealed shortly after the Prophet's ﷺ arrival in Medina: local merchants were notorious for using rigged scales and deceptive measuring bowls (such as using an oversized vessel when buying grain from farmers, and a shaved, undersized bowl when selling to customers). This revelation immediately outlawed all commercial fraud, transforming Medina into a model of honest trade.
Transliteration
Allatheena itha iktaloo AAala alnnasi yastawfoona
Translation
Those who, when they take a measure from people, they take in full
Transliteration
Waitha kaloohum aw wazanoohum yukhsiroona
Translation
But when they measure or weigh to others, they cheat
Transliteration
Ala yathunnu olaika annahum mabAAoothoona
Translation
Do these not know that they will be resurrected
Directly connects commercial ethics to faith in the afterlife: warns business owners that rigging scales, defrauding consumers, and manipulating measurements stem directly from a lack of belief in personal accountability before the Supreme Creator.
Transliteration
Liyawmin AAatheemin
Translation
For a Great Day
Transliteration
Yawma yaqoomu alnnasu lirabbi alAAalameena
Translation
The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds
Transliteration
Kalla inna kitaba alfujjari lafee sijjeenin
Translation
Not at all. The record of the wicked is in Sijjeen
Introduces 'Sijjin'—the dark, subterranean cosmic ledger where the compiled records and spiritual destinies of unrepentant criminals and oppressors are sealed.
Transliteration
Wama adraka ma sijjeenun
Translation
But how can you know what Sijjeen is
Transliteration
Kitabun marqoomun
Translation
A numerical book
Transliteration
Waylun yawmaithin lilmukaththibeena
Translation
Woe on that Day to the deniers
Transliteration
Allatheena yukaththiboona biyawmi alddeeni
Translation
Those who deny the Day of Reckoning
Transliteration
Wama yukaththibu bihi illa kullu muAAtadin atheemin
Translation
But none denies it except the sinful aggressor
Transliteration
Itha tutla AAalayhi ayatuna qala asateeru alawwaleena
Translation
When Our revelations are recited to him, he says, “Legends of the ancients.”
Transliteration
Kalla bal rana AAala quloobihim ma kanoo yaksiboona
Translation
Not at all. Their hearts have become corroded by what they used to earn
A profound psychological diagnosis: 'Ran' (Spiritual Rust). The Prophet ﷺ explained that whenever a person commits an unrepented sin, a tiny dark spot appears on their conscience; if they continue sinning without remorse, the spots merge into a thick encasement of rust that completely numbs their moral sensitivity.
Transliteration
Kalla innahum AAan rabbihim yawmaithin lamahjooboona
Translation
Not at all. On that Day, they will be screened from their Lord
The ultimate spiritual tragedy of Hell: God declares that unrepentant deniers will be permanently veiled and blocked ('Mahjubun') from ever seeing the glorious, loving Face of their Creator.
Transliteration
Thumma innahum lasaloo aljaheemi
Translation
Then they will roast in Hell
Transliteration
Thumma yuqalu hatha allathee kuntum bihi tukaththiboona
Translation
Then it will be said, “This is what you used to deny.”
Transliteration
Kalla inna kitaba alabrari lafee AAilliyyeena
Translation
No indeed; the record of the righteous is in Elliyyeen
Introduces 'Illiyyun'—the illuminated cosmic ledger in the highest celestial heavens containing the honored deeds of the righteous, attended and witnessed by the closest angels.
Transliteration
Wama adraka ma AAilliyyoona
Translation
But how can you know what Elliyyoon is
Transliteration
Kitabun marqoomun
Translation
A numerical book
Transliteration
Yashhaduhu almuqarraboona
Translation
Witnessed by those brought near
Transliteration
Inna alabrara lafee naAAeemin
Translation
Indeed, the righteous will be amid bliss
Transliteration
AAala alaraiki yanthuroona
Translation
On thrones, looking on
Transliteration
TaAArifu fee wujoohihim nadrata alnnaAAeemi
Translation
You will recognize on their faces the radiance of bliss
Transliteration
Yusqawna min raheeqin makhtoomin
Translation
They will be given to drink a sealed wine
Transliteration
Khitamuhu miskun wafee thalika falyatanafasi almutanafisoona
Translation
Whose seal is musk—this is what competitors should compete for
Describes 'Ar-Rahiq al-Makhtum' (Pure Sealed Nectar) of Paradise, whose opening seal releases a scent of pure musk, concluding with the famous inspirational challenge: 'For such an eternal reward, let all ambitious competitors compete!'
Transliteration
Wamizajuhu min tasneemin
Translation
Its mixture is of Tasneem
Transliteration
AAaynan yashrabu biha almuqarraboona
Translation
A spring from which those brought near drink
Transliteration
Inna allatheena ajramoo kanoo mina allatheena amanoo yadhakoona
Translation
Those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed
Depicts the psychological harassment endured by early Muslims in Mecca: arrogant pagan elites would laugh at them, exchange sarcastic winks behind their backs, and mock their simplicity; on Judgment Day, the moral tables are turned as believers recline in eternal honor while seeing the vanity of false pride.
Transliteration
Waitha marroo bihim yataghamazoona
Translation
And when they passed by them, they would wink at one another
Transliteration
Waitha inqalaboo ila ahlihimu inqalaboo fakiheena
Translation
And when they went back to their families, they would go back exulting
Transliteration
Waitha raawhum qaloo inna haolai ladalloona
Translation
And if they saw them, they would say, “These people are lost.”
Transliteration
Wama orsiloo AAalayhim hafitheena
Translation
Yet they were not sent as guardians over them
Transliteration
Faalyawma allatheena amanoo mina alkuffari yadhakoona
Translation
But on that Day, those who believed will laugh at the unbelievers
Transliteration
AAala alaraiki yanthuroona
Translation
On luxurious furnishings, looking on
Transliteration
Hal thuwwiba alkuffaru ma kanoo yafAAaloona
Translation
Have the unbelievers been repaid for what they used to do