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Tuesday 18 April 2023

Give full measures and weight - With Justice

Justice is the hallmark of the social system as enunciated in the Qur'an. At a number of places in Qur'an, Allah has cautioned believers to abide by justice, both in weights and measures and in dealings with others. We have already shared a number of these verses under the heading Justice / Rules of Islamic Law in our reference page Selected Verses from Qur'an

Today, through this post, we add yet another Divine reminder to the believers to abide by justice. However, it must be kept in view that Jusitce here refers metonymically to all dealings between men and not only to commercial transactions: hence the interpolation "in all your dealings".

Note: The selected verse is part of a long verse, that is verse 152 of Surah 6. Al An'am,  in which a number of Divine Commandments are given, which have already been shared as the Divine Commandments in Qur'an.

 وَاَوۡفُوۡا الۡكَيۡلَ وَالۡمِيۡزَانَ بِالۡقِسۡطِ​
(7:152) ... and give full measures and weight with justice

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir
(.. and give full measure and full weight with justice.) is a command to establish justice while giving and taking. 

Allah has also warned against abandoning this commandment, when He said: (83:1-6: Woe to Al-Mutaffifin. Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure. And when they have to give by measure or weight to (other) men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be resurrected (for reckoning). On a Great Day the Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of all that exists) Allah destroyed an entire nation that was accustomed to giving less in weights and measures. 

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:
This is a great commandment and, in its essence, a corrollary of the scale of justice on which this world exists. Thus, if anyone deviates from this, it means that his concept of justice and fairness has become contaminated and the fact that God is just has been forgotten. Obviously, after this, the whole socio-economic system is uprooted and the fabric of the society is totally decimated. The blessings of weighing with full measure are referred to in verse 35 of Sūrah Banī Isrā’īl. It is said that this is the right attitude with regard to its consequences and carries great blessings for the people as well. 

Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes: ... The blessings of this conduct in the Hereafter are evident. In this world also, with regard to the consequences ... This attitude will reap benefits for people for the prosperity of their livelihood, economic activity, business, trade and a just society. Nations who are dishonest have neither prospered in this world nor will they ever do so. This evil is not a singular evil. It is actually a sign of the existence of many other evils. A nation fraught with this evil is devoid of the concept of justice and fairness. For this reason, it is not only devoid of the ability to create a healthy society, it also sows seeds of disorder in God’s earth. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 3, 202)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:
“Give just weight and full measure. We do not charge a soul with more than it can bear.” (Verse 152) This clearly applies to commercial transactions and requires people to do their best to ensure that everyone gets what is due to them. The surah provides a direct link between these transactions and faith, because this is the Islamic attitude. It is God who gives this directive and who urges people to give just weight and full measure.

Let us establish true justice within ourselves and in our dealings both with others and commercial dealings wherein physical dealings of weights and measures are involved. Remember, one may earn a few coins more by giving less measure or deceive someone with lies and false statements. But all such evil lapses are being recorded and will be produced as evidence against the culprits on the Day of Judgement. And then, there will be no going back to making amends. Tere will be but remorse and shame. Time is slipping away fast, so let us reshape our lives based on Divine Commandments of Allah. 
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an and Important DOs and DONTs from Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  
In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 
  • Tafsir Ibn Khatir
  • Muhammad Asad Translation
  • Yusuf Ali Translation
  • Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
  • Qur'an Wiki
  • Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
  • Towards Understanding the Quran
In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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1 comments:

Deviation in measurement is a very very big crime and Society does not heed to it and thinks it a minor nature. Whereas nation has been punished for this and their destroyed symbols are for a lesson. Javed Ahmad Ghamidi has expressed expressed in his words supported by Quranic VVerse.

2. Please continue your efforts to spread this great divine command amongst society. Thank you.
(Anwar Butt)



Gujranwala

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