The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

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83. THOSE WHO GIVE SHORT MEASURE
A Meccan sura. The practice of cheating appears to have been prevalent
in Mecca, and is strongly condemned here and elsewhere in the Quran (e.g.
11: 84–8; 7: 85). In the sura the fate of the cheats and disbelievers is
contrasted with the delight in store for the good.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
1 Woe to those who give short measure, 2 who demand of other people
full measure for themselves, 3 but give less than they should when it
is they who weigh or measure for others! 4 Do these people not
realize that they will be raised up 5 on a mighty Day, 6 a Day when
everyone will stand before the Lord of the Worlds? 7 No indeed! The
list of the wicked is in Sijjin a –– 8 what will explain to you what Sijjin
is?––9 a clearly numbered list. 10 Woe on that day to the deniers,
11 those who deny the Day of Judgement! 12 Only the evil aggressor
denies it: 13 when Our revelations are recited to him, he says,
‘Ancient fables!’ 14 No indeed! Their hearts are encrusted with what
they have done. 15 No indeed! On that Day they will be screened off
from their Lord, 16 they will burn in Hell, 17 and they will be told,
‘This is what you called a lie.’
18 No indeed! The list of the truly good is in Illiyyin b –– 19 what
will explain to you what Illiyyin is?––20 a clearly written list, 21 witnessed
by those brought near. c 22 The truly good will live in bliss,
23 seated on couches, gazing around. 24 You will recognize on their
faces the radiance of bliss. 25 They will be served a sealed nectar, 26 its
seal [perfumed with] a fragrant herb d ––let those who strive, strive
for this––27 mixed with the water of Tasnim, e 28 a spring from which
those brought near will drink. 29 The wicked used to laugh at the
believers––30 they would wink at one another when the believers
a The root of this word, s–j–n, is the same as the one for sijn meaning ‘prison’. The
form is intensive.
b The root of this word, –l–w, relates to height. The form is intensive.
c The elect. See also verse 28.
d One meaning of misk (also ‘musk’).
e The root of this word, s–n–m, suggests height and opulence.