83. Al-Mutaffifin

Woe to those who give less [than due],1

Woe to those who give short measure

Woe unto the dealers in fraud

Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full.

who demand of other people full measure for themselves

Those who demand full measure when receiving from people

But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.

but when they give by measurement or weight to others, they give them less

But give less than due when giving them by measure or weight. (Or diminish the recompense of the laborer)

Do they not think that they will be resurrected

Do such people not realize that they will be raised up

Deem they not that they are bound to be raised again

For a tremendous Day -

on a fateful Day

Unto an Awesome Day

The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?

The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the Universe

The Day when all mankind stand before the Lord of the Worlds. (And the humanity will stand on its feet in this world rallying around the Divine System (39:79), (45:36-37), (84:6-8)

No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in sijjeen.

Indeed! The record of the wicked is in the Sijjin

Nay, behold, the record of the dividers of humanity is in 'Sijjin

And what can make you know what is sijjeen?

and what could make you understand what the Sijjin is

Ah! What will convey to you what 'Sijjin' is

It is [their destination1 recorded in] a register inscribed.

it is a written record

A record indelibly inscribed. ('Sijjin' = Inescapable, guarded record as if it is imprisoned)

Woe, that Day, to the deniers,

Woe, on that Day, to those who reject

Anguish on that Day for those who deny the Truth in practice

Who deny the Day of Recompense.

those who deny the Day of Judgement

Those who deny the Day of Judgment

And none deny it except every sinful transgressor.

No one denies it except for the evil aggressor

And none denies it but he who drags down his own progress by crossing the bounds of reason. (The Law of Cause and Effect easily appeals to reason)

When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "Legends of the former peoples."

When Our revelations are conveyed to him, he says, "Fables of the ancients

When Our Messages are conveyed to him, he says, "These are stories of the bygones

No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.1

No! Their own deeds have cast a veil over their hearts

Nay, but their hearts get corroded by what they have earned

No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned.1

Indeed! On that Day a barrier will be set between them and their Lord

Nay, verily, on that Day they will be veiled from (the Light of) their Lord

Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire.

then they shall enter the Fire of Hell

Then, behold, they shall enter the Blazing Fire. ('Jahim' = Insurmountable Barrier = Bar to progress = Obstruction that halts = Halting of evolution = Mere survival = Hellfire = Flames of anguish = Fire of regret)

Then it will be said [to them], "This is what you used to deny."

and they will be told, "This is what you were wont to belie

And it will be said, "This is that which you used to deny

No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in ʿilliyyūn.

But, the record of the righteous is [preserved] in the 'Illiyyin

Nay, behold, the record of those who made room for others in the community is in 'Illiyin'. ('Birr' = Virtue = Make expanse = Make room for others in the society = Help people to adjust and make progress in a new environment = Exponential growth)

And what can make you know what is ʿilliyyūn?

and what will make you understand what the 'Illiyyin is

Ah! What will convey to you what 'Illiyin' is

It is [their destination1 recorded in] a register inscribed

a written record

A record indelibly inscribed. ('Illiyin' = Loftiness upon loftiness)

Which is witnessed by those brought near [to Allāh].

which those angels closest to God will bear witness to

These near ones (to Allah) find it open before them

Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure

The virtuous will surely be in bliss

Behold, those who made room in the society for others, verily, are in Blissful delight

On adorned couches, observing.

seated on couches and gazing around in wonder

On beautiful thrones, they will look up (to the Magnificent Kingdom)

You will recognize in their faces the radiance of pleasure.

You will find in their faces the brightness of bliss

You will see their faces glitter with Delight

They will be given to drink [pure] wine1 [which was] sealed.

They will be given a drink of pure wine, sealed

They will be given a refreshing drink of pure nectar, sealed

The last of it1 is musk. So for this let the competitors compete.

its seal will be of musk -- for this let the aspirants aspire

The seal of it is musk. For all this, then, let every aspirant aspire

And its mixture is of Tasneem,1

a wine tempered with the waters of Tasnim

For, it consists of Nobility. ('Tasnim' = 'Tashrif' = Nobility = Ennobling = Hosting in nobility = Exalting = Imparting honor = Raising in degree)

A spring from which those near [to Allāh] drink.

a spring at which those drawn close to God will drink

A Spring from which the nearest (to Allah) drink

Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.

The wicked used to laugh at the believers

Behold, those who thrived on others' toil used to laugh at those who had attained belief

And when they passed by them, they would exchange derisive glances.

when they passed by them, they would wink at one another

And whenever they passed by the believers they winked at each other in sarcasm. (Look, these people 'waste' their wealth and person on strangers)

And when they returned to their people, they would return jesting.

and when they returned to their own people, they would speak of them jestingly

And when they returned to their own folk, they used to tell jokes about them

And when they saw them, they would say, "Indeed, those are truly lost."

and when they saw them, they said [scornfully], "These men have surely gone astray

And whenever they saw the believers they said, "Behold, these people have indeed gone astray (wandering in unmarked valleys of life)

But they had not been sent as guardians over them.

though they were not sent to be their keepers

Yet, they have not been sent as watchers over them

So Today1 those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers,

so today those who believe shall [be able to] laugh at those who denied the truth

That Day those who have chosen to be graced with belief will be in a position to laugh at the deniers (but they won't. (7)

On adorned couches, observing.

as they sit on couches, gazing around

On beautiful thrones, they will look up (to the Magnificent Kingdom)

Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?

Have those who deny the truth [not] been paid back for their deeds

Are these deniers of the Truth being returned anything but their own doings? ('Thawab' = Return on an investment)