وَنَضَعُ ٱلْمَوَٰزِينَ ٱلْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَـٰسِبِينَ 47
Translations
And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.
Transliteration
Wa naḍaʿu al-mawāzīna al-qisṭ li-yawmi al-qiyāmah fa-lā tuẓlamu nafsun shayʾan wa-in kāna mithqālu ḥabbatin min khardal atayynā bihā wa-kafā binā ḥāsibīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that on the Day of Judgment, Allah will establish perfectly just scales to weigh the deeds of all people, ensuring no soul experiences even the slightest injustice. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that these scales represent Allah's absolute justice and omniscience—even a grain of mustard seed's weight of good or evil will be brought forth and accounted for. The ayah concludes that Allah alone is sufficient as the Reckoner, highlighting His complete knowledge and fairness in judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Anbiya (Meccan surah), which focuses on the stories of the prophets and fundamental Islamic beliefs. The surah's broader context addresses the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the resurrection. This specific ayah reinforces the Meccan emphasis on accountability and divine justice as a cornerstone of Islamic theology, serving as both a warning and reassurance to believers regarding the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most grievous sin is associating partners with Allah... and on the Day of Judgment, a believer's deeds will be weighed against the scales of Allah' (related to themes of divine justice). Also relevant: 'The feet of the servant will not move on the Day of Judgment until he is asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth and how he earned it, and how he spent it, and his body and in what he wore it out' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no deed—however small—goes unnoticed by Allah, encouraging sincere righteousness in thought and action. It should inspire both hope in Allah's perfect justice for the oppressed and mindfulness that we will be held accountable for even the smallest of our deeds.
Related Ayahs
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِشِمَالِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُوتَ كِتَـٰبِيَهْ
But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I had not been given my record
كَدَأْبِ ءَالِ فِرْعَوْنَ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
[Theirs is] like the custom of the people of Pharaoh and those before them. They denied Our signs, so Allāh seized them for their sins. And Allāh is severe in penalty.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَن تُغْنِىَ عَنْهُمْ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَلَآ أَوْلَـٰدُهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمْ وَقُودُ ٱلنَّارِ
Indeed, those who disbelieve - never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allāh at all. And it is they who are fuel for the Fire.
وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?