وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَظْلِمُونَ 9
Translations
And those whose scales are light - they are the ones who will lose themselves for what injustice they were doing toward Our verses.
Transliteration
Wa man khaffat mawazinuhu fa-ula'ika alladhina khasiru anfusahum bima kanu bi-ayatina yatzlimun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those whose good deeds are light on the scales of justice on the Day of Judgment—they are the true losers who have ruined themselves through their rejection and denial of Allah's signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to those who knowingly rejected the Quranic verses and the message of the prophets, thereby accumulating a deficit of righteous deeds. The phrase 'they wronged themselves' emphasizes personal accountability, as their loss is self-inflicted through conscious rejection of divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-A'raf's Meccan passage describing the Day of Judgment and the weighing of deeds. It follows the preceding ayah (7:8) about those whose scales are heavy with good deeds, forming a thematic pair that contrasts the outcomes of believers and disbelievers. The context is the Prophet Muhammad's call to the Meccan polytheists who rejected the Quranic signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'On the Day of Judgment, the scales will be set up, and good deeds and evil deeds will be weighed' (Tirmidhi). Also relevant: 'Whoever rejects the signs of Allah will find that Allah is Mighty and Wise' (related to 22:40).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that our deeds are constantly being recorded and will be weighed on Judgment Day—negligence in following divine guidance leads to spiritual loss. It serves as a powerful warning that rejecting God's signs is ultimately self-destructive, encouraging constant self-reflection on whether our actions align with Quranic teachings.
Related Ayahs
وَأَتْبَعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا لَعْنَةً ۖ وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمَقْبُوحِينَ
And We caused to overtake them in this world a curse, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be of the despised.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍۭ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمْـَٔانُ مَآءً حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَهُۥ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْـًٔا وَوَجَدَ ٱللَّهَ عِندَهُۥ فَوَفَّىٰهُ حِسَابَهُۥ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ
But those who disbelieved - their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allāh before him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allāh is swift in account.
فَٱلْيَوْمَ لَا يُؤْخَذُ مِنكُمْ فِدْيَةٌ وَلَا مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ مَأْوَىٰكُمُ ٱلنَّارُ ۖ هِىَ مَوْلَىٰكُمْ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
So today no ransom will be taken from you or from those who disbelieved. Your refuge is the Fire. It is most worthy of you, and wretched is the destination."
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنَادَوْنَ لَمَقْتُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ مِن مَّقْتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ إِذْ تُدْعَوْنَ إِلَى ٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَتَكْفُرُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve will be addressed, "The hatred of Allāh for you was [even] greater than your hatred of yourselves [this Day in Hell] when you were invited to faith, but you disbelieved [i.e., refused]."