وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ 182
Translations
And weigh with an even [i.e., honest] balance.
Transliteration
Wa-zinū bil-qistāsi l-mustaqīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands the people of Madyan (through the Prophet Shu'ayb) to weigh goods with a straight, accurate balance in their commercial transactions. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this is a divine command for justice and honesty in commerce, condemning fraud and cheating in weights and measures. The phrase 'al-qistās al-mustaqīm' (the straight balance) symbolizes fairness and precision, reflecting the Islamic principle that commerce must be conducted with integrity and that defrauding others is a grievous sin.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the narrative of Shu'ayb's preaching to the people of Madyan, warning them against dishonesty in trade and commerce. The Surah of Ash-Shu'ara recounts the stories of various prophets and their warnings to their peoples; the context here emphasizes the widespread corruption of the Madyans in their business dealings, which was one of their major sins alongside their idolatry.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi), and regarding honesty in trade: 'The truthful merchant will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment' (Tirmidhi). Related to weights and measures, the Prophet condemned those who cheat: 'Whoever cheats us is not of us' (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that business and commerce are sacred trusts where honesty and fairness are non-negotiable moral obligations; cheating in weights, measures, or quality of goods is a grave sin that contradicts Islamic values and invites divine punishment. Modern readers should recognize that integrity in all transactions—whether in trade, work, or financial dealings—is a spiritual practice that pleases Allah and builds a just society.