What Is the Verse Commanding Justice With People in Measure?
ما هي الآية التي يأمرنا الله فيها بالعدل مع الناس؟
What is the Ayah in which Allah commands us to be just with people?
The answer cites Al-Isra 17:35: give full measure when you measure, and weigh with the straight balance; that is better and best in outcome. Allah commands giving full measure and observing the full rights of people in weighing, so a Muslim may never cheat or shortchange.
1. Giving Just Rights in Trade
Allah Almighty has strictly commanded us to be just when measuring and to give people their just rights once weighing. This means that a Muslim must never cheat, shortchange, or manipulate the scales, as doing so violates the rights of others and invites divine wrath.
2. The Quranic Command
Allah Almighty confirms this absolute obligation in the Quran, clarifying that honesty brings the best outcomes.
He says: (Give in full when you measure, and weigh with an even balance. That is fairest and best in the end.) Surah Al Isra 17: 35.
ما هي الآية التي يأمرنا الله فيها بالعدل مع الناس؟
يستدل الجواب بقوله تعالى: وأوفوا الكيل إذا كلتم وزنوا بالقسطاس المستقيم ذلك خير وأحسن تأويلا (الإسراء 17:35)، فقد أمر الله بالوفاء بالكيل ومراعاة حقوق الناس التامة عند الوزن، فلا يجوز للمسلم أن يغش أو يبخس الناس أشياءهم.
مراعاة حقوق الناس
أمر الله تعالى بالوفاء بالكيل ومراعاة حقوق الناس التامة عند الوزن. وهذا يعني أنه لا يجوز للمسلم أبدا أن يغش أو يبخس الناس أشياءهم أو يتلاعب بالموازين، لأن القيام بذلك ينتهك حقوق الآخرين ويجلب غضب الله.
الأمر القرآني بالعدل
يؤكد الله تعالى هذا الواجب المطلق في القرآن الكريم، مبينا أن الأمانة تجلب أفضل العواقب.
لقوله تعالى: (وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ إِذَا كِلْتُمْ وَزِنُوا بِالْقِسْطَاسِ الْمُسْتَقِيمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا) الإسراء 17: 35.
1. The Straight Balance | القسطاس المستقيم
Ibn Kathir explains the answer's verse: give full measure when you measure, without shortchanging; al-qistas is the balance, and Mujahid said it means justice; straight means without crookedness or deviation. That is better for you in your livelihood and your return, and best in outcome in your Hereafter (Al-Isra 17:35).
قال ابن كثير في آية الجواب: "(وأوفوا الكيل إذا كلتم) أي من غير تطفيف ولا تبخسوا الناس أشياءهم (وزنوا بالقسطاس)... وهو الميزان، وقال مجاهد: هو العدل بالرومية"، "(المستقيم) أي الذي لا اعوجاج فيه ولا انحراف ولا اضطراب"، "(ذلك خير) أي لكم في معاشكم ومعادكم" (الإسراء 17:35).
2. Woe to the Defrauders | ويل للمطففين
Allah says: Woe to the defrauders, who take full measure when they receive from people, but give less when they measure or weigh for them (Al-Mutaffifin 83:1-3). Ibn Abbas said: When the Prophet came to Madinah, its people were among the worst in measuring, so Allah revealed woe to the defrauders, and they measured well after that (Sunan Ibn Majah 2223, graded hasan by al-Albani).
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ (سورة المطففين: 3)
قال تعالى: ويل للمطففين الذين إذا اكتالوا على الناس يستوفون وإذا كالوهم أو وزنوهم يخسرون (المطففين 83:1-3). قال ابن عباس: "لما قدم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم المدينة كانوا من أخبث الناس كيلا فأنزل الله سبحانه (ويل للمطففين) فأحسنوا الكيل بعد ذلك" (سنن ابن ماجه 2223، وحسنه الألباني).
3. When Measure and Weight Are Cut | إذا نقصوا المكيال والميزان
The Prophet warned the Muhajirun of five things, among them: they do not cut short the measure and the weight but they are seized with years of drought, hardship of provision, and the tyranny of the ruler over them (Sunan Ibn Majah 4019, graded hasan by al-Albani). Justice in measure, which the answer commands, protects the whole community.
قال النبي ﷺ: "يا معشر المهاجرين خمس إذا ابتليتم بهن وأعوذ بالله أن تدركوهن"، وذكر منها: "ولم ينقصوا المكيال والميزان إلا أخذوا بالسنين وشدة المؤنة وجور السلطان عليهم" (سنن ابن ماجه 4019، وحسنه الألباني).
Scholarly Insight: Ibn Kathir explains the straight balance of Al-Isra 17:35 as the balance with no crookedness, and Mujahid explained al-qistas as justice; it is better for people in this life and the next. Allah threatened the defrauders with woe (Al-Mutaffifin 83:1-3), and the people of Madinah improved their measure when it was revealed (Sunan Ibn Majah 2223). Read more in the tafsir of Surah Al-Isra.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which verse commands justice in measuring and weighing?
Al-Isra 17:35: give full measure when you measure, and weigh with the straight balance; that is better and best in outcome.
What is the straight balance (al-qistas al-mustaqim)?
Ibn Kathir explains al-qistas as the balance, which Mujahid explained as justice, and straight as without crookedness or deviation.
Who are the defrauders (al-mutaffifin)?
Those who take full measure when they receive from people but give less when they measure or weigh for them (Al-Mutaffifin 83:1-3).
What happens to a people who cut the measure and weight?
The Prophet said they are seized with drought, hardship of provision, and the tyranny of the ruler (Sunan Ibn Majah 4019).
Prepared by Eng. Ghada Homad, founder of IslamFAQ, researched and written in consultation with qualified scholars, reviewed by Professor Khaled Jassem Al-Houli, Associate Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Politics, Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies, University of Kuwait. Read more about the authors and this project →