What Harm Does Defrauding Cause the Individual and the Community?
ما هي آثار وأضرار التطفيف على الفرد والمجتمع؟
What are the effects and harm caused to the individual and to the community by defrauding?
The answer names two harms to the individual, deserving Allah's wrath and having one's supplication left unanswered for consuming unlawful wealth, and two harms to society: oppressive rulers set over it, and the corruption of brotherhood through selfishness.
The harm of defrauding spreads like a disease, destroying a person's relationship with Allah while simultaneously breaking down the mutual trust required for a healthy and thriving community.
The Severe Harm to the Individual
1. Deserving Divine Wrath and Committing Betrayal
One who defrauds will deserve the Wrath of Allah the Almighty and later will receive severe torment in the Hereafter. This act constitutes a major betrayal of trust, directly violating the perfect balance created by Allah. (As for the sky, He raised it high, and set the balance of justice so that you do not defraud the scales. Weigh with justice, and do not give short measure.) Ar Rahman 55: 7 to 9.
2. Rejection of Prayers and Evil Influence
Any reward deserved for the deeds of the defrauder is completely nullified, and Allah does not respond to his prayers. This rejection occurs because by defrauding, the individual has consumed illegal and prohibited money, directly disobeying the divine command to eat only what is pure. (O messengers! Eat from what is good and lawful, and act righteously. Indeed, I fully know what you do.) Al Mu'minun 23:51. Furthermore, the defrauder becomes a bad influence on anyone who follows in his footsteps and copies his dishonest behavior.
The Destructive Impact on Society
1. Oppressive Rulers as a Divine Punishment
Allah will punish any society in which the act of defrauding has become a normal, widespread practice. As a direct consequence of this societal corruption, He Almighty will set over them rulers and leaders who are oppressors.
2. Corruption of Social Brotherhood
When defrauding spreads, the fraternal relationships among people will become deeply corrupt. Selfishness and self-love spread among them at the expense of others.
ما هي آثار وأضرار التطفيف على الفرد والمجتمع؟
يذكر الجواب ضررين على الفرد: استحقاق سخط الله، وحبس الدعاء لأكل المال الحرام، وضررين على المجتمع: تسليط الحكام الظالمين، وفساد العلاقات الأخوية بالأنانية.
ينتشر ضرر التطفيف كالمرض، فيدمر علاقة الإنسان بربه ويقوض في الوقت نفسه الثقة المتبادلة اللازمة لبناء مجتمع صحي ومزدهر.
الأضرار الجسيمة على الفرد
1. استحقاق السخط وخيانة الأمانة
يؤدي التطفيف إلى استحقاق سخط الله عز وجل والعذاب يوم القيامة. وهو خيانة عظمى للأمانة ومخالفة للميزان الذي وضعه الله. قال تعالى: (وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ ﴿٧﴾ أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ ﴿٨﴾ وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ ﴿٩﴾) الرحمن 55: 7 إلى 9.
2. حبس الدعاء والقدوة السيئة
يحبط ثواب عمل المطفف ولا يستجيب الله دعاءه، لأنه بالتطفيف أكل المال الحرام. قال الله تعالى: (يَا أَيُّهَا الرُّسُلُ كُلُوا مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ عَلِيمٌ) المؤمنون: 51. بالإضافة إلى أن المطفف يكون قدوة سيئة لمن تبعه في هذا الأمر واقتدى به.
الآثار المدمرة على المجتمع
1. تسليط الحكام الظالمين كعقوبة مجتمعية
يعاقب الله عز وجل المجتمع الذي تظهر وتتفشى فيه ظاهرة التطفيف، وذلك بأن يسلط الله على هذا المجتمع الحكام والرؤساء الظالمين.
2. فساد العلاقات الأخوية
يؤدي التطفيف إلى فساد العلاقات الأخوية بين أفراد المجتمع، حيث تتفشى فيهم الأنانية وحب الذات على حساب الآخرين.
1. The Prophet's Warning | تحذير النبي ﷺ
The Prophet warned the Muhajirun of five things and sought refuge in Allah from their reaching them; among them: no people give short measure and weight but they are seized with years of drought, severe hardship, and the tyranny of the ruler over them (Sunan Ibn Majah 4019, graded hasan by al-Albani). This is the social harm the answer describes.
وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ (سورة الرحمن: 9)
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، حسنه الألباني). وهذا هو الضرر الاجتماعي الذي ذكره الجواب.
2. Unlawful Food and Unanswered Supplication | المطعم الحرام وحبس الدعاء
The Prophet said that Allah is good and accepts only what is good, and that He commanded the believers what He commanded the messengers: eat of the good things (Al-Mu'minun 23:51; Al-Baqarah 2:172). He then described a traveler, dishevelled and dusty, raising his hands to the sky, while his food, drink, and clothing were unlawful: how can he be answered? (Sahih Muslim 1015).
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُلُوا مِن طَيِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ (سورة البقرة: 172)
قال النبي ﷺ: "إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا، وإن الله أمر المؤمنين بما أمر به المرسلين"، وتلا آيتي المؤمنون 23:51 والبقرة 2:172، ثم ذكر الرجل يطيل السفر أشعث أغبر يمد يديه إلى السماء: يا رب يا رب، ومطعمه حرام ومشربه حرام وملبسه حرام وغذي بالحرام، فأنى يستجاب لذلك (صحيح مسلم 1015).
3. A Bad Example Carries Its Burden | وزر السنة السيئة
The answer warns that a defrauder becomes a bad example for those who follow him. The Prophet said that whoever starts a bad practice in Islam bears its burden and the burden of all who act on it after him, without anything being taken from their burdens (Sahih Muslim 1017). The Quran likewise says that those who mislead others carry their own burdens in full and part of the burdens of those they misled (An-Nahl 16:25).
لِيَحْمِلُوا أَوْزَارَهُمْ كَامِلَةً يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ وَمِنْ أَوْزَارِ الَّذِينَ يُضِلُّونَهُم بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ (سورة النحل: 25)
حذر الجواب من أن المطفف قدوة سيئة لمن تبعه. وقال النبي ﷺ: "ومن سن في الإسلام سنة سيئة كان عليه وزرها ووزر من عمل بها من بعده من غير أن ينقص من أوزارهم شيء" (صحيح مسلم 1017). وأخبر الله تعالى أن المضلين يحملون أوزارهم كاملة يوم القيامة ومن أوزار الذين يضلونهم بغير علم (النحل 16:25).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Why does defrauding prevent a person's supplications from being answered?
Because it means consuming unlawful wealth. The Prophet described a man raising his hands to the sky while his food, drink, and clothing were unlawful, and asked how he could be answered (Sahih Muslim 1015).
What is the societal punishment for widespread cheating in business?
The Prophet said that no people give short measure and weight but they are seized with years of drought, severe hardship, and the tyranny of the ruler over them (Sunan Ibn Majah 4019, graded hasan by al-Albani).
How does Surah Ar-Rahman describe the balance?
Allah raised the sky and set the balance, so that people would not transgress in the balance, and commanded them to weigh with justice and not give short measure (Ar-Rahman 55:7-9).
Does a defrauder bear the sin of those who copy him?
Yes. The Prophet said that whoever starts a bad practice in Islam bears its burden and the burden of all who act on it after him (Sahih Muslim 1017).