ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ٱكْتَالُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ 2
Translations
Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full.
Transliteration
alladhina idha iktaaloo alaa an-naasi yastawfoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who commit fraud in transactions: when they buy from others, they demand full measure and weight, taking more than their fair share. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain this refers to unscrupulous merchants who employ dishonest scales and measures to cheat customers. The ayah condemns this hypocritical behavior—demanding honesty when purchasing while being dishonest when selling to others.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Mutaffifin was revealed in Mecca and addresses the rampant commercial fraud practiced by merchants in Arabian markets. The surah opens by condemning those who give less measure and weight when dealing with customers, and this ayah specifically highlights the double standard of those who insist on receiving full measure from others while defrauding them in return.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The merchant who is truthful and trustworthy will be with the prophets on the Day of Judgment' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Woe to those who deal in measures and weights, who when they buy demand full measure, but when they sell give less' (Sahih Muslim, from the broader context of this surah's theme).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that integrity in business dealings is a fundamental Islamic value, and one cannot claim to be a believer while practicing deception in commerce. We must apply the same standards of honesty to ourselves that we demand from others, as Allah sees all our transactions and intentions.