ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ۗ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ 17
Translations
It is Allāh who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance [i.e., justice]. And what will make you perceive? Perhaps the Hour is near.
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi anzala al-kitaba bil-haqqi wa-al-mizan. Wa-ma yudrika laAAalla as-saaAAata qareeb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah is the One who revealed the Book (Quran) with truth and established justice (al-mizan) as a fundamental principle for humanity. The ayah concludes with a reminder of the proximity of the Hour, emphasizing that the Day of Judgment may come suddenly, so believers should not delay in following the guidance of the Quran and establishing justice. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret 'al-mizan' both literally as the scales of justice and metaphorically as the balance and equilibrium in all divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes monotheism, divine attributes, and the universal principles of Allah's guidance. The surah focuses on the consultation (shura) principle and divine wisdom, with this particular ayah serving as a transition emphasizing that the Quran and justice are interconnected divine gifts, and believers should remain mindful of accountability on the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best among you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3895), relating to implementing justice within communities. Also relevant is: 'Verily, Allah commands justice and good conduct' (Quran 16:90), which echoes the emphasis on al-mizan in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that justice is not merely a social concept but a divine command woven into the fabric of revelation itself, and that awareness of the Day of Judgment should motivate us to establish fairness and truth in all our dealings. We must recognize that the Quran provides both spiritual guidance and practical principles for creating a just society, and our accountability before Allah should inspire urgent action toward righteousness.
Related Ayahs
۞ وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُكَلِّمَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِن وَرَآئِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِىَ بِإِذْنِهِۦ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِىٌّ حَكِيمٌ
And it is not for any human being that Allāh should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a partition or that He sends a messenger [i.e., angel] to reveal, by His permission, what He wills. Indeed, He is Most High and Wise.
تَكَادُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ يَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِن فَوْقِهِنَّ ۚ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
The heavens almost break from above them, and the angels exalt [Allāh] with praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on earth. Unquestionably, it is Allāh who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
وَيَعْلَمَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا مَا لَهُم مِّن مَّحِيصٍ
And [that is so] those who dispute concerning Our signs may know that for them there is no place of escape.
وَتَرَىٰهُمْ يُعْرَضُونَ عَلَيْهَا خَـٰشِعِينَ مِنَ ٱلذُّلِّ يَنظُرُونَ مِن طَرْفٍ خَفِىٍّ ۗ وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَأَهْلِيهِمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ فِى عَذَابٍ مُّقِيمٍ
And you will see them being exposed to it [i.e., the Fire], humbled from humiliation, looking from [behind] a covert glance. And those who had believed will say, "Indeed, the [true] losers are the ones who lost themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, the wrongdoers are in an enduring punishment."