Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:35

Surah Al-Isra (The Night Journey): Verse 35

The second type of command mentioned in this verse is: {And give full measure when you measure} (Wa awfu al-kayla itha kalatum).

The intent here is to complete the measure fully. A severe warning is mentioned regarding deficiency in the Surah Al-Mutaffifin (The Defrauders):

• {Woe to those who give less than due} (Wailun lil-mutaffifin)
• {Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full}
• {But when they give by measure or by weight to them, they give less than due} (Al-Mutaffifin: 1-3).

The third type of command in this verse is: {And weigh with the straight balance} (Wazinu bil-qistas al-mustaqim).

The preceding verse concerned completing the measure (Kail), and this verse concerns completing the weight (Wazn). This is analogous to Allah’s saying:

• {And establish weight in justice and do not make the balance deficient} (Ar-Rahman: 9).
• And His saying: {And do not deprive people of their things, and do not commit evil on the earth, spreading corruption} (Hud: 85).

Know that although the disparity caused by deficient measure or weight is small, the resulting threat is immense and grave. Therefore, the intelligent person must guard against it.

The warning is severe because all people rely on transactions, buying, and selling. A person might be heedless and unaware of how to protect their wealth. Thus, the Lawgiver (Allah) has been extremely strict in prohibiting fraud (Tafteef) and deficiency, seeking to preserve wealth for its owners and prevent the soul from being stained by stealing even that small amount.

Regarding Al-Qistas (The Balance):

• Al-Qistas means the balance, though it is often understood in common usage to be a larger scale (like a steelyard or Qabban).
• It is said to be a word from the language of the Romans or Syriacs.
• The soundest opinion is that it is an Arabic word derived from Qist, which signifies straightness and moderation. In essence, it means the balanced instrument that does not lean to either side.
• Scholars agree on the permissibility of two pronunciations: with a Dammah (Qustas) or a Kasrah (Qistas). The Kasrah is the reading of Hamzah, Al-Kisa'i, and Hafs from 'Asim; the rest use the Dammah.

{That is better} (Dhalika khayr): Meaning, fulfilling the measure completely is better than slight fraud. This is because, through it, a person avoids a bad reputation in this world and severe punishment in the Hereafter.

{And best in result} (Wa ahsana ta'wila): Ta'wil refers to the ultimate outcome or end result, as stated elsewhere: {better in reward} (Mary: 76), {better in outcome} (Al-Kahf: 46), {better in hope} (Al-Kahf: 44).

Allah has judged the consequence of this action to be the best outcome because:

1. In this world: If a person becomes known for avoiding fraud, people trust them, their hearts incline toward them, and they attain wealth quickly. We have often seen poor people who became known for trustworthiness and honesty; people turned to them, and they acquired much wealth in a short time.
2. In the Hereafter: They achieve great reward and salvation from painful punishment.

{And do not pursue that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight and the heart—each of those [faculties] will be questioned [about it]} (Wa la taqfu ma laysa laka bihi 'ilmun. Inna as-sam'a wal-basara wal-fu'ada kullu ula'ika kana 'anhu mas'ulan).