Al-Mutaffifin: (18) Nay! Indeed, the Book...

Translation and Exegesis

Know that when the Almighty mentioned the state of the wicked defrauders (Al-Mutaffifin), He followed it by mentioning the state of the righteous who do not defraud. He said: {Nay!} (Kallā), meaning, the matter is not as those wicked ones imagined—denying the Resurrection and claiming that the Book of God is mere tales of the ancients.

Know that the linguists have several opinions regarding the word {‘Illiyyīn} (the highest ones), and the exegetes also have opinions.

• Abu al-Fath al-Mawsili said: ‘Illiyyīn is the plural of ‘Aliyy (high), derived from ‘uluww (loftiness).
• Al-Zajjaj said: The grammatical inflection of this noun is like that of a plural noun because it is in the form of a plural, just as you say: Hādhihi Qansarūn (These are Qansarūn) and Ra’aytu Qansarīna (I saw Qansarīn).

• It is narrated from Ibn Abbas that it is the fourth heaven.
• In another narration, it is the seventh heaven.
• Qatadah and Muqatil said: It is the right pillar of the Throne, above the seventh heaven.
• Al-Dahhak said: It is the Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary (Sidrat al-Muntahā).
• Al-Farra’ said: It means elevation after elevation without limit.
• Al-Zajjaj said: The highest of places.
• Others said: They are high ranks preserved with majesty, which God has greatly honored and exalted.
• Others said: It is near the record of the deeds of the angels.

The apparent meaning of the Qur'an supports this last opinion because the Almighty said to His Messenger: {And what will make you know what ‘Illiyyīn is?} (82:18), indicating that it is known to Him, and He will make the Prophet know it. Then He said: {A written record (Kitābun Marqūm), witnessed by those brought near (Yashhaduhu al-Muqarrabūn)} (82:19-20).

This clarifies that the record of the righteous is in this written record which the angels brought near (the close ones) witness. It is as if God, just as He entrusted the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawh al-Mahfūẓ) to certain angels, likewise entrusts them with safeguarding the records of the righteous within that comprehensive Book, which is the Mother of the Book (Umm al-Kitāb), as a sign of honoring it.

It is not impossible that when the guardians ascend with the records of the righteous, they hand them over to these angels brought near, who then safeguard them just as they safeguard their own records, or they transfer what is in those scrolls into that Book which they are entrusted to guard. Their knowledge then becomes a testimony for these righteous ones. This is why they will have an easy reckoning, because these angels brought near testify for them regarding what they preserved of their deeds.

If this Book is in the heaven, then the opinion that interprets it as being in the high heaven is sound, and thus the opinions converge on that matter. If what we mentioned first is the most appropriate interpretation...

Know that the basis for interpreting this verse is what we have explained: that loftiness, spaciousness, light, and purity are signs of felicity, while lowness, narrowness, darkness, and impurity are signs of misery.

Since the purpose of placing the record of the wicked in Sijjīn (the lowest of the low) and in the tightest of places was to humiliate the wicked and belittle their status, the purpose of placing the record of the righteous in ‘Illiyyīn and having the angels witness it is to honor them and magnify their status.

There is another aspect to the verse: that {Kitāb} (Book) here refers to the writing itself. In this case, the meaning is that the writing of the deeds of the righteous is in ‘Illiyyīn. Then, ‘Illiyyīn is described as a written record containing all the deeds of the righteous. This is the view of Abu Muslim.

This phrase has two interpretations:

1. That the written record refers to the book of their deeds.
2. That it is a book placed in ‘Illiyyīn in which is written the honor and reward that God has prepared for them.

There is disagreement regarding this Book:

• Muqatil said: Those things are written for them on the pillar of the Throne.
• It is narrated from Ibn Abbas that it is written on a tablet of emerald suspended beneath the Throne.
• Others said: It is a written record containing whatever causes them joy, which is the opposite of the inscription of the record of the wicked with what causes them distress.

The meaning is supported by His statement: {witnessed by those brought near} (Yashhaduhu al-Muqarrabūn), meaning the angels who are in ‘Illiyyīn witness and attend that writing. Those who hold that it is the book of deeds say that the angels brought near witness that Book when it is ascended to ‘Illiyyīn, as an honor for the believer.

{Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss (Na‘īm),} {Upon couches, looking on.} {You will recognize in their faces the radiance of bliss.} {They will be given to drink from a sealed nectar (Rahīq Makhtūm),} {Whose seal is musk. And in that let competitors compete.} {And its mixture is from Tasnīm,} {A spring from which those brought near [to God] drink.}