Tafsir of Al-A'raf 7:8-9

{And the weighing on that Day is the truth} It means the weighing of deeds and the distinction between those that are heavy and those that are light.

• Grammatical Note: The word al-wazn (the weighing) is in the nominative case as an ibtidaʾ (subject), and its predicate is yawmaʾidhin (on that Day). Al-ḥaqq (the truth) is its adjective; meaning: the weighing on the day God questions the nations and their messengers is the true weighing, i.e., justice. It is also recited as al-qisṭ (the equity).

• The Nature of the Weighing: There is disagreement regarding the manner of the weighing. It is said: The scrolls of deeds are weighed on a scale that has a tongue and two pans, which the creatures observe. This is to confirm the proof, manifest fairness, and eliminate any excuse—just as He questions them about their deeds and they confess with their tongues, and their hands, feet, and skins testify against them, and the prophets, angels, and witnesses testify against them, and just as it is recorded in their scrolls, which they read at the station of reckoning. Others say: It is an expression for fair judgment and just adjudication.

{Then as for those whose scales are heavy} Mawāzīn (scales) is the plural of mīzān (scale) or mawzūn (that which is weighed). It means: those whose weighed deeds—which possess weight and value, namely good deeds—are heavy. Or, it refers to that with which their good deeds are weighed.

• From al-Ḥasan: It is the right of the scale in which good deeds are placed that it should be heavy, and it is the right of the scale in which evil deeds are placed that it should be light.

{...they were unjust to Our signs} They denied them unjustly, as in His saying: {And they were unjust to them} (Al-Isrāʾ: 59).

{And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein livelihoods; little are you grateful.}