SURAH (83) MUTAFFIFEEN (AYA 1 to 36)

Sura (83) MUTAFFIFEEN [Tatfeef] (Defrauder) Aya 1 to 36 verses in 1 Section

Revealed at Makka

SECTION 1

Everyone’s Record is preserved

The record of the deeds of the wicked as well as the righteous, is preserved.

وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ {83:1}

[Q83:1] Wailul lil mutaffifeen.
[Q83:1] Woe to Al-Mutaffifin [those who give less in measure and weight (decrease the rights of others)],

Mutaffif is he who gives short measure, and short weight, THUS cheating his fellow-men.

ISLAM ENJOINS HONESTY AND JUSTICE IN ALL DEALINGS. Do as you would like to be done by. Give in full what is due from you.

When this surah was revealed the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma Sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) went to the market place, recited it to the merchants and told them: "If giving less than due becomes a usual practice among a community, famine, drought and bad harvests afflict them as a punishment.”

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(83:1) Woe to the stinters; *1

*1 In the original the word mutaffifin has been used, which is derived from tatfif, a word used for an inferior and base thing in Arabic. Terminologically, tatfif is used for giving short weight and short measure fraudulently, for the person who acts thus while measuring or weighing, does not defraud another by any substantial amount, but skimps small amounts from what is due to every customer cleverly, and the poor customer dces not know of what and of how much he is being deprived by the seller. 

الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ {83:2}

[Q83:2] Allazeena izak taaloo 'alan naasi yastawfoon
[Q83:2] Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, demand full measure,

Considering what has been given to them is less, i.e., holding others’ measure as less.

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(83:2) those who, when they take from others by measure, take their full share; *2

وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ {83:3}

[Q83:3] Wa izaa kaaloohum aw wazanoohum yukhsiroon.
[Q83:3] And when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due.

When this Sura was revealed, the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma Sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) went to the open market and amidst the merchants there, read it out and said that the following five evils in the conduct of men, invite the calamities mentioned against each of them:

1.        Breaking a promise or any solemn undertaking………………  Invites the triumph of the enemy.

2.        Enjoining on people that which ALLAH (SWT) has not enjoined…  Brings poverty and need.

3.        Immorality………………………………………………………………………  Brings abundant death.

4.        Fraud in measures and weight………………………………………..  Famine, drought and restraint on the product of foodgrains.

5.        Failure to pay the poor–rate and uncharitability…………….   Brings deprivation of the grace and the mercy of ALLAH (SWT).

The First Holy Imam Ali-Ibne Abi Talib, after his official work as the Khalif or the Ruler of the Muslim empire, used to go to the market place and preach to the merchants “O’ people, Fear ALLAH (SWT), and in the measure and the weight of the goods, practice equity. Deprive not men of their dues, commit no mischief in the earth.” ONCE HE FOUND A MERCHANT weighting saffron in a defective balance. He went to him, threw down the saffron from the pan, and ordered the merchants to correct the balance first and then weigh the commodity.

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(83:3) but who, when they measure or weigh for others, give less than their due.

*2 At several places in the Qur'an giving of short measure and weight has been condemned and measuring fully and weighing rightly has been stressed. In Surah AI-An'am, it has been enjoined: "You should use a full measure and a just balance. We charge one only with that much responsibility that one can bear." (v. 152). In Surah Bani Isra'il it has been said: "Give full measure when you measure and weigh with even scales." (v. 35). In Surah Ar-Rehman it has been stressed: Do not upset the balance: weigh with equity and do not give short weight." (vv. 8-9). The people of the Prophet Shu`aib were punished for the reason that the evil of giving short measure and weight had become widespread among them and in spite of his counsel and advice they did not refrain from it. 

أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُمْ مَبْعُوثُونَ {83:4}

[Q83:4] Alaa yazunnu ulaaa‘ika annahum mab‘oosoon 
[Q83:4] Think they not that they will be resurrected (for reckoning),

THE MIGHTY DAY IS A DAY OF RECKONING when the defrauders shall have to answer for every act of theirs which they did to violate the commands of ALLAH (SWT). Those who have been cheated may not know the loss they suffered BUT the all-knowing Lord knows everything.

The record of the wicked is preserved in Sijjin. The root word sijn means "a prison" which suggests that everything done by the wicked is "imprisoned" (recorded) in a register from where nothing can ever escape (be found missing).

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(83:4) Do they not realise that they will be raised to life

لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ {83:5}

[Q83:5] Li Yawmin ‘Azeem 
[Q83:5] On a Great Day,

 (see commentary for verse 4)

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(83:5) on a Great Day, *3

*3 "A Great Day": the Day of Resurrection when all men and jinn will be called to account together in the Divine Court and decisions of vital importance will be made pertaining to rewards and punishments. 

يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ {83:6}

[Q83:6] Yawma yaqoomun naasu li Rabbil 'aalameen 
[Q83:6] The Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)?

It is said that men will be made to stand in the sun brought over their heads perspiring profusedly according to the degree of their individual position in their sins. The heat will be so scorching and strong that it will be melting elements in the body of the wicked.

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(83:6) a Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the Universe?

كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ {7}

[Q83:7] Kallaaa inna Kitaabal fujjaari lafee Sijjeen 
[Q83:7] Nay! Truly, the Record (writing of the deeds) of the Fujjar (disbelievers, sinners, evil-doers and wicked) is (preserved) in Sijjin.

 ‘Kalla’ i.e., No! Never. Will they, the people be able to deny any of the evils they had committed? HENCE they should not commit any fraud in the measure or in the weight.

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(83:7) No indeed! *4 Verily the deeds of the wicked are in the Record locked up in the prison-house! *5

*4 That is, "These people are wrong in thinking that they will be let off without being called to account when they have committed such and such crimes in the world. "
*5 The word sijjin in the original is derived from sijn (a prison) and the explanation of it that follows shows that it implies the general Register in which the actions and deeds of the people worthy of punishment are being recorded. 

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ {83:8}

[Q83:8] Wa maa adraaka maa Sijjeen 
[Q83:8] And what will make you know what Sijjin is?

‘Sijjin’ is from ‘Sijin’, i.e., a prison. It is a place in heaven where the reports or the reports of the deeds of men are stored.

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(83:8) And how would you know what the Record of the prison-house is?

كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ {83:9}

[Q83:9] Kitaabum marqoom 
[Q83:9] A Register inscribed.

  

It is written record. It should not be imagined to be a record written by any pen and ink on any paper of the kind we have in our use. It means it is perfect in every detail with regard to the [1] motive, [2] words, [3] needs, [4] attitudes and [5] everything connected with the good and evil of each and every individual sinner and his sins without any exception whatsoever.

FOR EXAMPLE the tape-recording of speeches may be take everything spoken is recorded in all its details with regard to words as the sound but nothing is written in the tape.

Ë  If we mortals could effect such a wonderful implement, what is the thing that the Almighty and All-Wise Lord could not?

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(83:9) It is a Book inscribed.

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ {83:10}

[Q83:10] Wailuny yawma’izil lil mukazzibeen. 
[Q83:10] Woe, that Day, to those who deny [(Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Day of Resurrection, and Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments)].

THOSE WHO DENY THE DAY OF RECKONING will be in a most miserable condition on the Day of Judgement. Refer to the commentary of Anam 6:25.

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(83:10) Woe, then, to those that give the lie,

الَّذِينَ يُكَذِّبُونَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ {83:11}

[Q83:11] Allazeena yukazziboona bi yawmid Deen 
[Q83:11] Those who deny the Day of Recompense.

 (see commentary for verse 10)

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(83:11) those that give the lie to the Day of Recompense.

وَمَا يُكَذِّبُ بِهِ إِلَّا كُلُّ مُعْتَدٍ أَثِيمٍ {83:12}

[Q83:12] Wa maa yukazzibu biheee illaa kullu mu'tadin aseem. 
[Q83:12] And none can deny it except every transgressor beyond bounds, (in disbelief, oppression and disobedience of Allah, the sinner!)

THESE WHO WERE LOST IN SINNING would only deny such an inexcitable event.

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(83:12) Yet none gives the lie to it except the transgressor immersed in sin;

إِذَا تُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا قَالَ أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ {83:13}

[Q83:13] Izaa tutlaa‘alaihi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul awwaleen. 
[Q83:13] When Our Verses (of the Qur'an) are recited to him he says: "Tales of the ancients!"

They ridicure the Word of ALLAH (SWT), the Holy Qur’an---AND attribute it to he narration of tales of the ancients borrowed from the folklore. See verses 6:25 and 68:15.

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(83:13) who, when Our verses are recited to him, *6 says: “Mere tales of olden times!”

*6 "Our Revelations": those verses in which news of the Day of Recompense has been given. 

كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ {83:14}

[Q83:14] Kallaa bal raana 'alaa quloobihim maa kaanoo yaksiboon. 
[Q83:14] Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.

THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) SAID THAT THE HEART OF MAN, AS CREATED BY ALLAH (SWT), IS PURE, BUT every time he does an ill-deed, it marks a stain on his heart. IF HE DOES NOT repent and thereafter live a righteous life, the stains deepen and spread more and more until the heart is sealed (See verse Baqarah 2:7)

µ  Imam Muhammad bin Ali al Baqir said: "The heart of a believer is as good-natured (spotless) as whiteness, but when he sins a stain appears on it, which disappears if he turns repentant to ALLAH (SwT) and sins no more. In the event of continued sinning the stain spreads and covers the whole heart. He is lost and then no word of guidance brings him to the right path."

µ  Imam Jafar bin Muhammad as Sadiq said: "The hearts of those who pay no attention to the commands of ALLAH (SwT) and persist in sinning, step by step, reach a state of decay and disintegration from which no recovery is ever possible."

Willing surrender to the life of sin is the cause of the disintegration of soul, SO IT IS THE SINNER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DISGRACE ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

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(83:14) No indeed! The truth is that their hearts have become rusted on account of their evil deeds. *7

*7 That is, they have no good reason for regarding the meting out of rewards and punishments as unreal. What has made them say this, is that their hearts have become rusty because of their sins; therefore, a thing which is thoroughly reasonable appears unreal and unreasonable to them. The explanation of this rust as given by the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) is as follows: "When a servant commits a sin, it marks a black stain on his heart. If he offers repentance, the stain is washed off, but if he persists in wrongdoing it spreads over the whole heart." (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Jarir, Hakim, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Hibban and others). 

كَلَّا إِنَّهُمْ عَنْ رَبِّهِمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ لَمَحْجُوبُونَ {83:15}

[Q83:15] Kallaaa innahum 'ar Rabbihim yawma'izil lamah jooboon. 
[Q83:15] Nay! Surely, they (evil-doers) will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day.

It never means that ALLAH (SWT) will hide Himself behind any veil, for such a conception would mean ALLAH (SWT) being confined to a place. HE IS OMNIPRESENT. HE IS THE UNIVERSALLY MANIFEST ONE. NONE CAN HIDE HIM OR HIS GLORY save the stain of one’s own disbelief and evil deeds which sully the heart and destroys its reflectivity.

On the Day of Judgment the tarnished, blackened and sealed hearts of the sinners BECAUSE OF TOTAL LOSS OF REFLECTIVITY, WILL NOT RECEIVE THE LIGHT OF THE GLORY OF ALLAH (SWT) ----a deprivation of the highest magnitude. The fire of punishment will be to them the only reality which they will perceive.

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(83:15) No indeed! On that Day they will be screened off from seeing their Lord, *8

*8 That is, these people will remain deprived of the vision of Allah with which the righteous will be blessed. (For further explanation, see E.N. 17 of Al - Qiyamah).

ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَصَالُو الْجَحِيمِ {83:16}

[Q83:16] Summa innahum lasaa lul Jaheem.
[Q83:16] Then, verily they will indeed enter and taste the burning flame of Hell.

 (see commentary for verse 15)

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(83:16) and then they shall enter Hell,

ثُمَّ يُقَالُ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تُكَذِّبُونَ {83:17}

[Q83:17] Summa yuqaalu haazal lazee kuntum bihee tukazziboon 
[Q83:17] Then, it will be said to them: "This is what you used to deny!"

 (see commentary for verse 15)

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(83:17) whereafter they will be told: “This is what you used to give the lie to.”

كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْأَبْرَارِ لَفِي عِلِّيِّينَ {83:18}

[Q83:18] Kallaaa inna Kitaabal abraari lafee‘illiyyeen.
[Q83:18] Nay! Verily, the Record (writing of the deeds) of Al-Abrar (the pious who fear Allah and avoid evil), is (preserved) in 'illiyyun.

illiyun literally means the high places, in contrast to the sijjin in verse 7. IT IS A PLACE WHERE THE RECORD OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS KEPT. It contains every detail of the deeds of the righteous. Those nearest to ALLAH (SwT) will be witnesses to the records of the righteous. See commentary of Nisa 4:41; Nahl 16:89 and Bani Israil 17:71; Bara-at 9:105.

ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT A WITNESS WILL BE CALLED FOR EVERY PEOPLE AND THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) WILL BE CALLED AS WITNESS OVER ALL THESE WITNESSES.

Ü  Whatever is recorded is witnessed by those described as muqarrabun in verse 83:21 and alin in verse 38:75 of Sad.

Ü  The angels are excluded from alin BECAUSE they prostrated themselves before Adam; and

Ü  Verse 38:75 of Sad clearly says that alin are those who do not prostrate before Adam, because it was the knowledge of their "names" which made Adam superior to the angels. See commentary of Baqarah 2:30 to 38.

Ü  So the witnesses are **the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), **the prophets of ALLAH (SWT) and **the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt all of whom always preached goodness and invited people to follow the right path AND BECAUSE OF WHOM they came to know what was good and how to follow the right path.

AS THE RECORDING COMMENCED WITH THE CREATION, ONLY THOSE WHO EXISTED RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING ARE THE WITNESSES NEAREST TO ALLAH (SWT). AS ALIN THEY EXISTED BEFORE ADAM (SEE ABOVE NOTED VERSES).

µ  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) said: "I was the prophet of ALLAH (SwT) when Adam was yet in the process of creation. I and Ali are from one and the same light."

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(83:18) No indeed! *9 Verily, the deeds of the virtuous shall be in the record of the exalted ones.

*9 That is, they are wrong in thinking that there is going to be no meting out of rewards and punishments. 

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا عِلِّيُّونَ {83:19}

[Q83:19] Wa maaa adraaka maa 'illiyyoon.
[Q83:19] And what will make you know what 'Illiyyun is?

NONE CAN EVEN IMAGINE CORRECTLY WHAT THOSE HIGH PLACES OF GREAT EXALTATION COULD BE. They are inconceivable for the intellect of any mortal.

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(83:19) And what do you know what the Record of the exalted ones is?

كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ {83:20}

[Q83:20] Kitaabum marqoom. 
[Q83:20] A Register inscribed.

As in the case of the recording of the evils of the disbelievers, and the sinners, mentioned in verse 83:9 above. The record of the deeds of the ones righteous are perfect in every detail of every [1] motive, [2] words and [3] deeds of every individual one of the does of good. See note on verse 9 above.

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(83:20) It is a Book inscribed,

يَشْهَدُهُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ {83:21}

[Q83:21] Yashhadu hul Muqarraboon 
[Q83:21] To which bear witness those (Muqarraboon)nearest (to Allah,).

THE NEAREST ONES TO ALLAH (SWT) WITNESS THESE RECORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS ONES. Witnessing the records can be interpreted into being present at the recording itself.

The nearest to ALLAH (SWT) is said to be the angels highest in purity and excellence BUT it does preclude to mean the highest spiritual dignitaries who can encourage and help goodness intended to be done by the righteous ones.

Ë  WHO COULD BE NEARER TO ALLAH (SWT) THAN [1] the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), the most beloved one of ALLAH (SWT) in His whole creation, [2] the Holy Imams whom the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) had said to be the Divine Light of which he himself is.

THIS VERSE TESTIFIES TO THE TRUTH IN THE STATEMENT THAT ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, A WITNESS WILL BE CALLED FOR EACH PEOPLE AND THE HOLY PROPHET (ALLAHUMA SALI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA ALI MUHAMMAD) WILL BE CALLED AS WITNESS ABOVE ALL THESE WITNESSES---See verses 4:41, 16:84 and 16:89.

THIS RECORDING OF THE DEEDS GOOD AND BAD, COULD NOT HAVE STARTED AFTER THE ADVENT OF ISLAM. It must have naturally and necessarily begun with the beginning of the universe. THUS THE NEAREST ONES TO ALLAH (SWT) MUST HAVE BEEN EXISTED IN SOME SPIRITUAL STATE, SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD.

ß  The Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) says: - “I was the Apostle of ALLAH (SWT) when Adam was yet between the water and the clay.” (Hadith Qudsi).

MEANING man, the first man was created only to serve as a medium for the manifestation of the excellence of the Nearest One to ALLAH (SWT), i.e., the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad). See notes on verses 2:143, 4:41, 16:84, 16:89, and 17:71.

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(83:21) which the angels placed near Allah to safeguard.

إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ لَفِي نَعِيمٍ {83:22}

[Q83:22] Innal abraara lafee Na‘eem.
[Q83:22] Verily, Al-Abrar (the pious who fear Allah and avoid evil) will be in delight (Paradise).

See commentary of Qiyamah 75:22 and Dahr 97:11 and 12.

Tasnim is the name of a spring of paradise whose water is pure and superior to all kinds of drinking liquids. It will be used by muqarrabin who comprise those human souls who are nearest to ALLAH (SWT) BECAUSE of their highest degree of submission to ALLAH (SWT).

**IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT THESE MUQARRABIN CANNOT MEAN ANGELS AS ANGELS DO NOT EAT OR DRINK.

ß  It is stated in verses 11:69 and 11:70 of Hud that Ibrahim brought a roasted calf for the angels who visited him while going to the people of Lut but they did not eat it. Eating and drinking has not been mentioned in connection with the angels in the Qur’an.

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(83:22) Verily the virtuous shall be in Bliss;

عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ {83:23}

[Q83:23] 'Alal araaa'iki yanzuroon 
[Q83:23] On thrones, looking (at all things).

 (see commentary for verse 22)

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(83:23) resting on couches, looking around.

تَعْرِفُ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ نَضْرَةَ النَّعِيمِ {83:24}

[Q83:24] Ta'rifu fee wujoohihim nadratan na'eem. 
[Q83:24] You will recognise in their faces the brightness of delight.

 (see commentary for verse 22)

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(83:24) You shall see upon their faces the glow of bliss.

يُسْقَوْنَ مِنْ رَحِيقٍ مَخْتُومٍ {83:25}

[Q83:25] Yusqawna mir raheeqim makhtoom.
[Q83:25] They will be given to drink pure sealed wine.

Could be interpreted as of the maximum purity, and the most delicious in taste.

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(83:25) They will be served a drink of the finest sealed wine, *10

*10 One meaning of the words khltamu-hu misk is that the vessels containing the wine will carry the seal of musk instead of clay or wax. Accordingly the verse means: This will be the choicest kind of wine, which will be superior to the wine flowing in the canals, and it will be served by the attendants of Paradise in vessels sealed with musk to the dwellers of Paradise. Another meaning also can be: When that wine will pass down the throat, its final effect will be of the flavour of musk. This state is contrary to the wines of the world which give out an offensive smell as soon as the bottle opens and one feels its horrid smell even while drinking and also when it passes down the throat.

خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ ۚ وَفِي ذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ {83:26}

[Q83:26] Khitaamuhoo misk; wa fee zaalika falyatanaafasil Mutanaafisoon. 
[Q83:26] The last thereof (that wine) will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah).

Refer to the extraordinary and special aspect of the value and the flavour.

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(83:26) whose seal is musk – so let all aspirants aspire after that –

وَمِزَاجُهُ مِنْ تَسْنِيمٍ {83:27}

[Q83:27] Wa mizaajuhoo min Tasneem 
[Q83:27] It (that wine) will be mixed with Tasnim.

‘Tasneem’ The name of the spring in heaven whose drink is of super excellence in purity, flavour and taste, purer than the purest of the drink in this world.

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(83:27) a wine whose mixture is Tasnim, *11

*11 "Tasnim ": height. Thus, Tasnim will be a fountain flowing down from a height. 

عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا الْمُقَرَّبُونَ {83:28}

[Q83:28] 'Ainaiy yashrabu bihal muqarraboon 
[Q83:28] A spring whereof drink Muqarraboon (those nearest to Allah).

This verse speak of the water of the spring being used for the drink of the Nearest Ones to ALLAH (SWT). IT INDICATES THAT AMONG THE NEAREST ONES are also the human souls like those of the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad) and the Holy Imams,

¥  OTHERWISE THE CONCEPTION of the used of the food and drink for the angels nearest to ALLAH (SWT) does not agree with the nature of the angels who are spirits and enegies who need no food or water, AND NOWHERE IN THE HOLY QUR’AN is there any statement about the angels eating and drinking.

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(83:28) a fountain at which the chosen ones shall drink.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا كَانُوا مِنَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يَضْحَكُونَ {83:29}

[Q83:29] Innal lazeena ajramoo kaanoo minal lazeena aamanoo yadhakoon 
[Q83:29] Verily! (During the worldly life) those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.

NOTES FOR VERSES 29 to 32.

1.        According to the well-known commentator, Khashshaf, once when Imam Ali, along with some poor believers, was going to meet the Holy Prophet (ALLAHuma sali ala Muhammad wa ala ali Muhammad), a party of hypocrites, standing before a shop, laughed and mocked at them THESE VERSES WERE REVEALED to condemn those hypocrites.

2.        According to Ibn Abbas "those who are guilty" refers to the hypocrites, and "those who believe" refers to Imam Ali. *Sa-id bin Sad Balkhi, a great Sunni scholar, has also confirmed the above noted interpretation.

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(83:29) Behold, the wicked were wont to laugh at the believers:

وَإِذَا مَرُّوا بِهِمْ يَتَغَامَزُونَ {83:30}

[Q83:30] Wa izaa marroo bihim yataghaamazoon 
[Q83:30] And whenever they passed by them, used to wink one to another (in mockery);

 (see commentary for verse 29)

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(83:30) when they passed by them they winked,

وَإِذَا انْقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمُ انْقَلَبُوا فَكِهِينَ {83:31}

[Q83:31] Wa izan qalabooo ilaaa ahlihimun qalaboo fakiheen 
[Q83:31] And when they returned to their own people, they would return jesting;

 (see commentary for verse 29)

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(83:31) and when they went back to their families, they went back jesting, *12

*12 That is, they returned home rejoicing, thinking that they had made fun of such and such a Muslim, had passed evil remarks against him and subjected him to ridicule among the people. 

وَإِذَا رَأَوْهُمْ قَالُوا إِنَّ هَٰؤُلَاءِ لَضَالُّونَ {83:32}

[Q83:32] Wa izaa ra awhum qaalooo inna haaa'ulaaa'i ladaaal loon 
[Q83:32] And when they saw them, they said: "Verily! These have indeed gone astray!"

 (see commentary for verse 29)

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(83:32) and when they saw the believers, they said: “Lo! These are the erring ones”; *13

*13 That is, they have lost their reason: they have deprived themselves of the gains and enjoyments of the world and have experienced dangers and undergone hardships only for the reason that Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has deluded them with the Hereafter, Heaven and Hell. They are giving up whatever is present and here on the false hope that the promise of some Paradise has been held out to them after death, and they are enduring the hardships in the present life only for the reason that they have been threatened with some Hell in the next world.

وَمَا أُرْسِلُوا عَلَيْهِمْ حَافِظِينَ {83:33}

[Q83:33] Wa maaa ursiloo 'alaihim haafizeen.
[Q83:33] But they (disbelievers, sinners) had not been sent as watchers over them (the believers).

The reference is those who mocked at Ali AND also those who mocked at the other belivers---that they had no business to behave as they did for they were not posted by ALLAH (SWT) to watch the movements of those righteous ones.

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(83:33) (they said so although) they had not been appointed watchers over them. *14

*14 In this brief sentence the mockers and jesters have been given an instructive warning to the effect: "Even if what the Muslims have believed in, is false, they are not harming you at all They regard something as we and are accordingly adopting a certain moral attitude for themselves, for their own good. AIIah has not appointed you to be keepers over them so that you may be free to criticise and persecute those who are not harming you in any way." 

فَالْيَوْمَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنَ الْكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ {83:34}

[Q83:34] Fal yawmal lazeena aamanoo minal kuffaari yadhakoon 
[Q83:34] But this Day (the Day of Resurrection) those who believe will laugh at the disbelievers

On the Day of Restoration of true values the hypocrites will surely be a laughing stock AND the righteous believers will look down upon the downfall of the disbelievers from the exalted places of dignity and honour.

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(83:34) But today the believers are laughing at the unbelievers;

عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ {83:35}

[Q83:35] 'Alal araaa'iki yanzuroon.
[Q83:35] On (high) thrones, looking (at all things).

THE RIGHTEOUS ONES OR BELIEVERS WILL BE SEEN ON EXALTED POSITION ENJOYING THE BLISS IN HEAVEN seated on the exalted thrones of dignity and excellence.

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(83:35) seated upon their couches, they are looking around.

هَلْ ثُوِّبَ الْكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ {83:36}

[Q83:36] Hal suwwibal kuffaaru maa kaanoo yaf'aloon.
[Q83:36] Are not the disbelievers paid (fully) for what they used to do?

THE EVIL RETURN FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE DISBELIEVERS IS SURE AND CERTAIN. The arrogant braggarts will certainly be brought low---a recompense for their own disbelief and wickedness.

This is an expression in terms of the feelings of an opponent for the adversity of the other just for the sake of warning the disbelievers, that on the Day of Judgment their position will be such that if the believers to enjoy the sufferings of the others.

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(83:36) Have the unbelievers been duly rewarded for their deeds? *15

*15 There is a subtle satire in this sentence. In the world, the disbelievers used to persecute the believers, thinking it was an act of virtue. In the Hereafter, the believers will be enjoying life in Paradise, and watching the disbelievers being punished in Hell, will say to themselves what a reward they have earned for their acts of virtue!

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