Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
This surah is named Surah Tatfeef (giving short), as the subject matter in this surah deals with giving short in weight and measure.
There is a difference of opinion in regard to when this surah was revealed. According to Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ood (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), this surah was revealed prior to the hijrah in Makkah Mukarramah.
According to Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), this surah was revealed after the hijrah in Madinah Munawwarah, besides the last eight verses which were revealed prior to the hijrah in Makkah Mukarramah.
It is also reported from Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) that this surah was the first surah to be revealed to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) after he performed hijrah to Madinah Munawwarah.
In regard to the reason for the revelation of this surah, Hazrat Ibnu Abbaas (radihiyallahu ‘anhuma) explained that it was common among the people of Madinah Munawwarah that when they would purchase, they would take their full due of measure (and weight), but when they would sell to others, they would decrease the measure and weight (and cheat the customers). It was then that this surah was revealed. After the revelation of this surah, the people of Madinah Munawwarah totally refrained from this evil practice, so much so that they became renowned as the most honest of people in weighing and measuring. (Tafseer Qurtubi 19/250)
وَیۡلٌ لِّلۡمُطَفِّفِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۱﴾ الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَا اکۡتَالُوۡا عَلَی النَّاسِ یَسۡتَوۡفُوۡنَ ۫﴿ۖ۲﴾ وَ اِذَا کَالُوۡہُمۡ اَوۡ وَّزَنُوۡہُمۡ یُخۡسِرُوۡنَ ﴿ؕ۳﴾ اَلَا یَظُنُّ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَنَّہُمۡ مَّبۡعُوۡثُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۴﴾ لِیَوۡمٍ عَظِیۡمٍ ۙ﴿۵﴾ یَّوۡمَ یَقُوۡمُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ؕ﴿۶﴾
Woe to those who give short (i.e. they give less than the amount due), who when they take a measure from people, they take in full, and when they give by measure or by weight to them, they give less (than due). Do they not think that they will be resurrected on a Great Day (to give an account before Allah Ta‘ala for their deeds), the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?
The word “مطففين” mentioned in this surah is derived from the word “تطفيف” which means “to give short”. In this context, “giving short” refers to giving short in measure and weight, as the people in whose regard these verses were revealed were involved in this wrong practice. The expression “Woe to those who give short” indicates to the evil of this practice and is a prohibition from the side of Shari’ah.
The Broader Meaning of Tatfeef
It should be borne in mind that the Qur’aan Majeed and the Mubaarak Sunnah have prohibited “تطفيف” which primarily signifies giving short in measure and weight, because generally, transactions are carried out on things that can be measured or weighed. However, since the purpose of weighing and measuring items when transacting is to ensure that each party is given his full due, we understand that the broader message conveyed through this surah is that when dealing with people, one should not deceive or cheat them by giving them short, but rather one should give them their full due and what they deserve.
Hence, looking at the broader meaning of the surah, one understands that it is not confined to measure and weight, but also includes all business transactions, contracts, agreements, and all types of dealings with people, whether they relate to worldly or deeni affairs.
Committing Tatfeef Through Not Joining the Congregational Salaah in the Musjid
It is recorded in the Muwatta of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) that once, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) left the musjid after performing the asr salaah and met a man who did not perform his asr salaah with jamaat in the musjid. Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked the man, “What prevented you from coming to the musjid to perform your salaah?” The man responded by presenting some excuse for not coming to the musjid. However, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was not satisfied with his excuse and said to him, (طَفَّفْتَ) “You have fallen short in fulfilling your obligation.”
In other words, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was explaining to the person that though he had performed his salaah at home, however his salaah was deficient as he had not fulfilled the obligation in the correct manner taught by Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).
After citing this narration of Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu), Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah) concludes saying (لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَفَاءٌ وَتَطْفِيْفٌ) “In every dealing, there is a full measure and due, and a short measure and due (and one should ensure that he fulfils what is expected of him correctly and completely by giving the full measure and due).” (Muwatta Imaam Maalik #29)
Committing Tatfeef Through Not Performing the Postures of Salaah Correctly
It is reported that Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) once saw a person performing salaah in a hasty manner, not performing the rukoo and sajdah correctly.
When describing the man’s manner of performing salaah, the word mentioned in the narration was “Taffafa” which means to decrease and not to fulfil it correctly. In other words, the person did not perform the salaah in the correct manner, but performed the rukoo and sajdah in a deficient manner.
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked the man, “For how many years have you been performing salaah in this manner?” The man replied, “For forty years.”
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “For forty years, you have not performed salaah, and if you pass away like this, you will pass away on a path besides the path of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
Hazrat Huzaifah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter taught the man how to perform salaah correctly in accordance to the sunnah. (Sunan Nasaai #1312 & Musnad Ahmed #23258)
This principle (of fulfilling what is due completely and correctly) also applies to salaah, wudhu, cleanliness and all the rights we owe to Allah Ta‘ala in acts of worship. If one is deficient in the rights that he owes to Allah Ta‘ala, he is guilty of committing tatfeef.
Similarly, if one does not fulfil human rights, by failing to perform his duties and responsibilities according to the terms of the employment contract, then he will be guilty of committing tatfeef (giving short).
For example, if an employee has entered into a contract with an employer that he will work for a specified time, then it is imperative for him to work for the stipulated hours that are mutually agreed upon in the employment contract. If he decreases the hours, he will be guilty of committing tatfeef (giving short).
In essence, one should exercise and uphold justice at all times when dealing with people and he should ensure that he fulfils their rights in full in his domestic, social or economic life.
Five Major Sins and Their Destructive Consequences
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbaas (radhiyllahu anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “There are five sins for which there are five punishments;
- There is no nation who break their pledge and promise, except that Allah Ta‘ala will allow their enemy to overpower them.
- There is no nation who pass judgement with laws (i.e. man-made laws) against the sacred laws which Allah Ta‘ala had revealed (i.e. the laws of Shariah), except that poverty will become common among them.
- There is no nation among whom sins of shamelessness (i.e. zina) become widespread, except that death (caused through illnesses, epidemics, widespread diseases, etc.) will spread among them.
- There is no nation who commit tatfeef (i.e. give short) in measure (and weight when dealing), except that they will be deprived of crops and will be afflicted by famine.
- There is no nation who withhold their zakaat (i.e. they do not discharge it to the poor), except that rain will be withheld from them.
(Mu’jam Kabeer Tabraani #10992)
Various Forms of Poverty, Famine and Decreasing of Sustenance
The Hadith quoted above discusses decrease of people’s sustenance as a punishment for giving short in measure and weight. This decrease of sustenance can come in different forms.
At times, people may be completely deprived of their sustenance, or their sustenance may be available to them, but they will not be able to benefit from it, as is commonly witnessed today – that due to a person being afflicted by some illness or disease, one will not be able to eat the food.
Similar is the case of famine. It can come in different forms. At times, food items of necessity may be unavailable in the market, or at times, it may be available in the market, but acquiring them will become difficult due to inflation and the exorbitant prices for which they will be sold.
The Hadith says that in certain situations, faqr will prevail in society. Faqr is generally translated as “poverty”, but its real meaning in Arabic is “being in need” or “being dependent on someone”.
Keeping this meaning in view, the situation of faqr pointed out in the Hadith is not confined to lack of money and other necessary things or items, but it also includes the situation where people depend on others in their business and other necessities of life. The more a person is in need of others, the greater is his degree of faqr.
Let us consider the conditions of the present age. Man is bound by the most complicated government laws that restrict his living, his movement and his intentions. There is so much of taxes imposed on the citizens of the country, import and export has become so costly, and traveling expenses also have risen tremendously. As a result, a person ends up struggling to make ends meet and lead a decent life. In all these restrictions, money becomes tight, and a person finds himself in a situation where he cannot buy what he wishes, eat what he wishes, or go to places he wishes without difficulty.
In essence, this entire system of dependence on others is part of faqr – poverty of life – which has been placed on man due to him not fulfilling the commands of Allah Ta‘ala in the world.
