The Meaning of ((... The Cheaters)) and Their Characteristics.
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : : If we were to ask a questioner, who are the cheaters? Do we refer to *Al-Qamus al-Muhit*, which explains Arabic words, or to *Lisan al-Arab*, or to other books of the Arabic language? No. We do not need to refer to them, because the One who said: is the One who explained it, saying: [Al-Mutaffifin 83:2-3] Here are two characteristics: The first characteristic is: [Al-Mutaffifin 83:2] A person buys ten sa' from another and wants to receive it; he takes it in full by measure. There is no blame in this; there is no blame on a person for taking his right in full. But the blame is in taking one's right in full while not giving the right that is due to the other in full. For this reason, He said: [Al-Mutaffifin 83:3], the meaning of "when they measure for them" is: they measured for them, just as "when they sold to them" means: they sold to them. When they measure for them, what does that mean?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No.[Al-Mutaffifin 83:3] meaning: they weighed for them meaning: they shortchanged them. Is this justice or injustice? Injustice or justice, my brothers? The person who demands his right in full and gives the right that is due to the other in a deficient amount! This is undoubtedly injustice; this is contrary to justice. And Allah the Exalted does not love the unjust; He loves those who are just and fair.
As you see, this verse came regarding a tangible matter, in which everyone knows justice and injustice, namely measuring—and peace be upon you—and weighing. But is it specific to measuring and weighing, or does it apply to all rights? The answer is: it applies to all rights. Allah mentioned measuring and weighing because it is well known; everyone knows it. All sellers who buy and sell know measuring and weighing. But it is general in all rights, general in all rights. Yes.
Let us look at this: A man hired a worker. A man hired a worker—pay attention!—and he took from him in full; he took his right in full. But he did not give him the full wage. He did not give him the full wage. Is he like those who, when they measure from people, take in full, and when they measure for them or weigh for them, shortchange them? The answer is: Yes. There is no difference. From this, the man could be an employee. The man could be an employee. From this, the man could be an employee, and he demands the full salary, but he does not give the job its due. He is late in coming, or he leaves early, or he distracts himself from the work with things that have no benefit for the work—pay attention! The negligence of the employee now is in three ways: either he is late in coming, or he leaves early, or he distracts himself during working hours with things that have no benefit for the work. That is: he comes early, among the first people, and leaves among the last people, but he distracts himself from the work with things that have no benefit for the work, and he demands the full salary. Does he fall under the verse? Yes, because he demands his right in full, but he does not give the right that is due to the other in full. And from this is the interaction between spouses. Allah Blessed and Exalted has drawn for it a just plan, one of the best, indeed it is the best of plans. He said: With what? "Treat them with kindness." Interaction is a mutual action from both sides. "Treat them with kindness" means: let each of you treat the other with kindness. And He the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:228] The interaction between spouses: some men want their wife to give them their right in full, while he has shortchanged her of her right. If she asks for maintenance, he delays it or withholds it. If she asks to go to her family or her relatives or her female friends in a kind manner, he says: No. And what does he want from her? That she give him his right in full. We say to him: You are included in the verse: [Al-Mutaffifin 83:1-3] The rights between partners, the rights between partners, also fall under this is shortchanging. Some people want their partner to be to them like honey, but they treat their partner with something bitter like colocynth. Is this shortchanging or justice? Answer, everyone: shortchanging. If you want your partner to treat you with good treatment, treat him also with good treatment, because he has a right over you and you have a right over him. As for wanting him to treat you with good treatment while you do not treat him likewise, this is from shortchanging.
Woe to the cheaters
وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَWoe to the cheaters
وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ(2) Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full. (3) But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.
الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَwhen they take a measure from people, take in full.
إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَBut if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَThe student: ...
The Shaykh : No.
But if they give by measure or by weight to them
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْShortchange them
يُخْسِرُونَAs you see, this verse came regarding a tangible matter, in which everyone knows justice and injustice, namely measuring—and peace be upon you—and weighing. But is it specific to measuring and weighing, or does it apply to all rights? The answer is: it applies to all rights. Allah mentioned measuring and weighing because it is well known; everyone knows it. All sellers who buy and sell know measuring and weighing. But it is general in all rights, general in all rights. Yes.
Let us look at this: A man hired a worker. A man hired a worker—pay attention!—and he took from him in full; he took his right in full. But he did not give him the full wage. He did not give him the full wage. Is he like those who, when they measure from people, take in full, and when they measure for them or weigh for them, shortchange them? The answer is: Yes. There is no difference. From this, the man could be an employee. The man could be an employee. From this, the man could be an employee, and he demands the full salary, but he does not give the job its due. He is late in coming, or he leaves early, or he distracts himself from the work with things that have no benefit for the work—pay attention! The negligence of the employee now is in three ways: either he is late in coming, or he leaves early, or he distracts himself during working hours with things that have no benefit for the work. That is: he comes early, among the first people, and leaves among the last people, but he distracts himself from the work with things that have no benefit for the work, and he demands the full salary. Does he fall under the verse? Yes, because he demands his right in full, but he does not give the right that is due to the other in full. And from this is the interaction between spouses. Allah Blessed and Exalted has drawn for it a just plan, one of the best, indeed it is the best of plans. He said: