Quranic theme

Measure

الكيل

17 verses

When the prophet Shuayb addressed the people of Midian, his primary warning to a prospering society centered directly on the practices of their marketplaces. He commanded his community to worship God and immediately appended a strict economic order: do not give short measure nor short weight, lest their current wealth invite the torment of an overwhelming Day (11:84). The text binds the exactness of a merchant's scale to the spiritual standing of a nation, insisting that commercial fraud is a root of broader societal ruin. Shuayb explicitly links accurate transactions to public order, warning his people not to undervalue goods and not to cause corruption in the land after it has been set right (7:85). In fairness, withholding from people the things that are rightly theirs is framed as an active spread of corruption (11:85).

What does the text command regarding weights and scales?

The recurring baseline for trade is mathematical exactness and transparency. Sellers are commanded to "give full measure: do not sell others short" (26:181) and to weigh goods with correct, accurate scales (17:35, 26:182). Fulfilling this obligation is described not merely as a worldly best practice, but as an action that is "better and fairer in the end" (17:35).

The exactness required in these transactions is treated as a fundamental pillar of justice. It appears alongside some of the heaviest moral obligations in the text, such as staying well away from the property of orphans until they come of age, speaking justly even when it concerns a close relative, and keeping promises made in God's name (6:152). Commenting on the linguistic weight of the command to give full measure, al-Wahidi notes (Al-Tafsir al-Basit, 8/531) that the Arabic phrasing implies a state where something reaches complete perfection and fulfillment, akin to a flawless coin. Furthermore, as noted by Ibn Kamal Pasha (Tafsir Ibn Kamal Pasha, 3/456), while "giving full" is specifically tied to the volume of the measure, the act of weighing with scales is directly coupled to it, ensuring that both volume and weight are rigorously protected against fraud.

Why is the measure central to the story of Joseph?

Beyond strict legal commands, the concept of the measure drives the central tension in the narrative of Joseph during the years of regional famine. Here, the distribution of grain operates as a mechanism of statecraft, hospitality, and eventual familial reunion. As the mighty governor of Egypt, Joseph provides his unaware brothers with their initial provisions, securing their trust by acting as "the best of hosts" who gives a "generous measure" (12:59).

He then leverages their absolute reliance on this grain to orchestrate the return of his youngest brother, issuing an ultimatum: if they fail to bring him, they will receive "no more corn" and will not even be permitted to approach him (12:60). Upon returning to their father, the brothers plead to take the youngest sibling back to Egypt solely so they might be granted another measure (12:63). Their anxiety shifts to joy when they open their packs to find their original bartered goods secretly returned, realizing this capital guarantees provisions for their household and an easily achieved extra camel-load of grain (12:65).

The transactions at Egypt's silos eventually strip away the brothers' pride entirely. Broken by famine and recognizing the inadequacy of their trade goods, they present themselves before the governor a final time. Misfortune has afflicted their family, and they have brought only a little merchandise, yet they beg the governor to "give us full measure," asking him to be charitable because God rewards the charitable (12:88).

Verses

All 17 verses, in mushaf order.

6:152 Al-An'am

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَٱعْدِلُوا۟ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْفُوا۟ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

Stay well away from the property of orphans, except with the best [intentions], until they come of age; give full measure and weight, according to justice’- We do not burden any soul with more than it can bear- ‘ when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a relative; keep any promises you make in God’s name. This is what He commands you to do, so that you may take heed’-

7:85 Al-A'raf

وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۗ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

To the people of Midian We sent their brother, Shuayb. He said, ‘My people, serve God: you have no god other than Him. A clear sign has come to you from your Lord. Give full measure and weight and do not undervalue people’s goods; do not cause corruption in the land after it has been set in order: this is better for you, if you are believers.

11:84 Hud

۞ وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا ۚ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ وَلَا تَنقُصُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ۚ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكُم بِخَيْرٍ وَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ مُّحِيطٍ

And to Midian, We sent their brother Shuayb. He said, ‘My people, worship God. You have no god other than Him. Do not give short measure nor short weight. I see you are prospering, but I fear you will have torment on an overwhelming Day.

11:85 Hud

وَيَـٰقَوْمِ أَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْمِكْيَالَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ

My people, in fairness, give full measure and weight. Do not withhold from people things that are rightly theirs, and do not spread corruption in the land.

12:59 Yusuf

وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمْ قَالَ ٱئْتُونِى بِأَخٍ لَّكُم مِّنْ أَبِيكُمْ ۚ أَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّىٓ أُوفِى ٱلْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيْرُ ٱلْمُنزِلِينَ

and once he had given them their provisions, he said, ‘Bring me the brother [you left with] your father! Have you not seen me giving generous measure and being the best of hosts?

12:60 Yusuf

فَإِن لَّمْ تَأْتُونِى بِهِۦ فَلَا كَيْلَ لَكُمْ عِندِى وَلَا تَقْرَبُونِ

You will have no more corn from me if you do not bring him to me, and you will not be permitted to approach me.’

12:63 Yusuf

فَلَمَّا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَبِيهِمْ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مُنِعَ مِنَّا ٱلْكَيْلُ فَأَرْسِلْ مَعَنَآ أَخَانَا نَكْتَلْ وَإِنَّا لَهُۥ لَحَـٰفِظُونَ

When they returned to their father, they said, ‘Father, we have been denied any more corn, but send our brother back with us and we shall be given another measure. We shall guard him carefully.’

12:65 Yusuf

وَلَمَّا فَتَحُوا۟ مَتَـٰعَهُمْ وَجَدُوا۟ بِضَـٰعَتَهُمْ رُدَّتْ إِلَيْهِمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبْغِى ۖ هَـٰذِهِۦ بِضَـٰعَتُنَا رُدَّتْ إِلَيْنَا ۖ وَنَمِيرُ أَهْلَنَا وَنَحْفَظُ أَخَانَا وَنَزْدَادُ كَيْلَ بَعِيرٍ ۖ ذَٰلِكَ كَيْلٌ يَسِيرٌ

Then, when they opened their packs, they discovered that their goods had been returned to them and they said, ‘Father! We need no more [goods to barter]: look, our goods have been returned to us. We shall get corn for our household; we shall keep our brother safe; we shall be entitled to another camel-load of grain- an extra measure so easily achieved!’

12:88 Yusuf

فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا۟ عَلَيْهِ قَالُوا۟ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْعَزِيزُ مَسَّنَا وَأَهْلَنَا ٱلضُّرُّ وَجِئْنَا بِبِضَـٰعَةٍ مُّزْجَىٰةٍ فَأَوْفِ لَنَا ٱلْكَيْلَ وَتَصَدَّقْ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَجْزِى ٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ

Then, when they presented themselves before Joseph, they said, ‘Mighty governor, misfortune has afflicted us and our family. We have brought only a little merchandise, but give us full measure. Be charitable to us: God rewards the charitable.’

17:35 Al-Isra

وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ إِذَا كِلْتُمْ وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا

Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with accurate scales: that is better and fairer in the end.

26:181 Ash-Shu'ara

۞ أَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُخْسِرِينَ

Give full measure: do not sell others short.

26:182 Ash-Shu'ara

وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ

Weigh with correct scales:

55:7 Ar-Rahman

وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلْمِيزَانَ

He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance