Quranic theme
Balance
الميزان
22 verses
When the earth was spread out and firm mountains were set upon its surface, the vegetation was designed to emerge in exact, due balance (15:19). This structural equilibrium of the physical world establishes a standard for human behavior. The Quran uses the balance to demand strict equity, directly linking the daily handling of a merchant's weights with the inescapable scales of divine judgment. The term itself is synonymous with absolute fairness; as al-Tabari notes regarding the setting up of the balance, the concept fundamentally means justice (Tafsir al-Tabari Jami al-Bayan - t al-Turki, 22/178).
How does the balance apply to daily trade?
In the Quran, tampering with weights and measures is not treated as a minor market offense, but as a catalyst for societal ruin. The prophet Shuayb was sent to the people of Midian specifically to confront their fraudulent commerce. He observed that his people were prospering financially, yet he warned them not to give short measure or short weight, fearing they would face torment on an overwhelming Day (11:84). He commanded them to serve God alone, give full measure, and not undervalue the goods of others, explicitly tying financial cheating to spreading corruption in the land after it had been set in order (7:85, 11:85).
The mandate to give full measure and weigh with accurate scales governs all transactions, as doing so is better and fairer in the end (17:35). This command extends beyond the physical tool; as al-Wahidi points out, mentioning the balance refers to fulfilling the actual act of weighing completely and fairly, rather than merely owning the instrument (Al-Tafsir al-Basit, 8/531). This economic exactness is grouped alongside profound moral obligations, such as staying well away from an orphan’s property, speaking justly even when it concerns a close relative, and keeping promises made in God's name (6:152).
How will deeds be weighed on Judgment Day?
The literal scales of the marketplace are a direct preview of the Day of Resurrection, where God will set up the scales of justice (21:47). On that Day, the weighing of human actions will be strictly true and just (7:8). The precision of this measurement is absolute: even if an action is as small as the weight of a single mustard seed, God will bring it out for account, ensuring no one is wronged in the least (21:47).
Early scholars understood these as literal instruments of divine measurement. Abu Bakr al-Haddad describes scales possessing a tongue and two pans where deeds are placed, noting that a believer's good actions will take on a beautiful form and weigh heavy (Tafsir al-Haddad, 3/118). The fate of every soul hinges on this final calculation. Those whose good deeds are heavy on the scales will be the ones to prosper and succeed (7:8, 23:102). Conversely, those whose balance is light will have lost their souls forever and remain in Hell, a consequence of their wrongful rejection of divine messages (7:9, 23:103).
A heavy balance requires a foundation of faith to anchor the deeds placed upon it. For those who actively disbelieve in their Lord’s messages and deny that they will ever meet Him, their earthly efforts come to nothing. Because their actions lack the substance of belief, they evaporate on the scales; on the Day of Resurrection, God shall give them no weight (18:105).
Verses
All 22 verses, in mushaf order.
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’-
وَٱلْوَزْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
On that Day the weighing of deeds will be true and just: those whose good deeds are heavy on the scales will be the ones to prosper,
وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يَظْلِمُونَ
and those whose good deeds are light will be the ones who have lost their souls through their wrongful rejection of Our messages.
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.
۞ 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.
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.
وَٱلْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَـٰهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَىْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ
As for the earth, We have spread it out, set firm mountains on it, and made everything grow there in due balance.
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.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًا
It is those who disbelieve in their Lord’s messages and deny that they will meet Him.’ Their deeds come to nothing: on the Day of Resurrection We shall give them no weight.
وَنَضَعُ ٱلْمَوَٰزِينَ ٱلْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَـٰسِبِينَ
We will set up scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection so that no one can be wronged in the least, and if there should be even the weight of a mustard seed, We shall bring it out- We take excellent account.
فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
those whose good deeds weigh heavy will be successful,
وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَسِرُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ فِى جَهَنَّمَ خَـٰلِدُونَ
but those whose balance is light will have lost their souls for ever and will stay in Hell-
وَزِنُوا۟ بِٱلْقِسْطَاسِ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِ
Weigh with correct scales:
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ ۗ وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ لَعَلَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَرِيبٌ
It is God who has sent down the Scripture with Truth and the Balance. How can you tell? The Last Hour may well be near:
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
He has raised up the sky. He has set the balance
أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْمِيزَانِ
so that you may not exceed in the balance:
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلْوَزْنَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا۟ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
weigh with justice and do not fall short in the balance.
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ وَأَنزَلْنَا ٱلْحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأْسٌ شَدِيدٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥ وَرُسُلَهُۥ بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ
We sent Our messengers with clear signs, the Scripture and the Balance, so that people could uphold justice: We also sent iron, with its mighty strength and many uses for mankind, so that God could mark out those who would help Him and His messengers though they cannot see Him. Truly God is powerful, almighty.
وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
but give less than they should when it is they who weigh or measure for others!
فَأَمَّا مَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
the one whose good deeds are heavy on the scales
وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَٰزِينُهُۥ
but the one whose good deeds are light
فَأُمُّهُۥ هَاوِيَةٌ
will have the Bottomless Pit for his home––