Inline explanation of Surah 83. At-Tatfif.
Woe to the curtailers [al-muṭaffifīn from root ṭa fa fa, to diminish, to lessen, to cheat in transactions] who, when they measure [iktāla) to measuring or weighing something for oneself, from root كَالَ (kāla, To measure or to weigh, (mikyāl),"measuring tool" or "measure."] something to receive from people, take it in full (yastawfūn from root wafā' "fulfillment" to an obligatio or "loyalty.", and when they measure or weigh [wazanūhum from root wazana, Derv. mīzān "scale" or "balance] something to give it to them, give less [yukhsirūn from root khasara, deriv. khasārah "loss" or "deficit."] than due.
Do they not think that they have to be raised up [(mabʿūthūn from baʿatha send, to raise, or to resurrect] on a Great [azim] Day [liyawmin from yawm, specified time or Day], the Day when all the people will stand [yaqūmu from qāmā, To stand, to rise, or to get upm deriv. qiyām meaning "standing" or "the act of standing"] before the Lord of the worlds [rabbi al-'alamin]?
Never! Indeed, the Record [kitaba] of Deeds of the sinners [al-fujjār from fajara, To burst forth, to break out, "overflowing" or "going beyond limits the wicked" or "the immoral ones,]" is in Sijjin [sijjīn from (sajana) - To imprison or to confine. Deriv. masjūn - "prisoner" (musajjinn) someone who imprisons or a device used for confinement]
And what may let you know what Sijjin is? A register [kitabun], inscribed [marqūm - To write, to number, or to inscribe, similar root, raqm - "number" or "digit,", mirāqah- "the act of recording" or "documenting]!
Woe [waylun] that day [yawma-idhin] to the deniers [lil-mukazzhibīn from كَذَّبَ (kadhdhaba) - To deny, to disbelieve, or to falsify or lie, deriv. kidhbah: A noun meaning "lie" or "falsehood,"], who deny [yukazhibuna] the Day [yawmi] of Requital [al-din or the Judgment]!
And none denies [yukazzhibu] it but every sinful [(athīm "sinner" or "guilty one.] transgressor [mu'tadin from عَدَى ʿādā - transgressed" or "exceeded" the boundary].
When Our verses [ayatuna] are recited [tutlā from talā: To recite, to read, talāwah, to recite] to him, he says, "(These are) tales [asāṭīr , saṭr "line" or "written line] ,of the ancients [awwala, To be first, to lead, or to precede, being ahead in time, position, or order. awwal- first]."
No! But that which they have done [yak'sibūn, deeds or "to earn," "to gain," or "to acquire] has covered [rānā "stain to cover," "to overwhelm," or "to obscure] their hearts [qulūbihim from qalb, with rust [rānā "stain to cover].
No! Indeed, they will be screened off [lam ĥjūbūn, root ḥajaba "to conceal," "to hide," or "to shield, ḥajab "veil" or "barrier," maḥjūb = hidden] from their Lord [rabbihim] on that Day [yawma-idhin]. Then [thumma] they will have to enter [(ṣāla) means "to enter" or "to pass through] the Hell [al-jahīm, "to be hot" or Gorom "to be severe"]. Then it will be said [yuqalu], "This is what you used to deny [tukadhdhibūn, root kadhdhaba) means "to deny," "to disbelieve," or "to falsify."]."
No! The record [kitaba] of deeds of the righteous [al-abarrār from barra- means "to be good," "to be benevolent," or "to be righteous.] is in Illiyyun ["to elevate," or "to rise, high or exalted]. And what may let you know what Illiyyun is? A register inscribed [kitabun[marqūm], attended or witnessed [yashhadu, from shahida means "to witness," "to see," or "to testify] by those who are blessed with nearness [al-mu-qarrab-ūn from qarraba means "to bring closer" or "to make near, muqarrab): A passive participle meaning "made close" or "brought near."] to Allah!
Indeed, the righteous [al-abrara] will be in absolute bliss [naʿīm, state of luxury, comfort or pleasure, satisfaction" or "to enjoy]. While on thrones [al-araiki "couches," "thrones," or "canopies." from root (ra'ā) means "to see" or "to view."], they will be watching [yanzurun, from root naẓara means "to look," "to see," or "to regard, "glance" or "sight,. the scenes [of Paradise, word is not in the verse].
You will recognize [taʿrifu, root ʿarafa "to know," "to recognize,", maʿrūf): A noun meaning "known," "familiar maʿrifah): A noun meaning "knowledge" or "awareness], on their faces [wujūhihim from wajh means "face" or "appearance] the glamour [naḍrah, "to be fresh," "to be radiant," or "to bloom, naḍir] of bliss [al-na'im]. They will be served with a pure sealed wine [raḥīq) from root raḥaqa "to overflow," "to be abundant," or "to be rich "nectar" or "pure wine, deriv. marḥabah] to drink, the seal [makhtūm, authenticated SIGN, with a official Seal or Signature, deriv. khatama, khātim] of which will be of musk [misk, strong-smelling secretion from the glands of the musk deer and is prized in perfumery, perfume and fragrance]. And in aspiring [fal-yatanāfas nāfasa, nāfisah) means "to compete" or "to vie.] for this, the competitors [al-mutanafisuna] should compete. And it will be blended with a drink from Tasnim [tasnīm from sanama) means "to be elevated" or "to be high, a fountain or a drink in Paradise], a spring [ayyana, "eye," "spring" (of water), or "source, "to see", a source of water, typically one that is life-giving or refreshing] from which those who are blessed with nearness [al-muqarrabūn from root q r b means "to bring closer" or "to draw near, individuals who are closest to God]" drink [yashrabu, sharāb "water" or "drink,"].
Translation:
Woe to the curtailers who, when they measure something to receive from people, take it in full, and when they measure or weigh something to give it to them, give less than due. Do they not think that they have to be raised up on a Great Day, the Day when all the people will stand before the Lord of the worlds? Never! Indeed, the Record of Deeds of the sinners is in Sijjin. And what may let you know what Sijjin is? A register, inscribed! Woe that day to the deniers, who deny the Day of Requital! And none denies it but every sinful transgressor. When Our verses are recited to him, he says, "(These are) tales of the ancients." No! But that which they used to commit has covered their hearts with rust. No! Indeed, they will be screened off from their Lord on that Day. Then they will have to enter the Hell. Then it will be said, "This is what you used to deny."
No! The record of deeds of the righteous is in Illiyyun. And what may let you know what Illiyyun is? A register inscribed, attended by those who are blessed with nearness to Allah! Indeed, the righteous will be in absolute bliss. While on thrones, they will be watching the scenes of Paradise. You will recognize on their faces the glamour of bliss. They will be served with a pure sealed wine to drink, the seal of which will be of musk. And in aspiring for this, the competitors should compete. And it will be blended with a drink from Tasnim, a spring from which those who are blessed with nearness drink.
Indeed, those who were guilty used to laugh at those who believed, and when they passed by them, they used to wink at one another, and when they went back to their family, they went enjoying their mockery, and when they saw them, they said, "Surely these are the ones who have gone astray" while they were not sent as watchmen over them. So, today those who believed will laugh at the disbelievers. While on thrones, they will be seeing whether the disbelievers have been paid back for what they used to do.
Surah 83. At-Tatfif..
Exegesis:
If it is not observed or observable, it did not happen, as in quantum mechanics. If it is not recorded in the chart or complaints, it did not happen, as in a court of law or in medicine. If your crime has no witness or victim, then it is not a crime, as in a criminal court.
Earth is a great recorder of information, and on that Great Day, it will tell all the deeds you have done via its speech given by God. As old matter goes deep inside the earth over time (a natural process, everything old goes underground over time), your oldest record is hidden deep beneath the earth, where all information is preserved faithfully. And what's the environment of the deep underneath the earth? It's hot. Lava and hot spring water can easily indicate that inside the earth is HOT (you don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that). Thus, Sijjin is simultaneously a hot hell, a record, and an undeniable information jail. The Greatest Jail is the Documented "Information Jail" - by this recording, you cannot escape its consequences. Such a Jail is Sijjin, where its mode of action is faithful recording by Great Earth. Regret for committing sin (especially publicly recorded sin, as recorded in Sijjin) is the greatest torment for the soul, burning harder than the most heated fire.
For al-muṭaffifīn, even if no one is watching, it is still being recorded, as Sijjin is always doing its work, and God feels sorry for them because by their deeds, "they have covered their hearts with rust." Hence, they cannot see it, as expressed in "none denies it but every sinful transgressor." An additional misfortune for those al-muṭaffifīn is that their self-imposed rusty, blinded hearts will act as a veil, so they cannot see God's face. But when they see the Sijjin as they enter it, they will realize what they have been denying, but it's too late.
The same is true for the records of the righteous, where they are kept in an elevated, high or exalted place, the Illiyyun, where the souls of the righteous are "blessed with nearness to Allah." While on thrones, the righteous will be watching the scenes of Illiyyun, and you can recognize them being "near to God" by a "glow" in their faces. They will drink Tasnim, a spring from which those who are "blessed with nearness" drink. And THIS should be the only real goal that competitors should compete for. While on thrones, the righteous will have the last smile to see that disbelievers have been paid back, and God's justice always wins in the end.
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In quantum mechanics, events do not occur unless they are observed. Similarly, in the realms of law and medicine, if an event is not documented or reported, it is considered as not having occurred. Likewise, in a criminal court, a crime without a witness or victim is not recognized as a crime. The Earth is a profound recorder of information, and on the Day of Judgment, it will reveal all actions through the voice granted to it by divine authority. As time progresses, ancient matter is buried deep within the Earth, where it is meticulously preserved. The environment beneath the earth's surface is characterized by intense heat, as evidenced by lava and hot springs. This lends to the concept of Sijjin, a place that serves both as a repository of undeniable records and as a heated form of torment—a metaphorical "information jail." This record-keeping nature of Sijjin ensures that no one can escape the consequences of their actions. The regret for committing sins, particularly those publicly recorded, is a profound anguish for the soul, greater than any fire. For the al-muṭaffifīn, even if their deeds go unwitnessed, they are still documented in Sijjin. God pities them because their actions have caused their hearts to be "covered with rust," rendering them unable to perceive truth, as mentioned in the phrase "none denies it but every sinful transgressor." This self-imposed blindness acts as a barrier, preventing them from witnessing the divine presence. Only upon entering Sijjin will they recognize the truth they have long denied, but by then, it will be too late. Conversely, the records of the righteous are preserved in Illiyyun, an elevated and exalted place where souls are "blessed with nearness to Allah." The righteous, while seated on thrones, will witness the scenes of Illiyyun, their proximity to God visible through a "glow" radiating from their faces. They will drink from Tasnim, a spring for those blessed with divine closeness. This is the ultimate aspiration for which all should strive for. From their thrones, the righteous will be satisfied in witnessing divine justice, knowing that the disbelievers have received their due, demonstrating that God's justice prevails in the end.
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**"Drink" in Biblical Themes**
It symbolizes participation in spiritual life, fellowship, judgment, sustenance, and more. Here are the key points:
- Quenching Spiritual Thirst: Drinking symbolizes the spiritual nourishment provided by God.
- Example: God's invitation to satisfy spiritual thirst in Isaiah 55:1-5.
- Living Water: Christ offers "living water," which leads to eternal life (John 4:14; John 7:38-39).
- Thirst for God: Passages like Psalm 42:1-2 and John 6:53-54 express the deep need to internalize God's grace and salvation.
- Parallel to “Bread of Life”: Just as bread sustains physical life, drinking symbolizes spiritual life (John 6:50-51).
- Drinking together represents unity and acceptance.
- Example: The covenant meal at Sinai (Exodus 24:11) and its connection to the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:25-26).
- King David poured out precious water as an offering to God (2 Samuel 23:13-17).
- Proverbs 5:15 refers to drinking from one’s own cistern, symbolizing faithfulness in marriage.