وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ
“And establish the weight with justice and do not shortchange the scale”.
Allah has set a weight for every aspect of our lives in terms of rights, responsibilities and obligations, and commands us to put the weight where it belongs — justly, according to its true weight.
Do not shortchange others in the scale.
Do not shortchange yourselves: misplaced priorities now lead to loss when deeds are weighed.
As viewed in three consecutive ayat (per Ustadh Nu’man).
The balance, order and harmony of the universe.
A warning that “you” must not mess with the scales in this life.
Establish the weight with justice and do not shortchange the scale.
Although the ayah uses trade language (measures, scales), it employs these terms as an analogy encompassing the whole of life’s affairs and all interactions and transactions.
Means الإِنْصَاف (Al‑Insaaf): to deal fairly and justly — not wronging anybody or anything.
The balance of the universe is set by Allah and does not diverge.
Humans need to be reminded and commanded to uphold it due to the propensity to rebel against it.
Emphasis: three consecutive commands
Fairness and unfairness — justice and injustice — are not defined by society or culture but by Allah.
Do not adjust or reshape the Deen and Allah’s limits to fit societal trends or personal desires.
“Allah has legislated justice, prohibited you from exceeding its bounds, and commanded you to build your lives upon it, in the measures you use in dealings with one another, and in all your affairs. So, beware of disobeying His command… And He, Exalted is He, repeated the word Al-Meezaan (the balance) to emphasize His profound concern for establishing justice among people in their transactions and in all aspects of their lives. For without it, their condition cannot be upright, their state cannot be sound, and their stability cannot be secured”.