588 Page Notes

Surah Al-Mutafiffin (continued)

Page 588 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 588 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 588 of the Quran covers the main body of Surah Al-Mutaffifin (Chapter 83), from verse 5 through verse 33.

This extensive section serves as a cosmic legal trial. It moves from the physical state of mankind standing before Allah to a dramatic cosmic contrast: the underworld prison registry of the wicked (Sijjin) versus the exalted, heavenly ledger of the righteous (Illiyyun). It concludes by detailing the psychological warfare experienced by early Muslims—vividly describing how the elite of Makkah mocked, winked at, and ridiculed the believers.

The prophetic Sunnah and authoritative Companion records provide profound visual and theological explanations for this page.

1. Verses 5–6: Standing Before the Lord of the Worlds

"On a Great Day—The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds." (Quran 83:5-6)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used these exact verses to physically describe the intense spatial pressure and physiological reality of the Resurrection.

The Prophet ﷺ explained this verse saying: "On the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds, some of them will stand submerged in their own sweat up to the middle of their ears." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4938 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2862)

Companion Ibn Umar wept whenever he recited these two lines, adding that humanity will stand tightly packed in an immense, crushing assembly, utterly helpless, waiting for centuries for the judgment to begin.

2. Verses 7–9: The Underworld Prison Registry (Sijjin)

"Nay! Truly, the record of the wicked is in Sijjin... A register inscribed." (Quran 83:7-9)

The linguistic origin of Sijjin stems from Sijn (prison/confinement). The Sunnah outlines exactly where this registry is located and how a soul's destination gets booked there.

The Geography of Sijjin

In a highly famous, foundational Hadith regarding the journey of the soul after death, the Prophet ﷺ map-checked the cosmic positioning of Sijjin:

The Prophet ﷺ said regarding the wicked soul: "...Then its spirit is extracted with violence. The angels carry it up to the heavens, but the gates of heaven are locked against it. Allah then decrees: 'Write his ledger in Sijjin, which is located in the lowest of the seven earths.' Then his soul is cast violently down back to his body in the grave." (Recorded in Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 18543 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4753 — Graded Sahih)

The Trap of Insincerity

The Sunnah also warns that Sijjin isn't just for blatant criminals; it is also the destination for hidden hypocrites who did good deeds purely for vanity:

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Sometimes an angel joyfully ascends with a servant's good deed, expecting it to be accepted. But Allah commands: 'Cast it into Sijjin! For my servant did not seek My face with this deed.'" (Recorded in the Sunnah collections of Al-Bazzar and Ibn Abi Hatim)

3. Verses 14–15: The Rusted Heart (Ran) and the Ultimate Veil

"Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (rust/stain) of what they used to earn. Nay! Indeed, they will be veiled from seeing their Lord that Day." (Quran 83:14-15)

The Chemistry of a Sin

The Prophet ﷺ gave a precise spiritual-psychological formula defining exactly what the word Ran (رَانَ) means in verse 14.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Verily, when a servant commits a sin, a black spot is dotted onto his heart. If he repents, stops the sin, and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns to the sin and increases it, the blackness expands until it entirely blankets his heart. That is the 'Ran' (rust/covering) which Allah mentioned: 'Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran of what they used to earn.'" (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 3334 / Sunan Ibn Majah — Graded Sahih)

The Ultimate Punishment

The early scholars of the Sunnah, such as Imam Al-Shafi'i, noted that verse 15 ("they will be veiled from seeing their Lord") proves the inverse reality for the righteous: because Allah punishes the wicked by blocking them from His sight, it proves that the absolute greatest reward for the believers in Paradise will be gazing directly at Allah without a veil.

4. Verses 18–21: The Heavenly Registry (Illiyyun)

"Nay! Truly, the record of the righteous is in Illiyyun... Attended by those brought near [the angels]." (Quran 83:18-21)

Directly balancing the dark underworld of Sijjin, the Sunnah tracks the opposite journey for the righteous soul.

The Prophet ﷺ said regarding the pure soul: "...The gates of the heavens are opened wide for it, and the angels escort it upward, celebrating. Allah then proclaims: 'Write the record of My servant in Illiyyun, which is in the highest peaks of the seventh heaven beneath the Throne.' Then it is safely returned to the earth." (Recorded in Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 18543 / Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

5. Verses 29–33: The Psychological Warfare Against Believers

"Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed. And whenever they passed by them, they used to wink at one another..." (Quran 83:29-30)

These final verses on page 588 address the severe emotional bullying faced by early companions like Bilal, Ammar, and Ibn Mas'ud. The elite of Makkah would sarcastically point, snicker, and make snide remarks whenever they walked past them.

The Sunnah bridges this historical trauma with a powerful message of ultimate validation. The Prophet ﷺ taught that staying firm through public mockery is the hallmark of true faith:

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Islam began as something strange, and it will eventually return to being something strange just as it began. So give glad tidings to the strangers!" (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 145)

Page 588 comforts those "strangers" by validating that while the elite laughed at them on earth, the roles will be completely reversed on the Day of Judgment, where the believers will sit comfortably on elevated thrones, looking down on the reality of the universe.

Summary of Reference Sources

• The Assembly and Sweat (Verses 5-6): Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 4938) and Sahih Muslim (Hadith 2862).

• The Mapping of Sijjin and Illiyyun (Verses 7, 18): Musnad Ahmad (Hadith 18543) and Sunan Abi Dawud (Hadith 4753).

• The Mechanism of the Rusted Heart (Verse 14): Jami` at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3334).

• The Strangers and Mockery Comfort (Verses 29-33): Sahih Muslim (Hadith 145) and Tafsir al-Tabari.