Table Of Contents

Meet the Key Figures in Surah Mutaffifin: Roles, Significance & Takeaways

This Character Compendium provides a definitive resource on the key archetypes and powerful symbols within Surah Al-Mutaffifin, the 83rd chapter of the Holy Qur’an. A powerful chapter revealed in the late Makkan and early Madinan period, its name, “The Defrauders,” refers to those who cheat in weights and measures. The Surah masterfully connects this seemingly minor sin of economic injustice to the major root sin of denying the Day of Judgment. It provides a vivid and detailed psychological portrait of the mocking criminals in this life and contrasts it with their ultimate humiliation in the next. This is set against the blissful and triumphant state of the righteous believers, who will be the ones laughing in the Hereafter, reclining in bliss and drinking from a sealed, pure nectar. Each character card delves into the specific portrayal of these figures, extracting the timeless lessons on justice, accountability, and the great reversal of fortunes on the Day of Recompense.

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Al-Abrar (The Righteous)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Abrar is an exalted title for the most pious and virtuous of believers. The word comes from *birr*, which signifies all-encompassing goodness, piety, and truthfulness. They are the ones whose faith is sincere and whose deeds are consistently righteous.

Role in the Surah

The Righteous are presented as the first of the two final destinies of humanity, the ultimate model of success. Their fate is described with a sense of perfect bliss and honor. “Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure, on adorned couches, observing. You will recognize in their faces the radiance of pleasure.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:22-24). They are the ones whose record is in the highest of places (‘Illiyyun) and whose drink is a sealed, pure nectar mixed with the water of Tasnim.

Personality & Attributes

The Righteous are the archetype of the **successful, honored, and blissful believer**. They are characterized by their piety and their firm belief in the Day of Recompense. In this life, they were the ones who were laughed at by the criminals, but in the next, they are the ones who are in a state of eternal joy, observing the fruits of their patience. Their radiant faces are a physical manifestation of their inner bliss.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The ultimate success and a state of eternal bliss is reserved for those who live a life of righteousness.
• A believer should not be disheartened by the mockery of the disbelievers in this world, knowing that a state of ultimate honor and joy awaits them.
• The physical and emotional state of a person in the Hereafter will be a direct reflection of their spiritual state in this world.

Supporting References

The Surah presents a very clear and simple dichotomy. The Abrar are in bliss. The Fujjar (the wicked) are in the blazing fire. The entire Surah, with its warnings about cheating and mockery, is designed to guide the listener to the path of the Abrar.

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Al-Fujjar (The Wicked)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Fujjar, the Wicked or the Transgressors, are the archetype of those who have torn the veil of righteousness and have lived a life of open and defiant sin and disbelief. They are the direct opposite of the Abrar (The Righteous).

Role in the Surah

The Wicked are presented as the ones whose record of deeds is kept in a lowly and constricted place. “No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in Sijjin.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:7). They are the ones who deny the Day of Judgment, and their hearts have been covered by the “rust” of their own sins. They will be veiled from their Lord on that Day and will enter the Blazing Fire.

Personality & Attributes

The Wicked are the archetype of the **denier, the transgressor, and the ultimately punished**. They are characterized by their denial of the Day of Judgment, a denial that stems from a heart that has been rusted over by their persistent sins. Their ultimate fate is one of humiliation and being cut off from the vision of their Lord.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The path of wickedness and denial of the Day of Recompense is a direct path to a lowly record and the Hellfire.
• Sin has a direct, corrosive effect on the heart, creating a “rust” that prevents it from seeing the truth.
• The greatest punishment for the wicked, even before the physical torment of the Fire, is the spiritual torment of being veiled from their Lord.

Supporting References

The Surah defines the core intellectual error that leads to their state: “None deny it except every sinful transgressor.” This shows that their denial is not an intellectual position, but a moral one. It is their very state of being a sinner and a transgressor that leads them to deny the Day they will be held accountable.

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Al-Jahim (The Blazing Fire)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Jahim, The Blazing Fire, is one of the names of Hell. It connotes a fire of immense size and intensity. It is the abode of eternal punishment prepared for the wicked and the deniers.

Role in the Surah

The Blazing Fire is the specific destination for the wicked (Al-Fujjar). After being veiled from their Lord, they will be told: “Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire. Then it will be said, ‘This is that which you used to deny.'” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:16-17).

Personality & Attributes

Al-Jahim is the archetype of **inescapable, just, and eternal punishment**. It is a place of absolute finality, where the sinners will face the consequences of their denial. The address to them, “This is that which you used to deny,” is a form of verbal torment, a final confirmation of their folly.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The punishment of the Hereafter is real and severe, and one should strive to avoid it at all costs.
• The Fire is a just recompense for those who denied the Day of Judgment and lived a life of sin.
• The vivid descriptions of the punishment are a mercy from Allah, designed to warn humanity so they can avoid this terrible fate.

Supporting References

The sequence of their punishment is a powerful one. First, they are veiled from their Lord, a spiritual punishment. Then, they are made to enter the Blazing Fire, a physical punishment. Then, they are reminded of their original crime, a psychological punishment. It is a complete and multi-faceted state of torment.

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Al-Kuffar (The Disbelievers)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Kuffar, the disbelievers, are those who reject the clear message of Allah. In this Surah, they are specifically the criminals who used to laugh at and mock the believers in the worldly life.

Role in the Surah

The disbelievers are the primary antagonists whose worldview is being judged. Their arrogant mockery of the believers in this life is described, and its complete reversal in the next is the central theme of the latter part of the Surah. In the Hereafter, it will be the believers who laugh at them. The Surah concludes with a powerful rhetorical question about them: “Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded for what they used to do?” (83:36).

Personality & Attributes

The Disbelievers are characterized by their **arrogance, their mockery, and their ultimate humiliation**. They are the ones who, in this life, “laugh at those who believed.” In the next, they are the ones who are being laughed at, a perfect and just recompense for their own actions.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should not be disheartened by the mockery of the disbelievers, knowing that a Day is coming when the roles will be completely reversed.
• The justice of Allah is perfect; every action will be recompensed in a fitting and appropriate manner.
• The laughter of the believers in the Hereafter is not an act of malice, but a laugh of triumph and vindication.

Supporting References

The final verse serves as a divine commentary on the entire scene. It frames the humiliation of the disbelievers not as a punishment, but as a “thawab” – a reward or a payment. This ironic use of the word is a powerful rhetorical device, signifying that they have been paid back in their own coin. They have received the just “reward” for their mockery.

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Al-Muqarrabun (The Ones Brought Near)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Muqarrabun, The Ones Brought Near, is the ultimate title of honor for the highest rank of believers in Paradise. It signifies a station of intimate closeness and proximity to Allah Himself. They are the spiritual elite of humanity.

Role in the Surah

They are mentioned as the ones who will witness the “Record of the Righteous” and who will drink from the highest spring of Paradise. After stating that the record of the righteous is in ‘Illiyyun, the Surah says: “And what can make you know what is ‘Illiyyun? It is a register inscribed, which is witnessed by those brought near [to Allah].” (83:19-21). They are also the ones who drink purely from the spring of Tasnim.

Personality & Attributes

The Ones Brought Near are the archetype of the **spiritual elite and the most beloved of God’s servants**. They are characterized by their high station and their role as witnesses to the honored records of the other righteous souls. They are the ultimate models of spiritual success.

Major Lessons & Morals

• There are ranks and levels in Paradise, and a believer should aspire to the highest of all stations, the station of the Muqarrabun.
• The path to this exalted station is to be among the “Abrar,” the truly righteous and good-doers.
• The honor of the righteous on the Day of Judgment will be a public one, witnessed by the highest of all creations.

Supporting References

The drink of the Abrar is a pure nectar that is “mixed” with the water of Tasnim. The Surah then clarifies that Tasnim is a spring from which the “Muqarrabun” drink directly. This is a beautiful and subtle illustration of the different ranks in Paradise, showing that even the delights of the righteous are a diluted form of the pure and direct delights of those who are in the highest station of nearness to God.

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Al-Mutaffifin (The Defrauders)

Brief Biography / Background

Al-Mutaffifin, The Defrauders, are the namesake of the Surah. This is the archetype of the person who is dishonest in their business dealings. Specifically, it refers to those who demand a full measure or weight when they are receiving, but give less than what is due when they are giving.

Role in the Surah

They are the subject of the opening and powerful condemnation of the Surah. Their action is presented as a sign of their fundamental lack of belief in the Day of Judgment. The Surah opens with a declaration of their doom: “Woe to the defrauders, who, when they take a measure from people, take it in full. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they give less.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:1-3). The Surah then asks rhetorically if they do not think they will be resurrected for a “Great Day.”

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **greed, selfishness, injustice, and a lack of accountability**. Their dishonesty stems from a deep-seated belief that they can get away with it. They are the epitome of economic injustice. They are the “wicked” (fujjar) whose record is in the lowest prison.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Dishonesty in business and financial dealings is a grave sin that invites the “woe” of Allah.
• The root cause of such economic corruption is a practical denial of the Day of Judgment.
• A believer must be perfectly just and honest in all their transactions, giving others the same full measure that they would demand for themselves.

Supporting References

Tafsir literature notes that this Surah was one of the first to be revealed in Madinah, where the Prophet ﷺ encountered a people who were notorious for cheating in weights and measures. This revelation was a direct and powerful social and economic reform, establishing justice in the marketplace as a non-negotiable component of the Islamic faith. It links the minor-seeming sin of cheating in the market to the major sin of denying the Hereafter.

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Allah (The Lord of the Worlds)

Brief Biography / Background

Allah is the proper name for the One, True God, the sole Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign of all existence. In this Surah, He is presented as the ultimate Judge and the Lord of the Worlds before whom all of humanity will stand.

Role in the Surah

Allah is the ultimate authority and the Judge of all the characters in the Surah. He is the one who declares “woe” upon the defrauders. He is the one who has decreed that the records of the wicked and the righteous be kept in their respective places. He is the one who will remove the “veil” from the wicked on the Day of Judgment. He is the one who will reward the righteous with the delights of Paradise. He is the **”Lord of the Worlds”** before whom all of humanity will stand on the “Great Day.”

Personality & Attributes

This Surah magnificently illustrates Allah’s attributes:

• Rabb al-‘Alamin (The Lord of the Worlds): The one to whom all of humanity is accountable.
• Al-Hakam al-‘Adl (The Just Judge): His judgment and recompense are perfectly just.
• Al-Karim (The Most Generous): His reward for the righteous is abundant and blissful.
• Al-‘Alim (The All-Knowing): He is the one whose angels witness and record all deeds.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must have a profound and unshakable faith in the reality of the Day when they will “stand before the Lord of the Worlds.”
• The entire system of creation and accountability is a manifestation of His perfect justice.
• The ultimate purpose of life is to prepare for this final meeting with the ultimate Judge.

Supporting References

The Surah is a powerful lesson in accountability. It begins with a specific crime (cheating in the market) and immediately connects it to the ultimate crime (denying the Day of Reckoning). It shows that all of our actions, no matter how small they may seem, are part of a record that will be presented before the Lord of the Worlds on a Great Day. This understanding is the foundation of a pious and just life.

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The Arrogant Jester

Brief Biography / Background

The Arrogant Jester is the archetype of the disbeliever who, in the company of their own kind, feels a sense of superiority and amusement over the believers. Their rejection of faith is not just a private matter, but is a source of entertainment and jest for their social circle.

Role in the Surah

This is the third characteristic described of the criminals in their interaction with the believers. After laughing at them and winking at each other, their attitude in private is described: “And when they returned to their people, they would return jesting.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:31).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **arrogance, mockery, and a sense of false superiority**. The word “fakihin” means jesting, joking, and being amused, often at the expense of others. They find the believers’ piety and their concern for the Hereafter to be a subject of great amusement. They are the ultimate jesters who are heedless of the seriousness of their own state.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should not be disheartened by the mockery of the ignorant, recognizing it as a sign of their own spiritual emptiness.
• The jesting of this world will be turned into weeping and humiliation in the next.
• A believer should be serious about the matters of their faith and should not take the warnings of Allah as a joke.

Supporting References

This verse, along with the two before it, provides a complete and damning portrait of the social behavior of the criminals. It covers their public mockery (laughing), their conspiratorial signals (winking), and their private amusement (jesting). It is a complete picture of a society that has lost its moral compass and has turned the most serious of all matters into a source of entertainment.

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The Believers (Alladhina Amanu)

Brief Biography / Background

The Believers are the sincere followers of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In this Surah, they are the righteous community that is subjected to the mockery and ridicule of the disbelievers in the worldly life, but who are destined for the ultimate triumph and vindication in the Hereafter.

Role in the Surah

The believers’ role is to be the object of the criminals’ scorn. They are the ones who are **”laughed at”** and who are condescendingly labeled as **”those who are astray.”** (83:29, 32). However, their ultimate role is to be the ones who are victorious in the end. On the Day of Judgment, it is they who will be **”on adorned couches, observing,”** and it is they who will be **”laughing at the disbelievers.”** (83:34).

Personality & Attributes

The Believers are the archetype of the **patient, the steadfast, and the ultimately triumphant**. They are characterized by their patience in the face of mockery. They endure the ridicule of this world with the certain knowledge that a day is coming when the roles will be completely and permanently reversed.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should endure the mockery of the ignorant with patience, knowing that the final laugh will be theirs.
• The path of faith is often a path of social difficulty and ridicule, and this is a test of a believer’s sincerity.
• The ultimate victory and vindication are with the believers.

Supporting References

The Surah is a source of immense comfort and solace for any believer who is being mocked for their faith. It provides a divine promise that this temporary humiliation will be replaced by an eternal state of honor and triumphant joy. It teaches that the one who has the last laugh is the one who truly wins.

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The Day of Judgment (The Great Day)

Brief Biography / Background

The Day of Judgment is the inevitable day when all of humanity will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds before Allah. In this Surah, it is referred to as the “Great Day” and the “Day of Recompense.”

Role in the Surah

The Day of Judgment is the central reality that the defrauders and the criminals have forgotten or denied. The Surah asks them: “Do they not think that they will be resurrected for a Great Day – the Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?” (83:4-6). It is the day when the records of the wicked and the righteous will be brought forth, and when the great reversal of fortunes will occur.

Personality & Attributes

The Day of Judgment is the archetype of **ultimate justice, absolute accountability, and the Great Reversal**. It is a “Great Day” (‘Azim), a day of immense gravity and awesome majesty. It is the day when all will stand before the King, and the mockery of this world will be replaced by the reality of the next.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Belief in the Day of Judgment is the ultimate motivation for righteous and just conduct in this life.
• A person who truly believes in this “Great Day” could never cheat in a transaction or mock a believer.
• A believer must live their life in constant preparation for the Day when they will stand before the Lord of the Worlds.

Supporting References

The entire structure of the Surah is a commentary on this Day. It begins by linking a worldly crime (cheating) to the denial of this Day. It then describes the two records that will be presented on this Day. It concludes by describing the two final outcomes that will be finalized on this Day. It is the central and pivotal event that gives meaning to the entire Surah.

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The Denier of the Day of Recompense

Brief Biography / Background

The Denier of the Day of Recompense is the archetype of the wicked (*fajir*). Their denial of the final accountability is not just a theological error, but is the root cause of their sinful and transgressive lifestyle.

Role in the Surah

This character’s identity and motivation are explicitly defined. The Surah states that the record of the wicked is in Sijjin, and then asks who these people are. The answer is given: “Woe, that Day, to the deniers who deny the Day of Recompense. And none denies it except every sinful transgressor.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:10-12).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **sinfulness (athim), aggression (mu’tad), and a hard, rusted heart**. Their denial is not an intellectual position but is a moral one. It is their very state of being a sinner and a transgressor that leads them to deny the Day they will be held accountable.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Denial of the Day of Judgment is the root cause that enables all other sins.
• A life of sin and transgression has a direct, corrosive effect on the heart, creating a “rust” that prevents it from seeing the truth.
• A believer must constantly purify their heart through repentance and good deeds to avoid this state of spiritual rust.

Supporting References

The Surah provides a clear psychological and spiritual diagnosis. It states that when the verses of the Qur’an are recited to this person, they dismiss them as “legends of the ancients.” The reason for this dismissal is then given: “No! Rather, the rust has covered their hearts from what they used to earn.” This is a profound statement that our own sins can create a spiritual barrier that makes us blind to the truth.

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The Dwellers of Paradise

Brief Biography / Background

The Dwellers of Paradise are the righteous believers who are destined for an eternal life of bliss in the Hereafter. They are the “Righteous” (Al-Abrar) whose record is in the highest of places and whose reward is one of pleasure and honor.

Role in the Surah

Their state is described in beautiful and vivid detail. They are the ones who are in **”pleasure,”** reclining on **”adorned couches, observing.”** They are the ones whose faces have the **”radiance of pleasure.”** They are given a **”sealed, pure nectar”** to drink, which is mixed with the water from the highest spring, **Tasnim**. They are the ones who will **”laugh at the disbelievers,”** having the final and ultimate victory.

Personality & Attributes

This group represents the archetype of the **successful, joyful, and eternally honored believer**. They are characterized by their state of blissful rest, their radiant happiness, and their ultimate vindication. They are the honored guests of the Most Merciful, enjoying the finest of rewards.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The ultimate success is to be counted among the Dwellers of Paradise.
• The rewards of Paradise are real, tangible, and appeal to all the senses, a sign of the generosity of the Lord.
• This beautiful promise should be a powerful motivation for a believer to remain steadfast on the path of piety and to patiently endure the mockery of this world.

Supporting References

The description of their state is a direct and perfect reversal of the state of the believers in this world. In this world, the believers were the ones being “observed” and laughed at. In the next, it is they who are on the high couches “observing” the state of the disbelievers and laughing a laugh of pure triumph and joy.

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The Great Sinner (Athim)

Brief Biography / Background

The Great Sinner (Athim) is the archetype of the person who is steeped in sin and wrongdoing. It is one of the defining characteristics of the one who denies the Day of Judgment.

Role in the Surah

This title is used to describe the one who denies the Day of Recompense. “And none denies it except every sinful transgressor.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:12). The word *athim* denotes one who is a habitual sinner, whose life is defined by their wrongdoing.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its **propensity for sin and its immersion in wrongdoing**. They are not just casual sinners, but are defined by their sinfulness. Their denial of the Hereafter is a direct result of their desire to continue in their sinful ways without accountability.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A lifestyle of sin is a direct barrier to believing in the Day of Judgment.
• A believer must strive to be the opposite: a person of righteousness and piety, not a person defined by their sins.
• The Surah teaches that a person’s moral state and their creed are inextricably linked. A corrupt character leads to a corrupt belief.

Supporting References

The Surah provides a clear diagnosis: the reason for their denial is not intellectual, but moral. They are “mu’tadin athim” (a transgressor, a great sinner). Because their entire life is a transgression, they have a vested interest in denying the Day when all transgressions will be judged. To protect their lifestyle, they deny the reality of the Hereafter.

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The Heedless (whose hearts are rusted)

Brief Biography / Background

The Heedless are the archetype of those whose persistent sins have created a spiritual barrier over their hearts, preventing them from perceiving the truth. This barrier is described with the powerful metaphor of “ran” or rust.

Role in the Surah

The state of their heart is presented as the direct cause of their inability to believe in the verses of the Qur’an. After stating that the denier dismisses the revelation as “legends of the ancients,” the Surah gives the reason: “No! Rather, the rust has covered their hearts from what they used to earn.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:14).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by a **hardened, rusted, and spiritually blind heart**. They are not evil by nature, but the accumulation of their own “earnings” (their sins) has created a layer of rust that now blocks the light of guidance from penetrating their hearts. They are the ones who have become blind through their own actions.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Sin has a direct and tangible effect on the heart. Each sin is like a black spot that, if unrepented from, can eventually cover and “rust” the entire heart.
• A believer must constantly be engaged in polishing their heart through repentance and good deeds, to prevent this spiritual rust from accumulating.
• This is a powerful lesson in the spiritual consequences of our actions; our deeds directly shape our ability to perceive the truth.

Supporting References

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained this verse in a famous hadith. He said that when a believer commits a sin, a black spot is placed on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean. But if he persists, the spot grows until it covers his entire heart, and that is the “ran” that Allah mentions in this verse.

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The Inhabitants of Hell

Brief Biography / Background

The Inhabitants of Hell are those who, due to their disbelief, arrogance, and unrepented sins, are destined for the abode of punishment in the Hereafter. They are the “wicked” (fujjar) and the “deniers.”

Role in the Surah

Their fate is described in detail. Their record is in Sijjin. They will be “veiled from their Lord” on the Day of Judgment. They will be made to enter the “Blazing Fire” (Al-Jahim) and will be told, “This is that which you used to deny.” They will be the ones who are being laughed at by the believers.

Personality & Attributes

This group represents the archetype of the **ultimate loser and the eternally humiliated**. They are characterized by their state of loss, their regret, and their permanent separation from the mercy of their Lord. They are the ones who made the worst of all possible bargains.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The punishment of Hell is not just physical, but also profoundly spiritual, with the greatest punishment being that of being “veiled from their Lord.”
• The punishment of the Hereafter is real and severe, and one should strive to avoid it at all costs.
• The warnings in the Qur’an are a mercy, designed to save people from this terrible fate.

Supporting References

The contrast between their fate and the fate of the righteous is the central theme of the Surah. The righteous will be “observing” from their couches, and one of the things they will be observing is the state of the inhabitants of Hell, which will only increase their own sense of gratitude and blissful relief.

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The Jesting Winkers

Brief Biography / Background

The Jesting Winkers are the archetype of the disbeliever who engages in a conspiratorial and mocking form of communication when a believer passes by. The act of winking is a secret signal of shared contempt and ridicule.

Role in the Surah

This is the second characteristic described of the criminals in their interaction with the believers. After laughing at them publicly, they would signal to each other privately. “And when they passed by them, they would exchange sarcastic glances.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:30).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **conspiracy, mockery, and arrogance**. Their winking (“yataghamazun”) is a sign of their cliquish and contemptuous nature. It is a non-verbal form of communication that is used to reinforce their own sense of superiority and to belittle the faith of the believers.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should not be disheartened by the secret mockery or the conspiratorial glances of the ignorant.
• This behavior is a sign of the spiritual disease and the weakness of the mockers, not a flaw in the one being mocked.
• A believer should maintain their dignity and not be drawn into the petty and conspiratorial behavior of the disbelievers.

Supporting References

This verse, along with the ones before and after it, provides a complete and damning portrait of the social behavior of the criminals. It covers their public mockery (laughing), their conspiratorial signals (winking), and their private amusement (jesting). It is a complete picture of a society that has lost its moral compass and has turned the most serious of all matters into a source of entertainment.

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Kitab al-Abrar (The Record of the Righteous)

Brief Biography / Background

The Record of the Righteous (Kitab al-Abrar) is the book in which the deeds of the most pious and virtuous believers are inscribed. It is a record of honor that is kept in the highest and most exalted of places.

Role in the Surah

The location and nature of this record are described to highlight the immense honor that will be bestowed upon the righteous. “No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in ‘Illiyyun. And what can make you know what is ‘Illiyyun? It is a register inscribed, which is witnessed by those brought near [to Allah].” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:18-21).

Personality & Attributes

The Record of the Righteous is the archetype of **honor, truth, and divine testimony**. It is “marqum” (inscribed), signifying its permanence and clarity. It is kept in “‘Illiyyun,” a word that denotes the highest and most lofty of stations. And it is “yashhaduhu al-muqarrabun,” witnessed by the highest of all angels, The Ones Brought Near.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should strive to live a life such that their record of deeds is worthy of being placed in this exalted register.
• The honor of the righteous is not a secret one, but is a public honor that will be witnessed by the greatest of all creations.
• This should be a powerful motivation for a believer to fill their record with the deeds of the Abrar.

Supporting References

The contrast between this record and the Record of the Wicked is a central theme of the Surah. One is in “Sijjin” (a low, constricted prison), a register of disgrace. The other is in “‘Illiyyun” (a high, exalted place), a register of honor. The two destinations of the records are a direct reflection of the two destinations of the souls.

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Kitab al-Fujjar (The Record of the Wicked)

Brief Biography / Background

The Record of the Wicked (Kitab al-Fujjar) is the book in which the deeds of the wicked, the transgressors, and the disbelievers are inscribed. It is a record of disgrace that is kept in the lowest and most constricted of places.

Role in the Surah

The location and nature of this record are described to highlight the humiliation that awaits the wicked. “No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in Sijjin. And what can make you know what is Sijjin? It is a register inscribed.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:7-9).

Personality & Attributes

The Record of the Wicked is the archetype of **disgrace, confinement, and divine condemnation**. It is “marqum” (inscribed), signifying its permanence and clarity. It is kept in “Sijjin,” a word that comes from the root for “sijn” (prison), signifying a place that is low, deep, and constricted. It is a record that is imprisoned, just as its owner will be.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must avoid the path of the “fujjar” (the wicked), lest their record be placed in this lowly and disgraceful register.
• Every deed is being recorded, and these records will be preserved in a place that befits their nature.
• This terrifying image should be a powerful deterrent from a life of sin and denial.

Supporting References

The contrast between this record and the Record of the Righteous is a central theme of the Surah. One is in “Sijjin” (a low, constricted prison), a register of disgrace. The other is in “‘Illiyyun” (a high, exalted place), a register of honor. The two destinations of the records are a direct reflection of the two destinations of the souls.

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The Laughers at the Believers

Brief Biography / Background

The Laughers at the Believers are the archetype of the arrogant criminals who, in the worldly life, derive a sense of superiority and amusement from mocking the sincere believers for their faith and their piety.

Role in the Surah

Their specific act of mockery is detailed as the defining characteristic of the criminals in this world. “Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:29). This laughter is a sign of their deep-seated arrogance and their contempt for the values of the faith. This action is then completely and perfectly reversed in the Hereafter.

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by **arrogance, mockery, and heedlessness**. Their laughter is not one of innocent joy, but is a tool of belittlement and persecution. They are the ones who are so blind to their own state that they find the piety of others to be a laughable matter.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should not be disheartened or angered by the mockery of the ignorant. Patience is the proper response.
• The act of laughing at the believers is a grave sin and a defining characteristic of the “criminals.”
• A believer should have absolute certainty that a Day is coming when this laughter will be turned into weeping, and the patient believers will be the ones who are laughing in triumph.

Supporting References

The Surah is a profound lesson in the “great reversal.” The entire latter half is dedicated to describing this reversal. The ones who laugh now will be cried over later. The ones who are cried over now will be laughing later. This is the perfect justice of the Lord of the worlds.

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The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)

Brief Biography / Background

While not mentioned by name, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is the one to whom this Surah was revealed. He and his small community of believers were the direct victims of the mockery and the social persecution described in the Surah.

Role in the Surah

His role is that of the patient leader who must endure the ridicule of his people. The Surah was revealed as a source of solace and a divine promise of vindication for him and his followers. It assures him that the mockery of the criminals is being recorded and that a Day is coming when the roles will be completely reversed. He is the one who recites the verses to the deniers, only to have them dismissed as “legends of the ancients.”

Personality & Attributes

As the leader of the believers, the Prophet ﷺ is the archetype of the **patient and steadfast messenger**. He is the one who must bear the personal insults and the social pressure from the arrogant elite. The Surah is a divine reassurance to him that his patience is not in vain and that ultimate victory and laughter belong to the believers.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The struggles of a caller to Islam are part of a timeless pattern. The mockery faced by the Prophet is the same that believers in all ages may face.
• A believer should find strength and solace in the divine promise of ultimate vindication.
• The correct response to mockery is not to stoop to the level of the mockers, but to maintain one’s dignity and to have patience, with a firm eye on the justice of the Hereafter.

Supporting References

The Surah is a powerful source of comfort. It does not just condemn the actions of the mockers; it provides a detailed and vivid picture of the final outcome. This vision of the believers reclining on couches and laughing at the disbelievers was a profound source of strength for the early Muslims, allowing them to endure their present hardship with a sense of hope and certainty in the future.

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Rahiq Makhtum (The Sealed Nectar)

Brief Biography / Background

Rahiq Makhtum, the Sealed Nectar, is the special and exquisite wine of Paradise. It is described as being “sealed,” which signifies its purity, its preciousness, and the fact that it has been preserved exclusively for the righteous.

Role in the Surah

The Sealed Nectar is mentioned as the specific drink that will be given to the Abrar (The Righteous) in Paradise. “They will be given to drink from a sealed nectar, the last of which is musk. So for this let the competitors compete.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:25-26).

Personality & Attributes

The Sealed Nectar is the archetype of a **pure, exquisite, and honorable reward**. It is “makhtum” (sealed), a sign of its high value and its untouched purity. Its “khitam” (its seal, or its aftertaste) is musk, the most prized of all fragrances. It is a drink of unparalleled excellence.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The rewards of Paradise are of the most exquisite and perfect nature, appealing to the human desire for the finest of experiences.
• The description of this drink is a direct invitation for believers to “compete” (yatanāfasi) for it.
• A believer’s life should be a form of righteous competition, a race to achieve the highest of these rewards.

Supporting References

This is a powerful call to spiritual ambition. The Surah does not just describe the reward; it explicitly tells the reader to compete for it. It frames the righteous life not as a passive state, but as an active and energetic competition, a race towards the ultimate prize of this sealed nectar and the pleasure of the Lord who provides it.

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Ran (The Rust on the Hearts)

Brief Biography / Background

Ran, or Rust, is a powerful Qur’anic metaphor for the spiritual barrier that is created over a person’s heart as a direct result of their accumulated and unrepented sins. It is a spiritual corrosion that prevents the heart from perceiving the light of truth.

Role in the Surah

The Rust is presented as the direct cause of the wicked’s inability to believe in the verses of the Qur’an. After stating that the denier dismisses the revelation as “legends of the ancients,” the Surah gives the definitive diagnosis: “No! Rather, the rust (ran) has covered their hearts from what they used to earn.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:14).

Personality & Attributes

The Rust is the archetype of a **self-inflicted spiritual barrier**. It is characterized by its corrosive and blinding nature. It is not something that Allah places on a heart arbitrarily, but is a direct result of “what they used to earn” (their sins). It is the accumulated spiritual plaque that leads to a fatal hardening of the heart.

Major Lessons & Morals

• Sin has a direct and tangible effect on the heart. Each sin is like a spot of rust that, if unrepented from, can eventually cover and corrode the entire heart.
• A believer must constantly be engaged in polishing their heart through repentance, good deeds, and the remembrance of Allah, to prevent this spiritual rust from accumulating.
• This is a powerful lesson in the spiritual consequences of our actions; our deeds directly shape our ability to perceive the truth.

Supporting References

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained this verse in a famous hadith. He said that when a believer commits a sin, a black spot is placed on his heart. If he repents and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean. But if he persists, the spot grows until it covers his entire heart, and that is the “ran” that Allah mentions in this verse.

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Sijjin (The Prison)

Brief Biography / Background

Sijjin is the name of the place where the record of deeds of the wicked is kept. The word comes from the root for “sijn” (prison), and it connotes a place that is deep, low, constricted, and inescapable. It is the ultimate register of disgrace.

Role in the Surah

Sijjin is mentioned as the destination for the “record of the wicked.” “No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in Sijjin. And what can make you know what is Sijjin? It is a register inscribed.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:7-9).

Personality & Attributes

Sijjin is the archetype of **disgrace, confinement, and eternal condemnation**. It is the direct opposite of the high and honored place where the record of the righteous is kept. It is a prison for the records, a symbol of the ultimate fate of their owners.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer must avoid the path of the “fujjar” (the wicked), lest their record be placed in this lowly and disgraceful register.
• Every deed is being recorded, and these records will be preserved in a place that befits their nature.
• This terrifying image should be a powerful deterrent from a life of sin and denial.

Supporting References

The rhetorical question, “And what can make you know what is Sijjin?”, is used to express the terrible and profound nature of this reality. It is a place whose true, grim nature is beyond our worldly comprehension. Its mention is a powerful warning of the lowliness and confinement that is the ultimate end of all wickedness.

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‘Illiyyun (The High Place)

Brief Biography / Background

‘Illiyyun is the name of the place where the record of deeds of the righteous is kept. The word comes from the root for “‘uluww” (highness), and it connotes a place that is the most high, lofty, and exalted. It is the ultimate register of honor.

Role in the Surah

‘Illiyyun is mentioned as the destination for the “record of the righteous.” “No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in ‘Illiyyun. And what can make you know what is ‘Illiyyun? It is a register inscribed, which is witnessed by those brought near [to Allah].” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:18-21).

Personality & Attributes

‘Illiyyun is the archetype of **honor, exaltation, and divine testimony**. It is the direct opposite of the low and constricted prison of Sijjin. It is a high place, and the records within it are so honored that they are witnessed by the highest of all angels, the Muqarrabun.

Major Lessons & Morals

• A believer should strive to live a life such that their record of deeds is worthy of being placed in this exalted register.
• The honor of the righteous is not a secret one, but is a public honor that will be witnessed by the greatest of all creations.
• This should be a powerful motivation for a believer to fill their record with the deeds of the Abrar.

Supporting References

The rhetorical question, “And what can make you know what is ‘Illiyyun?”, is used to express the magnificent and profound nature of this reality. It is a place whose true, honored nature is beyond our worldly comprehension. Its mention is a powerful incentive for the believer to strive for the righteousness that leads to such a high and noble end.

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Tasnim (The Spring of Tasnim)

Brief Biography / Background

Tasnim is the name of the highest and most noble spring in Paradise. The word comes from the root “sanam,” which means a high place, signifying that this is a spring that flows down from the most elevated parts of the Garden.

Role in the Surah

Tasnim is mentioned as the source of the purest and most exclusive drink in Paradise. The drink of the Abrar (The Righteous) is a sealed nectar that is “mixed” with Tasnim. The Surah then clarifies the status of this spring: “And its mixture is of Tasneem, a spring from which those brought near [to Allah] will drink.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:27-28).

Personality & Attributes

Tasnim is the archetype of the **most exalted, pure, and exclusive of all divine blessings**. It represents the ultimate and most direct form of the pleasures of Paradise. It is the drink that is reserved for the highest of all ranks, the Muqarrabun.

Major Lessons & Morals

• There are ranks and levels in Paradise, and the rewards are tailored to the station of the believer.
• A believer should not just aspire to enter Paradise, but should have a high ambition to reach the station of the Muqarrabun and to drink directly from Tasnim.
• This beautiful and subtle detail is a powerful motivation to compete in good deeds and to strive for the highest of spiritual stations.

Supporting References

The distinction between the drink of the Abrar and the drink of the Muqarrabun is a profound illustration of the different ranks in Paradise. The Abrar are an honored and righteous group, and their drink is the exquisite sealed nectar. But the Muqarrabun are of an even higher rank, and so their drink is from the very source spring itself, pure and unmixed. It is a beautiful lesson in the perfect and nuanced justice of Allah’s reward.

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The Veiled from their Lord

Brief Biography / Background

The Veiled from their Lord is the archetype of the wicked (*fujjar*) on the Day of Judgment. This describes their ultimate and most painful spiritual punishment. A “hijab” (a veil) will be placed between them and their Lord, preventing them from the beatific vision.

Role in the Surah

This is the first punishment mentioned for the wicked after their hearts are described as being rusted. “No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be veiled.” (Al-Mutaffifin, 83:15).

Personality & Attributes

This archetype is characterized by its state of **absolute separation, eternal banishment, and profound spiritual loss**. They are “mahjubun,” veiled and prevented from the ultimate bliss of seeing their Creator. This is the direct and fitting consequence of their hearts being “veiled” by the rust of their sins in the worldly life.

Major Lessons & Morals

• The greatest of all the punishments of Hell is not the physical torment of the Fire, but the spiritual torment of being veiled from the mercy and the vision of Allah.
• Conversely, the greatest of all the rewards of Paradise is the lifting of the veil and the honor of gazing upon the face of Allah.
• A believer must strive to polish the rust from their heart in this life, so that the veil may be lifted for them in the next.

Supporting References

This verse is a cornerstone of the orthodox Sunni creed. Imam Shafi’i is reported to have said that this verse is a proof that the believers *will* see their Lord, because if being veiled is a specific punishment for the disbelievers, then the opposite—the unveiling—must be a specific reward for the believers. It is a powerful lesson in understanding the ultimate nature of reward and punishment.