Sura-7 [ Al Araf mecca 39]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:
الشَّمْسُ
وَالْقَمَرُ
بِحُسْبَانٍ
﴿٥﴾
7:5. The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed;
C5174. In the great astronomical universe there are exact mathematical laws, which bear witness to Allah's Wisdom and also to His favours to His creatures; for we all profit by the heat and light, the seasons, and the numerous changes in the tides and the atmosphere, on which the constitution of our globe and the maintenance of life depend.
7:6. And the herbs
C5175. Najm: may mean stars collectively, or herbs collectively: perhaps both meanings are implied.
... وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ ﴿٦﴾
and the trees-both (alike) bow in adoration.
C5176. All nature adores Allah.
Cf. 22:18, and n. 2790; 13:15; and 16:48-49.
وَالسَّمَاء
رَفَعَهَا
وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ
﴿٧﴾
7:7. And the Firmament has He raised high, and He has set up the balance (of Justice)
C5177. The "balance of justice" in this verse is connected with "the Balance" in the next two verses, that men may act justly to each other and observe due balance in all their actions, following the golden mean and not transgressing due bounds in anything. But the Balance is also connected figuratively with the heavens above in three symbols:
Justice is a heavenly virtue:
the heavens themselves are sustained by mathematical balance; and,
the constellation Libra (the Balance) is entered by the sun at the middle of the zodiacal year.
أَلَّا
تَطْغَوْا فِي
الْمِيزَانِ
﴿٨﴾
7:8. In order that ye may not transgress (due) balance.
وَأَقِيمُوا
الْوَزْنَ
بِالْقِسْطِ
وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا
الْمِيزَانَ
﴿٩﴾
7:9. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in the balance.
C5178. To be taken both literally and figuratively.
A man should be honest and straight in every daily matter, such as weighing out things which he is selling: and he should be straight, just and honest, in all the highest dealings, not only with other people, but with himself and in his obedience to Allah's Law. Not many do either the one or the other when they have an opportunity of deceit. Justice is the central virtue, and the avoidance of both excess and defect in conduct keeps the human world balanced just as the heavenly world is kept balanced by mathematical order.
Asad’s Version:
7: 85
Asad ............Give, therefore, full measure and weight [in all your dealings], and do not deprive people of what is rightfully theirs; and do not spread corruption on earth after it has been so well ordered: this is for your own good..............
Yusuf Ali To the Madyan people We sent Shu`aib one of their own brethren: he said: "O my people! worship Allah; Ye have no other god but Him. Now hath come unto you a clear (sign) from your Lord! Give just measure and weight nor withhold from the people the things that are their due; and do no mischief on the earth after it has been set in order: that will be best for you if ye have faith.
Pickthall And unto Midian (We sent) their brother, Shueyb. He said: O my people! Serve Allah. Ye have no other God save Him. Lo! a clear proof hath come unto you from your Lord; so give full measure and full weight and wrong not mankind in their goods, and work not confusion in the earth after the fair ordering thereof. That will be better for you, if ye are believers.
Transliteration Wa ila_ madyana akha_hum syu'aiba_(n), qa_la ya_ qaumi'budulla_ha ma_ lakum min ila_hin gairuh(u_), qad ja_'atkum bayyinatum mir rabbikum fa auful kaila wal miza_na wa la_ tabkhasun na_sa asyya_'ahum wa la_ tufsidu_ fil ardi ba'da
17: 35
Yusuf Ali Give full measure when ye measure and weigh with a balance that is straight: that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination.
Pickthall Fill the measure when ye measure, and weigh with a right balance; that is meet, and better in the end.
Transliteration Wa auful kaila iza_ kiltum wa zinu_ bil qista_sil mustaqim(i), za_lika khairuw wa ahsanu ta'wila_(n).
55 Ar-Rah Man (The Most Gracious)
Period Uncertain
Asad’s version
(55:5) [At His behest] the sun and the moon run their appointed courses; 2
(55:6) [before Him] prostrate themselves the stars and the trees.
55:7 And the skies has He raised high, and has devised [for all things] a measure, 3 (55:8) so that you [too, O men,] might never transgress the measure [of what is right): (55:9) weigh, therefore, [your deed] with equity, and cut not the measure short!
[[ Asad’s notes - 2 Lit., "according to a definite reckoning".
3 The noun mizan, usually denoting a "balance", has here the more general connotation of "measure" or "measuring" by any means whatsoever (Zamakhshari), in both the concrete and abstract senses of the word. (Cf also the parabolic use of the term mza~ in 42:17 and 57:25.) ]]