{"id":52260,"date":"2022-09-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-04T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iumsonline.cloud\/2022\/09\/04\/some-sayings-by-exegetes-regarding-the-intended-meaning-of-the-balance-in-the-holy-quran-from-the-first-hijri-century-to-the-present\/"},"modified":"2022-09-04T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-04T00:00:00","slug":"some-sayings-by-exegetes-regarding-the-intended-meaning-of-the-balance-in-the-holy-quran-from-the-first-hijri-century-to-the-present","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iumsonline.cloud\/en\/2022\/09\/04\/some-sayings-by-exegetes-regarding-the-intended-meaning-of-the-balance-in-the-holy-quran-from-the-first-hijri-century-to-the-present\/","title":{"rendered":"Some sayings by exegetes regarding the intended meaning of the balance in the Holy Quran from the first Hijri century to the present:"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some sayings by exegetes regarding the intended meaning of the balance<\/em> in the Holy Quran from the first Hijri century to the present:[1]<\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/strong><\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On studying exegetes’ opinions on the meaning of the balance<\/em> in the Holy Quran, I found out that there are six meanings associated with the term:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2460 Justice<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The following scholars suggest that the balance<\/em> means justice: Muqatil (died 150 Hijri), al-Tabari (d. 310 Hijri), Bin Abi Zimnain (d. 399 Hijri), al-Samarqandi (d.  373 Hijri), al- Taghlibi (d. 427 Hijri), al-Mawardi (d. 450 Hijri), al-Qushairi (d. 465 Hijri), al-Wahidi (d. 468 Hijri), al-Sama’ni (d. 489 Hijri), al-Razi (d. 606 Hijri) and Ibn Juzei’ (d. 741 Hijri). They all agree that in verse 25 of the chapter of al-Hadid (Iron) the Book<\/em> means the Holy Quran, and the balance<\/em> means justice.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Abu Hayyan (d. 745 Hijri) quotes Mujahid, al-Tabari, and other exegetes on the interpretation of verse 7 of the chapter of ar-Rahman (The Compassionate) as he says that the balance<\/em> means justice, and that this term refers specifically to the apparatus for measuring weights, which is a means of achieving justice.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ibn Kathir (d. 774 Hijri) said, “The balance <\/em>is the truth which is evident through sound reasoning, and which rejects faulty understanding.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Other exegetes who subscribe to this view include Muhiyee al-Din Ali’ji (d. 905 Hijri), al-Suyuti (d. 911 Hijri) who quotes Qatadah, Zakaria al-Ansari (d. in 926 Hijri), al-'Aqam (d. 999 Hijri), al-Qasimi (d. 1332 Hijri), Rashid Rida (d. 1354 Hijri), and al-Maraghi (d. 1371 Hijri), who said, “The verse means that Allah sent down justice in order for people to treat each other with equity and understanding, as He commanded in the Book.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sayyid Qutb (d. 1387 Hijri) suggests that justice is the result of the balance. <\/em>Ibn Ashur (d. 1393 Hijri) comments on verse 25 of the chapter of al-Hadid by saying that the balance<\/em> is a metaphor for justice and guidance.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We can also include Jawad Mughniah (d. 1400 Hijri), al-Tabtaba’i (d. 1412 Hijri), and al-Makki al-Naseri (d. 1415 Hijri), who said, “The balance<\/em> is a symbol of divine justice,” and “the balance<\/em> is joined with the Book<\/em> with the conjunction and<\/em> because it is its highest and ultimate objective.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Other exegetes include al-Sha’rawi (d. 1419 Hijri) and Ibn Otheimin (d. 1421 Hijri), who, commenting on the interpretation of verse 7 of the chapter of ar-Rahman (The Compassionate), says, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“The intended meaning is not the physical scale, but rather justice.” He also comments on verse 25 of the chapter of al-Hadid, saying, “The balance<\/em> means justice and understanding the correct comparison of different matters.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, most exegetes agree that the balance<\/em> in the Quranic chapters ash-Shura, al- Hadid, and ar-Rahman means justice<\/em>. However, as noted above, the balance<\/em> refers to the actually function of justice, especially in the chapter of al-Hadid where the intended meaning might be: We sent down the Book and justice<\/em>, so that people uphold justice.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2461 Wisdom<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Imam al-Matridi (d. 333 Hijri) suggests that the balance<\/em> means wisdom<\/em>, saying, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“It is possible that the intended meaning of the balance<\/em> is wisdom, as wisdom<\/em> coincides with the Book<\/em> in many instances in the Holy Quran, as when Allah says, <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>and teaches them the Scripture and wisdom<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 3: 164). The Book<\/em> establishes standards for behavior, while wisdom<\/em> refers to the application of these standards and values included in the Book.”<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2462 A physical scale<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The following scholars suggest that the balance<\/em> refers to the physical scale that people use for measuring weight:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Matridi (d. 333 Hijri) says, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“The meaning may be the scales that people use to evaluate the value of what they pay and exchange money for. Accordingly, <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>We sent down with them the Book<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 57: 25) as a means to establish the fundamentals of religion, and the balance<\/em> is a means of safeguarding economic value, no more, no less. Allah knows best.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Mawardi (d. 450 Hijri) and al-Ghazali (d. 505 Hijri) agree, and al-Ghazali says, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“The Book<\/em>, iron, and the balance<\/em> have been sent down because people fall into three categories, and each functions as a means of correcting and guiding mankind. Some people need no more than the Book<\/em> as they uphold justice out of free will. Other people need no more than the balance<\/em> and need not to be forced to uphold justice. However, some people will never be guided or give people their due rights unless they are forced to do so.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Razi (d. in 606 Hijri) said in his commentary on the chapter of al-Hadid, “Then He mentioned justice as He used a well-known metaphor for justice, the balance<\/em>. Thus, people have to adhere to the Book<\/em> and use the balance as taught by the Book<\/em>.” <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

He had a similar interpretation of <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>He set up the balance<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> in the chapter of ar-Rahman.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Muqatil (d. 150 Hijri) and Mujahid (d. 101 Hijri) also subscribe to this view. Mujahid said, “The balance<\/em> is what is used to measure weight. Sent down the balance<\/em> means that Allah inspired His creatures to make and use it”. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Qurtubi, in his interpretation of verse 17 of the chapter of ash-Shura, and Ibn Jawzi (d. 741 Hijri), in his interpretation of verse 25 of the chapter of al-Hadid, ascribe the same meaning to the balance<\/em>. Ibn Jawzi says, “The balance<\/em> is what people use to measure weight. It is also narrated that Gabriel brought the balance<\/em> to earth, gave it to Noah, and said, ‘Tell your people they are commanded to measure things with it.’”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Naisabouri (d. 850 Hijri), Muhiyi al-Din Al’aiji (d. 905 Hijri), Zakaria al-Ansari (d. 926 Hijri), al-'Aqam (d. 999 Hijri), and Ibn Ashur (d. 1393 Hijri) all agree that the balance<\/em> is intended to mean the physical scale. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ibn Ashur comments on the verse <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>We will set up the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so that no soul will suffer the least injustice\ufd3f, saying, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Scholars disagree about the intended meaning of the scales<\/em> in this verse. Most exegetes suggest that it refers to the physical scales, and that, on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will use the scales to measure people’s deeds. Some suggest that there is a special scale for every person. The evidence for this is that Allah uses the plural form when He says, <\/span><\/span>\ufd3e<\/span><\/span><\/span>As for he whose scales are heavy. He will be in a pleasant life<\/span><\/span>\ufd3f<\/span><\/span><\/span> (Holy Quran 101: 6-7).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Others suggest that there is only one scale for measuring everyone’s deeds, and that Gabriel will carry this scale. Thus, the use of the plural form is thought to be intended to refer to the one scale for all people. However, all exegetes agree that the scale that will be used by Allah goes with the glory of that day, so it is unlike the scales used in worldly life, but it has the same mechanism."<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2463 The metaphorical, comprehensive meaning of the balance<\/em>:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sayyid Qutb (d. 1387 Hijri) believes that the balance<\/em> is metaphorical, as he says, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“All the messengers were sent by Allah to set up a universal standard for evaluating acts, events, issues, and people. Humanity is required to adopt the balance<\/em> as a basic principle in life in order to regulate between the consequences of people’s various and changing moods and inclinations, and conflict of interests. This is because the balance<\/em> cannot be biased in favor of anyone, as it is a divine criterion of judgement for all people. It also never permits injustice, for the Almighty is the Lord of all people."[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/sup><\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2464 The Book<\/em> and the balance<\/em> as two terms for the same reference:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Imam al-Hasan al-Basri subscribes to this view and says, “They are one and the same.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2465 The balance<\/em> refers to sound reasoning:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Zakaria al-Ansari (d. 926 Hijri) and al-Qasimi (d. 1332 Hijri) subscribe to this view. Al-Ansari says, “The balance<\/em> refers to reason.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some sayings by exegetes regarding the scales of justice<\/em> which will be established on Doomsday:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The scales<\/span><\/em> is used seven times in the Holy Quran:<\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n <\/p>\n