Al-Muminoon (The Believers)

102. “Then whoever’ s scale be heavy, those are they who shall be prosperous.”

103. “And whoever’s scale be light, those are they who have ruined their souls, in Hell will they abide.”

For every task there is a measure.

On Judgment Day, the first event is the evaluation of deeds according to a special measure which has been appointed for it. A group of people have some noble and righteous actions which will weigh heavy on that measure and they will be successful.

The verse says:

“Then whoever’s scale be heavy, those are they who shall be prosperous.”

The Arabic word /mawazin/ is the plural form of the word /mizan/ meaning ‘a scale’. The concept of a scale is not meant here an ordinary scale and the like of it, used for measuring the things, and also it is not restricted to just the common means whereby physical quantities are measured, but includes non-material objects as well.

In other words, ‘scale’ has a vast meaning here which envelops all means of measurement. According to different narrations, the scales or criteria for measuring human beings, the actions of human and even humans themselves, are the great leaders and ideal human beings.

There is a tradition that says:

“Amir ul-Mu’mineen Ali (as) and the Imams among his descendants are the scales of measure.”1

Thus, human beings and their deeds will be compared with the great prophets and their legatees. This comparison will make it clear to what extent they are on par with each other.

In this way good deeds and people can be distinguished from their bad deeds and good deeds worthy and unworthy, and heavy from light. The application of the word mawazin, which is in the plural form, is also made clear. The secret of this is that the great leaders who are the criteria of this measuring are numerous.

Another possibility is that all of the prophets, Imams and the elect of Allah were models and ideals in one or many different respects according to the conditions of their lives. Each one of them represented a shining example of one particular quality or other and will be the criterion by which that quality or deed will be measured in others.

The next verse implies that those whose scale of their deeds is light, because of lacking faith and righteous deeds, are the ones who have lost the capital of their own selves and are the real losers, because they will abide in Hell forever.

The verse says:

“And whoever's scale be light, those are they who have ruined their souls, in Hell will they abide.”

The use of the sentence ‘khasiru’anfusahum’

(“...those who have lost their souls”)

in the verse is a subtle reference to the fact that they have lost their greatest capital, that is, their existence in the marketplace of this world and did not obtain anything valuable for it.