11.Surah Hud

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَيَا قَوْمِ أَوْفُواْ الْمِكْيَالَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ ...

11: 85.  "And O my people!

give just measure and weight,

...وَلاَ تَبْخَسُواْ النَّاسَ أَشْيَاءهُمْ ...

nor withhold from the people the things that are their due:

C1584. Both Plato and Aristotle define justice as the virtue which gives every one his due.

From this point of view Justice becomes the master virtue, and includes most other virtues. It was the lack of this that ruined the Midianites. Their selfishness was "intent on mischief," i.e., spoiling other people's business by not giving them their just dues.

... وَلاَ تَعْثَوْاْ فِي الأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ ﴿٨٥﴾

commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief.

Other versions:

11: 85

Asad Hence, O my people, [always] give full measure and weight, with equity, and do nto deprive people of what is rightfully theirs, and do not act wickedly on earth by spreading corruption.

Yusuf Ali "And O my people! give just measure and weight nor withhold from the people the things that are their due: commit not evil in the land with intent to do mischief.

Pickthall O my people! Give full measure and full weight in justice, and wrong not people in respect of their goods. And do not evil in the earth, causing corruption.

Yuksel "My people, give full measure and weight with justice, do not hold back from the people what is theirs, and do not roam the land corrupting."

Transliteration Wa ya_ qaumi auful mikya_la wal miza_na bil qisti wa la_ tabkhasun na_sa asy-ya_'ahum wa la_ ta'sau fil ardi mufsidin(a).

[[ Ali’s notes -

1584 Both Plato and Aristotle define justice as the virtue which gives every one his due. From this point of view Justice becomes the master virtue, and includes most other virtues. It was the lack of this that ruined the Midianites. Their selfishness was "intent on mischief," i.e., spoiling other people's business by not giving them their just dues. (11.85)

1583 The Midianites were a commercial people, and their besetting sin was commercial selfishness and fraudulent dealings in weights and measures. Their Prophet tells them that that is the surest way to cut short their "prosperity", both in the material and the spiritual sense. When the Day of Judgment comes, it will search out their dealings through and through: "it will compass them all round," and they will not be able to escape then, however much they may conceal their frauds in this world. (11.84) ]]