Al-Mizan (The Scale)

Al-Mizan is a scale erected on the Day of Resurrection to weigh people's deeds with perfect justice. The Quran explicitly states it: no one will be wronged and no matter how minute a deed — even an atom's weight — it will be weighed. Whoever's good deeds outweigh is saved; whoever's evil deeds outweigh is lost.

The Weighing — God said: 'We shall set up the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so that no soul will be wronged in the least. And even if it be the weight of a mustard seed, We shall bring it forth. And sufficient are We as Reckoners' (21:47). The Scale is an instrument of divine justice: nothing is overlooked, nothing is exaggerated.

The Two Outcomes — the Quran presents the weighing's result clearly: 'As for him whose scales are heavy — he will be in a pleasant life. But as for him whose scales are light — his refuge will be the Pit' (101:6-9). The same meaning in 7:8-9 and 23:102-103: the fortunate are those whose balance is heavy with good.

What Weighs Heavy — hadiths clarify that specific deeds and words weigh heavy: the good word, good character and remembrance of God. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Two words are light on the tongue, heavy in the scale, beloved to the Most Merciful: SubhanAllah wa bihamdih, SubhanAllahi al-'Azim' (Bukhari and Muslim). Small things performed sincerely may tip the balance.

Absolute Justice — the deep significance of the Scale is that God's justice is complete and perfect: not an atom of good or evil escapes weighing (99:7-8). It is the sum of what the noble scribes recorded throughout life — the record becomes weight.

The Scale is firmly established in the Quran (21:47, 101:6-9, 7:8-9, 23:102-103). Hadiths detail the reality of the weighing and what weighs heavy (Bukhari and Muslim). Sunni scholars affirm the Scale at its apparent meaning (belief in it as the texts describe it, without seeking the how). There is scholarly discussion on what is weighed (deeds, scrolls or the person themselves) and texts mention all three types depending on context; the site presents the weighing of deeds as the most explicit.

The Scale gives real weight to every deed: no good deed however small is to be underestimated. It motivates not to scorn a blessing even if it is a smile, a kind word or a whispered remembrance — for it may be what tips the balance. It also reassures about justice: no one will be treated with less than they deserve, nor more. Life is an accumulation of weights, good and bad, that we make every day.

Le Jour de la résurrection, Nous dresserons les balances de la justice. Nul ne sera donc lésé. Chaque action, aussi insignifiante soit-elle, sera pesée.

21:47

Celui dont la balance penchera du bon côté jouira au Paradis d'une éternelle félicité.

101:6