Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83:18
سُورَةُ المُطَفِّفِينَ · Meccan · Verse 18 of 36
كَلَّآ إِنَّ كِتَٰبَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ لَفِى عِلِّيِّينَ
Translation
No indeed! The list of the truly good is in 'Illiyyin––
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This beautiful verse opens a window into the esteemed status awaiting those who live righteously. It comes as a profound contrast to the fate of the disbelievers mentioned just before it, shifting our focus from warning to reassurance.
A Powerful Refutation
The verse begins with the emphatic Arabic word كَلَّآ (Kallā). Scholars highlight that this word serves as a strong, unequivocal "No!" or "Certainly not!" (al-Jadwal, al-Zamakhshari). It acts as a powerful deterrent and a complete rejection of the disbelievers' mindset – their denial of resurrection and their dismissal of God's book as mere ancient tales (al-Razi). Its placement here isn't just a linguistic break; it's a dramatic pivot, signaling that the divine discourse is moving from reprimand to promise, and from darkness to light.
The Book of the Righteous
Following this powerful rebuttal, Allah declares, إِنَّ كِتَٰبَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ (Indeed, the record of the righteous...). The word ٱلْأَبْرَارِ (Al-Abrār), plural of *barr*, refers to those who embody *birr*, all forms of goodness, honesty, and deep piety. They are those who truly believe and act on their faith (al-Jalalayn). Their "book" or "record" (كِتَٰبَ) is often understood as the meticulously kept record of their good deeds, or, as some scholars suggest, a special register where their high status and rewards are inscribed (al-Zamakhshari, al-Razi). This emphasis on a "book" highlights the divine certainty and meticulous preservation of their efforts.
The Exalted Station of ‘Illiyyīn
Then comes the profound statement: لَفِى عِلِّيِّينَ (is surely in 'Illiyyīn). The word عِلِّيِّينَ ('Illiyyīn) itself is rich with meaning, derived from the Arabic root for "highness" or "elevation" (*'uluw*) (Ibn Ashur). Its unique grammatical form, resembling a plural, conveys an intense and superlative degree of highness, not just high, but exceedingly high, a level of honor and status beyond measure (Ibn Ashur). Scholars describe it as a place of high ranks in Paradise, perhaps in the seventh heaven under the Throne, or a magnificent register where the deeds of the most honored angels and humans are recorded, a testament to their exceptional worth (al-Razi, al-Jalalayn).
The very sound and structure of عِلِّيِّينَ carry a sense of grand scale and reverence. By describing their record as being in عِلِّيِّينَ, Allah is proclaiming an immense honor and a guarantee of exaltation for the righteous. This contrasts sharply with *Sijjin*, the lowest place for the wicked, emphasizing that just as actions have consequences, so too do they have a designated and fitting place in the divine scheme. It assures the righteous that their dedication will be met with unparalleled respect and a sublime abode, where their every good deed is witnessed and honored.
Sources: al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83:18 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83:18 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.