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How to Teach Your Child Surah Al-Mutaffifin

By Nazeer AhmadFounder, QuranHub Online Quran AcademyM.A. Arabic & IslamiyatDars-e-Nizami (Tanzeem-ul-Madaris)10+ years teaching Quran and Islamic studies

Surah Al-Mutaffifin is the 83rd surah of the Quran, and it has thirty-six verses — which is why it is often one of the later short surahs a child learns, once the shorter ones are firm. A child learns it verse by verse: first the words, then the sounds, then the meaning, with a tutor or a parent reading each verse aloud and the child repeating it.

This guide gives the thirty-six verses in Arabic with transliteration and plain English meaning, explains what each verse says in plain words, and shows how to teach the surah line by line at home. QuranHub teaches children from age 4, through Qaida, Nazra, Tajweed, and Hifz, and every lesson is shaped around the child in front of the tutor.

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The thirty-six verses of Surah Al-Mutaffifin

Surah Al-Mutaffifin has thirty-six verses, and each verse is one line. Read each verse aloud to your child, let the child repeat it, and then read it together — one verse at a time, until the child reads the verse alone. The Arabic below is the standard text of the surah, with a transliteration to help with the sounds and a plain English meaning for each verse.

Start with the first verse and stay with it until the child reads it without help, then add the second verse, then the third, and so on through the thirty-sixth. A child who learns one verse well holds it; a child who is pushed through all 36 at once holds none of them firmly.

  • وَیۡلٌ لِّلۡمُطَفِّفِینَ — Wailun lil-mutaffifeen — Woe to those who give less than due.
  • ٱلَّذِینَ إِذَا ٱكۡتَالُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ یَسۡتَوۡفُونَ — Alladheena idhak-taaloo 'alan-naasi yastawfoon — Those who, when they take a measure from people, take in full.
  • وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمۡ أَو وَّزَنُوهُمۡ یُخۡسِرُونَ — Wa idhaa kaaloohum aw wazanoohum yukhsiroon — But when they give measure or weight to them, they give less.
  • أَلَا یَظُنُّ أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ أَنَّهُم مَّبۡعُوثُونَ — Alaa yazunnu ulaa'ika annahum mab'oothoon — Do they not think that they will be raised up?
  • لِیَوۡمٍ عَظِیمٍ — Li-yawmin 'azeem — For a tremendous Day.
  • یَوۡمَ یَقُومُ ٱلنَّاسُ لِرَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ — Yawma yaqoomun-naasu li-rabbil-'aalameen — The Day people will stand before the Lord of the worlds.
  • كَلَّاۤ إِنَّ كِتَـٰبَ ٱلۡفُجَّارِ لَفِی سِجِّینٍ — Kallaa inna kitaabal-fujjaari lafee sijjeen — No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in Sijjin.
  • وَمَاۤ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا سِجِّینٌ — Wa maa adraaka maa sijjeen — And what will make you know what Sijjin is?
  • كِتَـٰبٌ مَّرۡقُومٌ — Kitaabun marqoom — A written record.
  • وَیۡلٌ یَوۡمَىِٕذٍ لِّلۡمُكَذِّبِینَ — Wailun yawma'idhin lil-mukadhdhibeen — Woe that Day to the deniers.
  • ٱلَّذِینَ یُكَذِّبُونَ بِیَوۡمِ ٱلدِّینِ — Alladheena yukadhdhiboona bi-yawmid-deen — Those who deny the Day of Judgement.
  • وَمَا یُكَذِّبُ بِهِۦۤ إِلَّا كُلُّ مُعۡتَدٍ أَثِیمٍ — Wa maa yukadhdhibu bihi illaa kullu mu'tadin atheem — And none denies it except every sinful transgressor.
  • إِذَا تُتۡلَىٰ عَلَیۡهِ ءَایَـٰتُنَا قَالَ أَسَـٰطِیرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِینَ — Idhaa tutlaa 'alayhi aayaatunaa qaala asaateerul-awwaleen — When Our verses are recited to him, he says, 'Stories of the former peoples.'
  • كَلَّاۖ بَلۡۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ یَكۡسِبُونَ — Kallaa bal raana 'alaa quloobihim maa kaanoo yaksiboon — No! Rather, a stain has covered their hearts because of what they used to earn.
  • كَلَّاۤ إِنَّهُمۡ عَن رَّبِّهِمۡ یَوۡمَىِٕذٍ لَّمَحۡجُوبُونَ — Kallaa innahum 'an rabbihim yawma'idhin lamahjooboon — No! Indeed, they will be cut off from their Lord that Day.
  • ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمۡ لَصَالُوا۟ ٱلۡجَحِیمِ — Thumma innahum lasaalul-jaheem — Then indeed, they will enter the Hellfire.
  • ثُمَّ یُقَالُ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِی كُنتُم بِهِۦ تُكَذِّبُونَ — Thumma yuqaalu haadhal-ladhee kuntum bihi tukadhdhiboon — Then it will be said, 'This is what you used to deny.'
  • كَلَّاۤ إِنَّ كِتَـٰبَ ٱلۡأَبۡرَارِ لَفِی عِلِّیِّینَ — Kallaa inna kitaabal-abraari lafee 'illiyyeen — No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in Illiyyun.
  • وَمَاۤ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا عِلِّیُّونَ — Wa maa adraaka maa 'illiyyoon — And what will make you know what Illiyyun is?
  • كِتَـٰبٌ مَّرۡقُومٌ — Kitaabun marqoom — A written record.
  • یَشۡهَدُهُ ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ — Yashhaduhul-muqarrabboon — Witnessed by those brought near to Allah.
  • إِنَّ ٱلۡأَبۡرَارَ لَفِی نَعِیمٍ — Innal-abraara lafee na'eem — Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss.
  • عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَاۤىِٕكِ یَنظُرُونَ — 'Alal-araa'iki yanzuroon — On thrones, looking on.
  • تَعۡرِفُ فِی وُجُوهِهِمۡ نَضۡرَةَ ٱلنَّعِیمِ — Ta'rifu fee wujoohihim nadratan-na'eem — You will see in their faces the brightness of bliss.
  • یُسۡقَوۡنَ مِن رَّحِیقٍ مَّخۡتُومٍ — Yusqawna min raheeqin makhtoom — They will be given pure wine to drink, sealed.
  • خِتَـٰمُهُۥ مِسۡكٌۚ وَفِی ذَٰلِكَ فَلۡیَتَنَافَسِ ٱلۡمُتَنَـٰفِسُونَ — Khitaamuhu misk, wa fee dhaalika falyatanaafasil-mutanaafisoon — Its seal is musk, and for that let the competitors compete.
  • وَمِزَاجُهُۥ مِن تَسۡنِیمٍ — Wa mizaajuhu min tasneem — And its mixture is from Tasnim.
  • عَیۡنًا یَشۡرَبُ بِهَا ٱلۡمُقَرَّبُونَ — 'Aynan yashrabu bihal-muqarrabboon — A spring from which those brought near drink.
  • إِنَّ ٱلَّذِینَ أَجۡرَمُوا۟ كَانُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ یَضۡحَكُونَ — Innal-ladheena ajramoo kaanoo minal-ladheena aamanoo yadhakoon — Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.
  • وَإِذَا مَرُّوا۟ بِهِمۡ یَتَغَامَزُونَ — Wa idhaa marroo bihim yataghaamazoon — And when they passed by them, they would wink at one another.
  • وَإِذَا ٱنقَلَبُوۤا۟ إِلَىٰۤ أَهۡلِهِمُ ٱنقَلَبُوا۟ فَكِهِینَ — Wa idhan-qalaboo ilaa ahlihimun-qalaboo fakiheen — And when they returned to their families, they would return jesting.
  • وَإِذَا رَأَوۡهُمۡ قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّ هَـٰۤؤُلَاۤءِ لَضَاۤلُّونَ — Wa idhaa ra'awhum qaaloo inna haa'ulaa'i ladaalloon — And when they saw them, they would say, 'Indeed, these are the astray.'
  • وَمَاۤ أُرۡسِلُوا۟ عَلَیۡهِمۡ حَـٰفِظِینَ — Wa maa ursiloo 'alayhim haafizeen — But they were not sent over them as guardians.
  • فَٱلۡیَوۡمَ ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلۡكُفَّارِ یَضۡحَكُونَ — Fal-yawmal-ladheena aamanoo minal-kuffaari yadhakoon — So today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers.
  • عَلَى ٱلۡأَرَاۤىِٕكِ یَنظُرُونَ — 'Alal-araa'iki yanzuroon — On thrones, looking on.
  • هَلۡ ثُوِّبَ ٱلۡكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا۟ یَفۡعَلُونَ — Hal thuwwibal-kuffaaru maa kaanoo yaf'aloon — Have the disbelievers been repaid for what they used to do?

What each verse says, in plain words

The meaning helps the child hold the words, so teach the meaning with the words, not after them. Read the verse, say what it means in plain words, and let the child say the meaning back in their own words — a child who knows what a verse says reads it with more care.

Keep the meaning plain and short. A young child does not need a long explanation; one clear sentence for each verse is enough, and the tutor or the parent repeats that sentence each time the verse is read.

  • Verse 1: Woe to those who give less than due.
  • Verse 2: Those who, when they take a measure from people, take in full.
  • Verse 3: But when they give measure or weight to them, they give less.
  • Verse 4: Do they not think that they will be raised up?
  • Verse 5: For a tremendous Day.
  • Verse 6: The Day people will stand before the Lord of the worlds.
  • Verse 7: No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in Sijjin.
  • Verse 8: And what will make you know what Sijjin is?
  • Verse 9: A written record.
  • Verse 10: Woe that Day to the deniers.
  • Verse 11: Those who deny the Day of Judgement.
  • Verse 12: And none denies it except every sinful transgressor.
  • Verse 13: When Our verses are recited to him, he says, 'Stories of the former peoples.'
  • Verse 14: No! Rather, a stain has covered their hearts because of what they used to earn.
  • Verse 15: No! Indeed, they will be cut off from their Lord that Day.
  • Verse 16: Then indeed, they will enter the Hellfire.
  • Verse 17: Then it will be said, 'This is what you used to deny.'
  • Verse 18: No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in Illiyyun.
  • Verse 19: And what will make you know what Illiyyun is?
  • Verse 20: A written record.
  • Verse 21: Witnessed by those brought near to Allah.
  • Verse 22: Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss.
  • Verse 23: On thrones, looking on.
  • Verse 24: You will see in their faces the brightness of bliss.
  • Verse 25: They will be given pure wine to drink, sealed.
  • Verse 26: Its seal is musk, and for that let the competitors compete.
  • Verse 27: And its mixture is from Tasnim.
  • Verse 28: A spring from which those brought near drink.
  • Verse 29: Indeed, those who committed crimes used to laugh at those who believed.
  • Verse 30: And when they passed by them, they would wink at one another.
  • Verse 31: And when they returned to their families, they would return jesting.
  • Verse 32: And when they saw them, they would say, 'Indeed, these are the astray.'
  • Verse 33: But they were not sent over them as guardians.
  • Verse 34: So today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers.
  • Verse 35: On thrones, looking on.
  • Verse 36: Have the disbelievers been repaid for what they used to do?

Teaching it line by line

Teach one verse at a time. Read the verse aloud slowly, let the child repeat it, then read it together — and only move to the next verse when the child reads the first one alone. If a sound is hard, say it slowly, break the word into its letters, and let the child build it again from the page.

When the child knows two verses, join them: read the first verse, then the second, in order, at the same even pace. Then add the third verse the same way, and then the fourth, and so on through the thirty-sixth — so the child always reads from the start, in order, and the surah grows one verse at a time.

  • One verse at a time — move on only when the child reads the verse alone
  • Read aloud, let the child repeat, then read it together
  • Break a hard word into its letters and build it again from the page
  • Join the verses in order as each new verse is learned

Practising together at home

Read the surah aloud together for a few minutes each day, at the same time, in the same quiet room. The child reads to a listener, the listener hears a dropped sound sooner than the reader, and the page stays open so a slipped word can be checked at once.

Keep the practice short and steady: a few minutes of reading aloud, a short rest, and the page closed while the day goes on. A child who reads the surah a little every day meets each verse several times, and each meeting makes the verse firmer.

  • Read the surah aloud together for a few minutes each day
  • Same time, same quiet room, every day — a short, steady routine
  • The child reads to a listener, who hears a dropped sound first
  • Keep the page open so a slipped word can be checked at once

When the words slip: stay calm

A child who knew a verse yesterday and cannot find it today has not failed — the verse is fragile until it has been met several times, and forgetting is one of the most ordinary things in learning. Stay calm, go back one verse, and rebuild the slipped verse from the page.

Do not correct the child in a rush, and do not teach the verse yourself if the child has a tutor — the parent listens, and the tutor teaches. Tell the tutor which verse slipped, and the tutor re-teaches that verse in the next lesson, at the same even pace.

  • A slipped verse is normal — go back one verse and rebuild it from the page
  • Stay calm, and let the child find the words again without rushing
  • Do not teach the verse yourself — the parent listens, the tutor teaches
  • Tell the tutor which verse slipped so it is re-taught in the next lesson

Trying it free: three classes before you decide

Three real classes with a real tutor cost nothing — that is the free 3-day trial, and it is the honest way to see how a tutor teaches your child, including how the tutor teaches a surah line by line. The trial tutor watches how your child reads, which sounds come easily, and which ones need more care — and then shapes the lessons around what your child needs.

Booking takes a short message: your child's age, level, and the times that suit your family. A matched tutor is then arranged, and after the three classes there is no pressure to continue — you judge by how your child responded, and how they sounded in the lessons. Families who want a longer free start can also ask about the free one-month Qaida course, open to the first 50 students.

  • Three real classes with a real tutor, free, at your child's level
  • The trial tutor watches how your child reads and shapes lessons around them
  • Judge by how your child responded — no pressure to continue after the trial
  • Ask about the free one-month Qaida course for a longer free start

Frequently asked questions

How long is Surah Al-Mutaffifin?+

Thirty-six verses. A child learns it verse by verse — first the words, then the sounds, then the meaning — one verse at a time.

Does my child need to know Arabic before learning Surah Al-Mutaffifin?+

No — the tutor teaches the sounds letter by letter from Qaida, and the child does not need to know any Arabic before starting. The transliteration in this guide helps with the sounds at home.

How do I teach the Arabic sounds at home?+

Read the verse aloud, let the child repeat it, and listen for each sound. Teach one verse at a time, break a hard word into its letters, and read the verse together until the child reads it alone.

Should I teach the meaning as well as the words?+

Yes — the meaning helps the child hold the words. Teach the words first, then the plain meaning of each verse, in the child's own language, and repeat that meaning each time the verse is read.

Can we try a lesson before deciding?+

Yes — the free 3-day trial gives three real classes with a real tutor, and the free one-month Qaida course is open to the first 50 students. Book the trial and share your child's level and the times that suit your family.