a captive may be released by his captor if he wishes, or kept by him if he wishes. A wife’s position with her husband is similar: he may divorce her if he wishes, or remain married to her if he wishes. She is therefore like a captive in his care, so let him fear Allah in his treatment of her.
Likewise, we find some people who expect their children to fulfill their rights completely, while they themselves neglect their children’s rights. A father wants his children to honor him and fulfill his rights—to honor him with their wealth, their physical efforts, and in every other way that constitutes dutifulness—yet he neglects these children and fails to discharge his obligations toward them. We say that such a person gives short measure. Just as we said concerning the first case, that of a husband and wife, that if he expects her to fulfill his rights completely while depriving her of her own rights, he is “one who gives short measure,” so too we say to a father who expects his children to honor him with perfect dutifulness while he falls short in fulfilling their rights: “You are one who gives short measure.” We tell him: Remember the words of Allah, Exalted is He:
“Woe to those who give short measure: those who, when they take a measure from people, take it in full, but when they measure or weigh for them, give them less.”
Allah then says:
“Do such people not think that they will be resurrected?”
That is: Are they not certain, and do they not know with absolute certainty? Here, “think” means to be certain. This usage frequently occurs in the Quran, as in the words of Allah, Exalted is He:
“Those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return.” [al-Baqarah:: 46]
He says, “Those who think that they will meet their Lord,” though they are certain that they will meet Allah. In Arabic, however, the word “think” is frequently used to mean certainty. Here, the Mighty and Majestic says:
“Do such people not think that they will be resurrected?”
That is: Are they not certain that they will be resurrected—brought forth from their graves before Allah, Lord of all worlds—“for a tremendous Day”?
That Day is tremendous, and there is no doubt about its tremendous nature, as Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“Indeed, the convulsion of the Hour is a tremendous thing.” [al-Hajj: 1]
It is tremendous in its length, its horrors, the events that will occur during it, and in every sense conveyed by the word “tremendous.” Yet this tremendous Day will be difficult for some and easy for others. Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“For the disbelievers, it will be far from easy.” [al-Muddaththir: 10]
And He says:
“The disbelievers will say, ‘This is a difficult day.’” [al-Qamar: 8]