What is Sijjeen in the Quran?

According to classical tafsir, Sijjeen, mentioned in Surah Al-Mutaffifin (83:7-9), refers to both the comprehensive, inscribed record of deeds for the wicked and their destination, a prison-like place in the seventh, lowest earth.

What is the difference between Sijjeen and Illiyin?

Sijjeen and Illiyin are direct opposites in Islamic eschatology. Sijjeen, from the root for 'prison', is the lowest place and record for the wicked. Illiyin, from the root for 'elevation', is the highest station and exalted record for the righteous.

Where is Sijjeen located?

Based on prophetic traditions cited by scholars like Ibn Kathir, Sijjeen is located in the seventh and lowest level of the earth. It is considered the bottom-most part of Jahannam (Hell) and serves as a prison for the souls of disbelievers until Resurrection.

Sijjeen: The Inscribed Record and Prison of the Wicked in Islam

Sijjeen

سجين

Sijjeen (سجين) is a name used to refer to both a record of evil deeds, as well as part of Jahannam (Hell).

Explore Verses Related to Sijjeen

🕋Al-Mutaffifin83:7 🕋Al-Mutaffifin83:8

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, Sijjeen (سجين) is a critical eschatological concept mentioned in the Quran, representing both the comprehensive, inscribed record of deeds for the wicked ('Fujjar') and their ultimate destination in a place of confinement deep within the lowest earth. The linguistic analysis by authorities like Al-Tabari traces the term to the root 'sijn' (prison), emphasizing its nature as a place of intense and straitened circumstances. Tafsir Ibn Kathir synthesizes various scholarly opinions, clarifying that Sijjeen is not merely a register but a physical location in the seventh and lowest earth, where the souls of disbelievers and their evil deeds are collectively recorded and imprisoned. This dual meaning is reinforced across Surah Al-Mutaffifin, verses 83:7-9, which describe it as a 'numerically structured book' located in this dreadful place. The synthesis across classical commentaries establishes Sijjeen as a symbol of absolute divine justice, where the precise and permanent record of wrongdoing is sealed and confined in the lowest depths, serving as a stark contrast to 'Illiyin, the exalted station of the righteous.

📖 Quranic Context

Serves as a critical eschatological marker, representing the ultimate accountability and confinement for disbelief and wrongdoing.

Symbolizes Divine Justice and the meticulous recording of deeds for which humans are held accountable.

References: Mentioned exclusively in Surah Al-Mutaffifin, verses 83:7-8, defining the fate of the 'Fujjar' (the wicked).

💭 Theological Perspective

Represents the consequence of rejecting divine guidance and embracing wickedness.

Acts as a powerful deterrent, emphasizing the permanence of actions and the need for repentance.

A stark warning presented in the Quran to guide humanity away from the path of corruption and disbelief.

Understanding Sijjeen motivates the believer to strive for righteousness and seek to have their deeds recorded in its opposite, Illiyin.

📜 Hadith Perspective

Traditions, such as the lengthy hadith of Al-Bara' ibn `Azib, describe Sijjeen as being located in the seventh, lowest earth, where the souls of disbelievers are taken and their record is kept.

The journey of the disbelieving soul after death
The location of the records of good and evil deeds
The description of the lowest earth

Hadith literature supports the Quranic description, solidifying its place in Islamic eschatology as both a location and a comprehensive register.

💎 Deeper Insights

The dual meaning of Sijjeen as both a 'place' and a 'record' is a profound linguistic miracle. The record of deeds is not just stored *in* a prison; the record *itself* is a form of prison, eternally confining the person to the consequences of their actions. The location and the ledger become one inseparable reality.

— Al-Tabari, Ibn Kathir

The structure in Surah Al-Mutaffifin presents a divine audit: first, the worldly crime (fraud in weights, 83:1-3), then the underlying spiritual crime (denial of the Day of Judgment, 83:11), and finally, the eschatological consequence (the record in Sijjeen, 83:7). This sequence reveals that the inescapable record of Sijjeen is the direct result of a corrupted worldview that begins with seemingly minor worldly transgressions.

— General Tafsir Synthesis