The Letter Qaf — Verse 17

When idh is dependent because of an implied udhkur ‘mention’ the two Receivers the two angels charged with recording a person’s deeds receive when they observe and record seated that is while both of them are sitting qa‘īdun ‘seated’ is the subject the predicate of which is the preceding clause on the right and on the left hand side of him —

When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left. It is reported that the two angels entrusted with the servant sit like the servant. The one on the right writes his beautiful deeds, and the one on the left writes his ugly deeds. When the servant sleeps, one stands above his pillow, while the other watches over him from his feet. When the servant walks, one goes before him and ones goes behind, both of them protecting him from blights. It has also been said that the angel of beautiful deeds is changed every day and night, another angel being sent. The wisdom in this is that tomorrow he will have many witnesses for his acts of obedience and beautiful deeds. But the angel of ugly deeds is not changed, so only that angel will know his defects. The equivalent of this in the Qur'an is found in the verse, “O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves” [39:53]. In saying “who have been immoderate” God sums ev- erything up, keeping the lid on and without going into detail. He says: O Gabriel, you deliver the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not in detail what they have done. O MuḤammad, you recite the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not what they have done. Generous Lord, merciful King! He did not want Gabriel to know the sins of the ser-vants and the Messenger to recite their acts of disobedience. How could He then allow Satan to drive the servant away from His threshold?

When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left. It is reported that the two angels entrusted with the servant sit like the servant. The one on the right writes his beautiful deeds, and the one on the left writes his ugly deeds. When the servant sleeps, one stands above his pillow, while the other watches over him from his feet. When the servant walks, one goes before him and ones goes behind, both of them protecting him from blights. It has also been said that the angel of beautiful deeds is changed every day and night, another angel being sent. The wisdom in this is that tomorrow he will have many witnesses for his acts of obedience and beautiful deeds. But the angel of ugly deeds is not changed, so only that angel will know his defects. The equivalent of this in the Qur'an is found in the verse, “O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves” [39:53]. In saying “who have been immoderate” God sums ev- erything up, keeping the lid on and without going into detail. He says: O Gabriel, you deliver the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not in detail what they have done. O MuḤammad, you recite the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not what they have done. Generous Lord, merciful King! He did not want Gabriel to know the sins of the ser-vants and the Messenger to recite their acts of disobedience. How could He then allow Satan to drive the servant away from His threshold?

When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left. It is reported that the two angels entrusted with the servant sit like the servant. The one on the right writes his beautiful deeds, and the one on the left writes his ugly deeds. When the servant sleeps, one stands above his pillow, while the other watches over him from his feet. When the servant walks, one goes before him and ones goes behind, both of them protecting him from blights. It has also been said that the angel of beautiful deeds is changed every day and night, another angel being sent. The wisdom in this is that tomorrow he will have many witnesses for his acts of obedience and beautiful deeds. But the angel of ugly deeds is not changed, so only that angel will know his defects. The equivalent of this in the Qur'an is found in the verse, “O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves” [39:53]. In saying “who have been immoderate” God sums ev- erything up, keeping the lid on and without going into detail. He says: O Gabriel, you deliver the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not in detail what they have done. O MuḤammad, you recite the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not what they have done. Generous Lord, merciful King! He did not want Gabriel to know the sins of the ser-vants and the Messenger to recite their acts of disobedience. How could He then allow Satan to drive the servant away from His threshold?

When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left. It is reported that the two angels entrusted with the servant sit like the servant. The one on the right writes his beautiful deeds, and the one on the left writes his ugly deeds. When the servant sleeps, one stands above his pillow, while the other watches over him from his feet. When the servant walks, one goes before him and ones goes behind, both of them protecting him from blights. It has also been said that the angel of beautiful deeds is changed every day and night, another angel being sent. The wisdom in this is that tomorrow he will have many witnesses for his acts of obedience and beautiful deeds. But the angel of ugly deeds is not changed, so only that angel will know his defects. The equivalent of this in the Qur'an is found in the verse, “O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves” [39:53]. In saying “who have been immoderate” God sums ev- erything up, keeping the lid on and without going into detail. He says: O Gabriel, you deliver the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not in detail what they have done. O MuḤammad, you recite the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not what they have done. Generous Lord, merciful King! He did not want Gabriel to know the sins of the ser-vants and the Messenger to recite their acts of disobedience. How could He then allow Satan to drive the servant away from His threshold?

When the two receivers receive, sitting on the right and on the left.It is reported that the two angels entrusted with the servant sit like the servant. The one on the right writes his beautiful deeds, and the one on the left writes his ugly deeds. When the servant sleeps, one stands above his pillow, while the other watches over him from his feet. When the servant walks, one goes before him and ones goes behind, both of them protecting him from blights.It has also been said that the angel of beautiful deeds is changed every day and night, another angel being sent. The wisdom in this is that tomorrow he will have many witnesses for his acts of obedience and beautiful deeds. But the angel of ugly deeds is not changed, so only that angel will know his defects.The equivalent of this in the Qur'an is found in the verse, �O My servants who have been immoderate against yourselves� [39:53]. In saying �who have been immoderate� God sums ev- erything up, keeping the lid on and without going into detail. He says: O Gabriel, you deliver the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not in detail what they have done. O MuḤammad, you recite the revelation, for they have been immoderate, but know not what they have done. Generous Lord, merciful King! He did not want Gabriel to know the sins of the ser-vants and the Messenger to recite their acts of disobedience. How could He then allow Satan to drive the servant away from His threshold?

حين يكتب المَلَكان المترصدان عن يمينه وعن شماله أعماله. فالذي عن اليمين يكتب الحسنات، والذي عن الشمال يكتب السيئات.

يعنى الملكين اللذين يكتبان عمل الإنسان "عن اليمين وعن الشمال" أي مترصد.

و ( إِذْ ) فى قوله - تعالى - : ( إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى المتلقيان . . ) ظرف منصوب بقوله ( أَقْرَبُ ) أى : ونحن أقرب إليه من حبل الوريد ، فى الوقت الذى يتلقى فيه ( المتلقيان ) وهما الملكان جميع ما يصدر عن هذا الإِنسان .وهو - سبحانه - وإن كان فى غير حاجة إلى كتابة هذين الملكين لما يصدر عن الإِنسان ، إلا أنه - تعالى - قضى بذلك لحكم متعددة ، منها إقامة الحجة على العبد يوم القيامة ، كما أشار - سبحانه - إلى ذلك فى قوله : ( . . . وَنُخْرِجُ لَهُ يَوْمَ القيامة كِتَاباً يَلْقَاهُ مَنْشُوراً اقرأ كتابك كفى بِنَفْسِكَ اليوم عَلَيْكَ حَسِيباً ) ومفعول التلقى فى الفعل الذى هو يتلقى ، وفى الوصف الذى هو المتلقيان ، محذوف ، والتقدير إذ يتلقى المتلقيان جميع ما يصدر عن الإِنسان فيكتبانه عليه .وقوله : ( عَنِ اليمين وَعَنِ الشمال قَعِيدٌ ) بيان ليقظة الملكين وحرصهما على تسجيل لكل ما يصدر عن الإِنسان .و ( قَعِيدٌ ) بمعنى المقاعد ، أى الملازم للإِنسان ، كالجليس بمعنى المجالس .والمعنى : عن يمين الإِنسان ملك ملازم له لكتابة الحسنات ، وعن الشماء كذلك ملك آخر ملازم له لكتابة السيئات وحذف لفظ قعيد من الأول لدلالة الثانى عليه ، كما فى قول الشاعر :نحن بما عندنا وأنت بما ... عندك راض والرأى مختلفأى : نحن راضون بما عندنا وأنت راض بما عندك . .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (17)يقول تعالى ذكره: ونحن أقرب إلى الإنسان من وريد حلقه, حين يتلقى الملَكان, وهما المتلقيان ( عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ ) وقيل: عنى بالقعيد: الرصد.* ذكر من قال ذلك :حدثني محمد بن عمرو, قال: ثنا أبو عاصم, قال: ثنا عيسى; وحدثني الحارث, قال: ثنا الحسن, قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعا, عن ابن أبي نجيح, عن مجاهد, قوله ( قَعِيدٌ ) قال: رَصَد.واختلف أهل العربية في وجه توحيد قعيد, وقد ذُكر من قبل متلقيان, فقال بعض نحويي البصرة: قيل : ( عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ ) ولم يقل: عن اليمين قعيد, وعن الشمال قعيد, أي أحدهما, ثم استغنى, كما قال : نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلا ثم استغنى بالواحد عن الجمع, كما قال : فَإِنْ طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ مِنْهُ نَفْسًا . وقال بعض نحويي الكوفة ( قَعِيدٌ ) يريد: قعودا عن اليمين وعن الشمال, فجعل فعيل جمعا, كما يجعل الرسول للقوم وللاثنين, قال الله عزّ وجل : إِنَّا رَسُولُ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ لموسى وأخيه, وقال الشاعر:أَلِكْــنِي إلَيْهــا وَخَــيْرُ الرَّســول أعْلَمُهُـــمْ بِنَوَاحـــي الخَــبَرْ (1)فجعل الرسول للجمع, فهذا وجه وإن شئت جعلت القعيد واحدا اكتفاء به من صاحبه, كما قال الشاعر:نَحْــنُ بِمَــا عِنْدَنَــا وأنْـتَ بِمَـاعِنْــدَك رَاضٍ والــرَّأيُ مُخْــتَلِفُ (2)ومنه قول الفَرَزدق:إنّـي ضَمِنْـتُ لِمَـنْ أتـانِي مـا جَنىوأَبـي فَكـانَ وكُـنْتُ غَـيرَ غَـدُورِ (3)ولم يقل: غَدُورَيْن.----------------------الهوامش :(1) البيت لأبي ذؤيب ( اللسان : رسل ) وروايته فيه كرواية المؤلف هنا ، وقد نقلها المؤلف عن معاني القرآن للفراء ( الورقة 309 ) وفي ( اللسان : ألك ) : بخبر الرسول . وأعلمهم بهمزة المتكلم في المضارع . وقال في رسل : وفي التنزيل العزيز " إنا رسول رب العالمين " ولم يقل رسل لأن فعولا وفعيلا يستوي فيهما المذكر والمؤنث ، والواحد والجمع مثل عدو وصديق . وقول أبي ذؤيب " ألكني إليها .... البيت " أراد بالرسول : الرسل ، فوضع الواحد موضع الجمع ، وقولهم : كثر الدينار والدرهم لا يريدون به الدينار بعينه ، إنما يريدون كثرة الدنانير والدراهم . وفي ( اللسان : ألك ) : ألكني : أي أبلغ رسالتي ، من الألوك والمألكة ، وهي الرسالة . وقال الفراء في معاني القرآن عند قوله تعالى " عن اليمين وعن الشمال قعيد " : لم يقل قعيدان : وروي عن ابن عباس قال : قعيدان ، عن اليمين عن الشمال ، يريد قعود ( بضم القاف ) وجعل القعيد جمعا ، كما تجعل الرسول للقوم وللاثنين ، كما قال الله : " إنا رسولا رب العالمين " لموسى وأخيه ، وقال الشاعر : " ألكني إليها .... البيت " . أ هـ .(2) البيت لقيس ابن الخطيم ، وقد تقدم الاستشهاد به ( 10 : 122 ) من هذه الطبعة شرحناه هناك شرحًا مفسرًا فارجع إليه ثمة . ( وانظر الكتاب لسيبويه 1 : 38 ) .(3) البيت للفرزدق ( الكتاب لسيبويه طبعة مصر 1 : 38 ) وهو من شواهد النحويين في باب التنازع ، فإن قوله كان وكنت يطلب الخبر وهو قوله " غير غدور " . والأصل : وكنت غير غدور . والعرب تحذف في مثل هذا خبر أحد العاملين ، اكتفاء بدلالة خبره على المحذوف . وعند البصريين أن الخبر الموجود هو خبر الثاني لا الأول فقد حذف خبره ، وهو ظاهر في الشاهد الذي قبل هذا ، " نحن بما عندنا ... " إلخ ( وقال الفراء في معاني القرآن الورقة 309 ومثله ) أي مثل الشاهد الذي قبله ، قول الفرزدق : " إني ضمنت ... البيت " ، ولم يقل غدورين . وقد نقل المؤلف كلامه .

( إذ يتلقى المتلقيان ) أي : يتلقى ويأخذ الملكان الموكلان بالإنسان عمله ومنطقه يحفظانه ويكتبانه ( عن اليمين وعن الشمال ) أي أحدهما عن يمينه والآخر عن شماله ، فالذي عن اليمين يكتب الحسنات ، والذي عن الشمال يكتب السيئات . ( قعيد ) أي : قاعد ، ولم يقل : قعيدان ، لأنه أراد : عن اليمين قعيد وعن الشمال قعيد ، فاكتفى بأحدهما عن الآخر ، هذا قول أهل البصرة . وقال أهل الكوفة : أراد : قعودا ، كالرسول فجعل للاثنين والجمع ، كما قال الله تعالى في الاثنين : " فقولا إنا رسول رب العالمين " ( الشعراء - 16 ) ، وقيل : أراد بالقعيد الملازم الذي لا يبرح ، لا القاعد الذي هو ضد القائم . وقال مجاهد : القعيد الرصيد .

إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (17(يتعلق { إذْ } بقوله { أقرب } [ ق : 16 ] لأن اسم التفضيل يعمل في الظرف وإن كان لا يعمل في الفاعل ولا في المفعول به واللغة تتوسع في الظروف والمجرورات ما لا تتوسع في غيرها ، وهذه قاعدة مشهورة ثابتة والكلام تخلص للموعظة والتهديد بالجزاء يوم البعث والجزاء من إحصاء الأعمال خيرها وشرها المعلومة من آيات كثيرة في القرآن . وهذا التخلص بكلمة { إذ } الدالة على الزمان من ألطف التخلص .وتعريف { المُتَلَقِّيان } تعريف العهد إذا كانت الآية نزلت بعد آيات ذُكر فيها الحفظة ، أو تعريفُ الجنس ، والتثنية فيها للإشارة إلى أن هذا الجنس مقسم اثنين اثنين .والتلقّي : أخذ الشيء من يد معطيه . استعير لتسجيل الأقوال والأعمال حين صدورها من الناس . وحذف مفعول { يتلقى } لدلالة قوله : { ما يلفظ من قول إلا لديه رقيب عتيد } . والتقدير : إذ تحصى أقوالهم وأعمالهم . فيؤخذ من الآية أن لكل إنسان ملَكيْن يحصيان أعماله وأن أحدهما يكون من جهة يمينه والآخر من جهة شماله . وورد في السنة بأسانيد مقبولة : أن الذي يَكون عن اليمين يكتب الحسنات والذي عن الشمال يكتب السيئات وورد أنهما يلازمان الإنسان من وقت تكليفه إلى أن يموت .وقوله : { عن اليمين وعن الشمال قعيد } يجوز أن يكون { قعيد } بدلاً من { المتلقِّيان } بدل بعض ، و { عن اليمين } متعلق ب { قعيد } ، وقدم على متعلَّقه للاهتمام بما دل عليه من الإحاطة بجانبيه وللرعاية على الفاصلة . ويجوز أن يكون { عن اليمين } خبراً مقدماً ، و { قعيد } مبتدأ وتكون الجملة بياناً لجملة { يتلقى المتلقيان } .وعطف قوله : { وعن الشمال } على جملة { يتلقى } وليس عطفاً على قوله : { عن اليمين } لأنه ليس المعنى على أن القعيد قعيد في الجهتين ، بل كل من الجهتين قعيد مستقل بها . والتقدير : عن اليمين قعيد ، وعن الشمال قعيد آخر . والتعريف في { اليمين } و { الشمال } تعريف العهد أو اللام عوض عن المضاف إليه ، أي عن يمين الإنسان وعن شماله .والقعيد : المُقَاعد مثل الجَليس للمجالس ، والأكيل للمؤاكل ، والشَّرِيب للمشارب ، والخليطِ للمخالط . والغالب في فعيل أن يكون إما بمعنى فاعل ، وإما بمعنى مفعول ، فلمّا كان في المفاعلة معنى الفاعل والمفعول معاً ، جاز مجيء فعيل منه بأحد الاعتبارين تعويلاً على القرينة ، ولذلك قالوا لامرأة الرجل قعيدته . والقعيد مستعار للملازم الذي لا ينفك عنه كمَا أطلقوا القعيد على الحافظ لأنه يلازم الشيء الموكل بحفظه .

{ إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ } أي: يتلقيان عن العبد أعماله كلها، واحد { عَنِ الْيَمِينِ } يكتب الحسنات { و } الآخر { عن الشِّمَالِ } يكتب السيئات، وكل منهما { قَعِيدٌ } بذلك متهيئ لعمله الذي أعد له، ملازم له

قوله تعالى : إذ يتلقى المتلقيان عن اليمين وعن الشمال قعيد أي : نحن أقرب إليه من حبل وريده حين يتلقى المتلقيان ، وهما الملكان الموكلان به ، أي : نحن أعلم بأحواله فلا نحتاج إلى ملك يخبر ولكنهما وكلا به إلزاما للحجة ، وتوكيدا للأمر عليه . وقال الحسن ومجاهد وقتادة : المتلقيان ملكان يتلقيان عملك ، أحدهما عن يمينك يكتب حسناتك ، والآخر عن شمالك يكتب سيئاتك . قالالحسن : حتى إذا مت طويت صحيفة عملك وقيل لك يوم القيامة : اقرأ كتابك كفى بنفسك اليوم عليك حسيبا عدل والله عليك من جعلك حسيب نفسك . وقال مجاهد : وكل الله بالإنسان مع علمه بأحواله ملكين بالليل وملكين بالنهار يحفظان عمله ، ويكتبان أثره إلزاما للحجة : أحدهما عن يمينه يكتب الحسنات ، والآخر عن شماله يكتب السيئات ، فذلك قوله تعالى : عن اليمين وعن الشمال قعيد . وقال سفيان : بلغني أن كاتب الحسنات أمين على كاتب السيئات فإذا أذنب العبد قال لا تعجل لعله يستغفر الله . وروي معناه من حديث أبي أمامة ; قال : قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : كاتب الحسنات على يمين الرجل وكاتب السيئات على يساره وكاتب الحسنات أمين على كاتب السيئات فإذا عمل حسنة كتبها صاحب اليمين عشرا وإذا عمل سيئة قال صاحب اليمين لصاحب الشمال دعه سبع [ ص: 11 ] ساعات لعله يسبح أو يستغفر . وروي من حديث علي رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : إن مقعد ملكيك على ثنيتك ؛ لسانك قلمهما ، وريقك مدادهما ، وأنت تجري فيما لا يعنيك فلا تستحي من الله ولا منهما . وقال الضحاك : مجلسهما تحت الثغر . على الحنك . ورواه عوف عن الحسن قال : وكان الحسن يعجبه أن ينظف عنفقته . وإنما قال : قعيد ولم يقل قعيدان وهما اثنان ; لأن المراد عن اليمين قعيد وعن الشمال قعيد فحذف الأول لدلالة الثاني عليه ؛ قاله سيبويه ; ومنه قول الشاعر : نحن بما عندنا وأنت بما عندك راض والرأي مختلف وقال الفرزدق : إني ضمنت لمن أتاني ما جنى وأبى فكان وكنت غير غدور ولم يقل راضيان ولا غدورين . ومذهب المبرد أن الذي في التلاوة أول أخر اتساعا ، وحذف الثاني لدلالة الأول عليه . ومذهب الأخفش والفراء : أن الذي في التلاوة يؤدي عن الاثنين والجمع ولا حذف في الكلام . و " قعيد " بمعنى قاعد كالسميع والعليم والقدير والشهيد . وقيل : قعيد بمعنى مقاعد مثل أكيل ونديم بمعنى مؤاكل ومنادم . وقال الجوهري : فعيل وفعول مما يستوي فيه الواحد والاثنان والجمع ; كقوله تعالى : إنا رسول رب العالمين وقوله : والملائكة بعد ذلك ظهير . وقال الشاعر في الجمع ، أنشده الثعلبي : ألكني إليها وخير الرسو ل أعلمهم بنواحي الخبر والمراد بالقعيد هاهنا الملازم الثابت لا ضد القائم .

The study of this world shows that there is an unerring system of ‘recording’ in operation here. Man’s thoughts are impressed on the membrane of his brain. Every utterance a man makes is permanently preserved in the shape of sound waves in the air. Man’s actions are preserved in the external world by means of heat waves in such a way that they can be repeated at any time. All these are known facts of today, and these known facts are what make the Quran’s claim credible that man’s intentions, his utterances and his actions, are all in the knowledge of his Creator. All affairs of all human beings are entered in the registers of the angels.

The Two Recording Angels with every Man إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ (when the two receiving angels receive (every human act to record it - 50:17) In the phrase idh yatalaqq al-mutalaqqiyani, (when the two receiving angels receive) the verb yatalaqqa is aorist from the infinitive talaqqi which denotes to take, to accept, to receive, to learn as in the verse فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّ‌بِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ " Thereafter 'Adam received a few words from his Lord (2:37) ". The word mutalaqqiyani in the verse is the dual of al-mutalaqqi and refers to the two angels that accompany every human being all the time to receive and record the deeds of mankind. The phrase عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (seated [ one ] on the right and [ one ] on the left. 50:17) means that the angel sitting on the right records one's good actions, and that on the left, his bad actions. The word qa` id is used in the sense of qa` id, like jalis in the sense of jalis - both meaning "sitting". The word qa` id is used for singular as well as plural. However, there is a difference in the usage of qa` id and jalis as opposed to qa` id and jalis in that the former means a person who is actually sitting. But qa` id and jalis are used in the general sense of the words, that is, he who accompanies someone whether sitting, standing or moving around. The word qa` id is used in the verse to describe the two angels, because they accompany human beings all the time and in every state - whether sitting or standing, whether moving or sleeping. The angels move out only when the humans undress their private parts for purposes of responding to the call of nature or having sexual intercourse. However, Allah has equipped them with a special innate sensing device, so that they realize the sins, or become aware of the sins that are being committed in their absence. Ibn Kathir states that, according to the narration of Ahnaf Ibn Qais, the angel sitting on the right records the good deeds, and he is also the supervisor over the angel on the left. If a person commits a sin, the angel on the right says to the one on the left, "Do not write it yet; give him a chance; maybe he will repent; if he does, then let it go; otherwise record it in your record of deeds". (Ibn-Abi Haim transmitted it) Explanation of Hasan Basri (رح) Hasan Bari (رح) recited the above verse containing the phrase عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (seated one on the right, and one on the left) and said: "0 son of 'Adam! Your record of deeds has been spread, and two honorable angels have been appointed. One on your right side and the other on your left. The one on your right side records your good deeds, and the one on your left records your evil deeds and sins. Focus on this reality, and do what you desire, increase it or decrease it. When you die, your record of deeds will be folded, and put around your neck. It will go with you in the grave, and remain there. When you will rise from your grave on the Day of Judgment, Allah will say: وَكُلَّ إِنسَانٍ أَلْزَمْنَاهُ طَائِرَ‌هُ فِي عُنُقِهِ ۖ وَنُخْرِ‌جُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ كِتَابًا يَلْقَاهُ مَنشُورً‌ا ﴿13﴾ اقْرَ‌أْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا ﴿14﴾ "And every human's (deeds determining his) fate We have tied up to his neck, and We shall bring forth for him, on the day of Resurrection, a book he will receive wide open. [ 13] "Read your book. This day you yourself are enough to take your own account." [ 14] (Surah Bani Isra'il - 13, 14). Then Hasan Basri رحمۃ اللہ علیہ said: "By God! The Supreme Being has done a great justice in that He has appointed you to take account of your own actions". (Ibn Kathir) Obviously the book or the ledger of deeds would not be made up of mundane paper, so that there should be any difficulty in understanding how it will go with him in the grave and remain there with him until the Day of Resurrection. It is a transcendental reality, the actual nature of which is known only to Allah. Therefore, it should not be surprising if the book is put as a garland round the neck and remains there until the Day of Resurrection.

(When the two Receivers receive (him)) when the two angels write, (seated on) one sitting on one side and the other on another side (the right hand) the right hand of the child of Adam (and on the left) the left hand of the child of Adam,

Allah encompasses and watches all of Man's Activity Allah the Exalted affirms His absolute dominance over mankind, being their Creator and the Knower of everything about them. Allah the Exalted has complete knowledge of all thoughts that cross the mind of man, be they good or evil. In the Sahih, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى تَجَاوَزَ لِأُمَّتِي مَا حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ أَنْفُسَهَا مَا لَمْ تَقُلْ أَوْ تَعْمَل» (Verily, Allah the Exalted has forgiven my Ummah (Muslims) for what they talk (think) to themselves about, as long as they do not utter or implement it.) The statement of Allah the Exalted, وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.) means, His angels are nearer to man than his jugular vein. Those who explained `We' in the Ayah to mean `Our knowledge,' have done so to avoid falling into the idea of incarnation or indwelling; but these two creeds are false according to the consensus of Muslims. Allah is praised and glorified, He is far hallowed beyond what they ascribe to Him. The words of this Ayah do not need this explanation (that `We' refers to `Allah's knowledge'), for Allah did not say, `and I am closer to him than his jugular vein.' Rather, He said, وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ (And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. ) just as He said in the case of dying persons, وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنكُمْ وَلَـكِن لاَّ تُبْصِرُونَ (But We are nearer to him than you, but you see not.) (56:85), in reference to His angels (who take the souls). Allah the Exalted the Blessed said, إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَـفِظُونَ (Verily, We, it is We Who have sent down the Dhikr and surely, We will guard it.) (15:9) Therefore, the angels brought down the revelation, the Qur'an, by the leave of Allah, the Exalted, the Most Honored. Thus, the angels are closer to man than his own jugular vein, by the power and leave of Allah. Consequently, the angel touches mankind, just as the devil touches them, for the devil is as close to them as the blood that runs in their veins; just as Allah's Prophet , who is truthful and was told the truth, told us. Allah's statement here, إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ ((Remember) that the two receivers receive,) in reference to the two angels who receive and record the deeds of mankind. عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ (one sitting on the right and one on the left.) means ready to note, مَّا يَلْفِظُ (whatever he utters), in reference to the human, مِن قَوْلٍ (of a word), means any word that he or she speaks, إِلاَّ لَدَيْهِ رَقِيبٌ عَتِيدٌ (but there is a watcher by him ready.) means, but there is a scribe whose job is to record it, leaving no word or movement unrecorded. Allah the Exalted said, وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَـفِظِينَ - كِرَاماً كَـتِبِينَ - يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ (But verily, over you (are appointed angels) to watch you, Kiraman (honorable) Katibin writing down (your deeds), they know all that you do.) (82:10-12) Therefore, the scribe records every word that is spoken, according to the explanation of Al-Hasan and Qatadah. This is also the apparent meaning of this Ayah. Imam Ahmad recorded that Bilal bin Al-Harith Al-Muzani said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ رِضْوَانِ اللهِ تَعَالَى مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ يَكْتُبُ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِهَا رِضْوَانَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَاهُ، وَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ تَعَالَى مَا يَظُنُّ أَنْ تَبْلُغَ مَا بَلَغَتْ، يَكْتُبُ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ بِهَا سَخَطَهُ إِلَى يَوْمِ يَلْقَاه» (Verily, a man might utter a word that pleases Allah the Exalted, unaware of how highly it will be regarded, and on its account Allah the Exalted and Most Honored decrees His pleasure of him until the Day he meets Him. A man might indeed utter a word that angers Allah the Exalted, unaware of how dreadful it will be and on its account Allah the Exalted decrees for him His anger until the Day he meets Him.)" `Alqamah used to say, "How many words did I not utter because of the Hadith that Bilal bin Al-Harith narrated." At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah collected this Hadith. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." There is a Hadith similar to this in the Sahih. Reminding Mankind of the Stupor of Death, the Blast of the Trumpet and the Day of Gathering Allah the Exalted and Most High said, وَجَاءَتْ سَكْرَةُ الْمَوْتِ بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ (And the stupor of death will come in truth: "This is what you have been avoiding!") Allah the Exalted and Most Honored says, `O mankind! This is the stupor of death that has come in truth; now, I have brought forth to you the certainty that you were disputing,' ذَلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ (This is what you have been avoiding!), means, `this is the end that you were trying to escape; it has come to you! Therefore, you will have neither a shelter nor a refuge nor a sanctuary nor an asylum from it.' In the Sahih, the Prophet said, while wiping sweat from his face when the stupor of death overcame him, «سُبْحَانَ اللهِ إِنَّ لِلْمَوْتِ لَسَكَرَات» (Glory be to Allah! Verily, death has its stupor.) The Ayah, ذَلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ (This is what you have been avoiding!) has two possible meanings. One of them is this: `what you have been trying to avert, escape and flee from has come to you and resided in your home!' The second meaning is, `you had no way of escaping or averting this end. ' At-Tabarani collected a Hadith in Al-Mu`jam Al-Kabir from Samurah who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَفِرُّ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ مَثَلُ الثَّعْلَبِ تَطْلُبُهُ الْأَرْضُ بِدَيْن، فَجَاءَ يَسْعَى حَتْى إِذَا أُعْيِيَ وَأُسْهِرَ دَخَلَ جُحْرَهُ وَقَالَتْ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ: يَا ثَعْلَبُ، دَيْنِي. فَخَرَجَ وَلَهُ حُصَاصٌ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ كَذلِكَ حَتَّى تَقَطَّعَتْ عُنُقُهُ وَمَات» (The parable of whoever tries to avoid death is that of a fox that had a debt to pay to the earth. The fox went away and when he became tired and the time to sleep overtook him, he entered his den. The earth said to him, `O fox! Pay my debt!' The fox went out howling and continued until his neck was cutoff, (i.e.,) he died.) This parable indicates that just as the fox had no way of escaping or avoiding the earth, likewise, man has no way of avoiding death. Allah the Exalted the Blessed said, وَنُفِخَ فِى الصُّورِ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ الْوَعِيدِ (And the Trumpet will be blown -- that will be the Day of the threat.) Earlier we discussed the information about the blowing of the Trumpet, the fear that follows it, the death of everything and then resurrection, all this will occur on the Day of Resurrection. We also mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said in a Hadith, «كَيْفَ أَنْعَمُ وَصَاحِبُ الْقَرْنِ قَدِ الْتَقَمَ الْقَرْنَ، وَحَنَى جَبْهَتَهُ، وَانْتَظَرَ أَنْ يُؤْذَنَ لَه» (How can I feel comfort while the angel responsible for the Trumpet has placed the Trumpet to his mouth and lowered his forehead awaiting when he will be commanded (by Allah to blow in it)) They said, "O Allah's Messenger, what should we say" He said, «قُولُوا حَسْبُنَا اللهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيل» (Say, "Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.)" The Companions repeated this invocation, saying, "Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs (for us)." Allah said, وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ (And every person will come forth along with a Sa'iq and a Shahid.) meaning, an angel to drive him to the gathering place and an angel to bear witness against him with regards to his deeds. This is the apparent meaning of this honorable Ayah and it is the meaning that Ibn Jarir preferred. It was narrated from Yahya bin Rafi`, the freed servant of Thaqif, that he heard `Uthman bin `Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, giving a speech in which he recited this Ayah, وَجَآءَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ (And every person will come forth along with a Sa'iq and a Shahid.) and then said, "A Sa'iq to drive every person to Allah the Exalted, and a Shahid to witness against him what he has done." The statement of Allah the Exalted, لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـذَا فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ (Indeed you were heedless of this. Now We have removed from you, your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day!) is directed at humanity. Allah said, لَّقَدْ كُنتَ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مِّنْ هَـذَا (Indeed you were heedless of this.), of this Day, فَكَشَفْنَا عَنكَ غِطَآءَكَ فَبَصَرُكَ الْيَوْمَ حَدِيدٌ (Now We have removed from you, your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day!) `your sight is now clear and strong.' Everyone, including the disbelievers, will have clear sight on the Day of Resurrec- tion. However, having sight will not be helpful to the dis- believers on that Day, for Allah the Exalted said, أَسْمِعْ بِهِمْ وَأَبْصِرْ يَوْمَ يَأْتُونَنَا (How clearly will they (disbelievers) see and hear, the Day when they will appear before Us!) (19:38), and, وَلَوْ تَرَى إِذِ الْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُواْ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَارْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَـلِحاً إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ (And if you only could see when the criminals hang their heads before their Lord (saying): "Our Lord! We have now seen and heard, so send us back (to the world), that we will do righteous good deeds. Verily, we now believe with certainty.)(32:12) وَقَالَ قَرِينُهُ هَـذَا مَا لَدَىَّ عَتِيدٌ - أَلْقِيَا فِى جَهَنَّمَ كُلَّ كَفَّارٍ عَنِيدٍ - مَّنَّـعٍ لِّلْخَيْرِ مُعْتَدٍ مُّرِيبٍ - الَّذِى جَعَلَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَـهاً ءَاخَرَ فَأَلْقِيَـهُ فِى الْعَذَابِ الشَّدِيدِ - قَالَ قرِينُهُ رَبَّنَا مَآ أَطْغَيْتُهُ وَلَـكِن كَانَ فِى ضَلَـلٍ بَعِيدٍ - قَالَ لاَ تَخْتَصِمُواْ لَدَىَّ وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ إِلَيْكُم بِالْوَعِيدِ