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wa-kulla ʾinsānin ʾalzamnāhu ṭāʾirahū fī ʿunuqihī wa-nukhriju lahū yawma l-qiyāmati kitāban yalqāhu manshūran-i
We have attached every person’s omen to his neck, and We shall bring it out for him on the Day of Resurrection as a book that he will find wide open.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Isra’ – Verse 13
13. “And every man’s record of action have We fastened to his neck; and on the Day of Judgment, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open.”
The Arabic term /t a’ir/, mentioned in this holy verse, alludes metaphorically to man’s action, for man’s actions are like birds which fly in order to reach man himself. Everybody’s record of action, whether good or bad, will be hung up around his neck. We have frequent references made in the Qur’an to man’s record of action and there are various points dealt with in different verses, among which are the followings:
1) Man’s record of action is universal.
The above verse says:
“And every man’s record of action have We fastened to his neck…”
2) Nothing is left out of that record.
“…it leaves out nothing, small or great…” 3
3) The culprits are intimidated by it.
“…and you see the guilty fearful at what is in it…” 4
4) Man himself is in a position to arbitrate about his own course of action.
“Read your book, your own self suffices today…” 5
5) Those who are salvaged will be given their books to their right hand and the ones who are supposed to go to Hell will be given their books to their left hand.
“Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: ‘Lo! Read my book.” “And as for him who is given his book in his left hand he shall say: ‘O would that my book had never been given me’.” 6
Accounts are kept for all and there are no exceptions. And, finally, all human beings will attend in the gathering place of Resurrection with their record of actions. All people’s actions are evident for Allah; the hanging up of the record of one’s actions upon the neck is destined for his own understanding. The registration of one’s record of actions is not a tangible process for man in this world, yet everything will be made transparent and clear for him in the Hereafter.
Footnotes