Al-Isra’ 17:14
ٱقۡرَأۡ كِتَٰبَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفۡسِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمَ عَلَيۡكَ حَسِيبࣰا
English – Mohsin Khan/Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
(It will be said to him): “Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day.”
English – Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Abridged)
Every Person will have the Book of his Deeds with Him
After mentioning time, and the deeds of the son of Adam that take place therein, Allah says:
﴾وَكُلَّ إِنْسَـنٍ أَلْزَمْنَـهُ طَـئِرَهُ فِى عُنُقِهِ﴿
(And We have fastened every man’s Ta’irah (deeds) to his neck,) The word Ta’irah (lit. something that flies) refers to man’s deeds which fly from him, as Ibn We will collect all of his deeds for him in a Book which will be given to him on the Day of Resurrection, either in his right hand, if he is one of the blessed, or in his left hand if he is one of the wretched.’
﴾مَنْشُوراً﴿
(wide open) means, it will be open for him and others to read all of his deeds, from the beginning of his life until the end.
﴾يُنَبَّأُ الإِنسَـنُ يَوْمَئِذِ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ – بَلِ الإِنسَـنُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ – وَلَوْ أَلْقَى مَعَاذِيرَهُ ﴿
(On that Day man will be informed of what (deeds) he sent forward, and what (deeds) he left behind. Nay! Man will be a witness against himself, though he may put forth his excuses.) (75:13-15) Allah says:
﴾اقْرَأْ كَتَـبَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا ﴿
((It will be said to him): “Read your Book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day.”) meaning, you have not been treated unjustly and nothing has been recorded against you except what you have done, because you remember everything that you have done, and no one will forget anything that he did. Everyone will be able to read his Book, whether he is literate or illiterate.
﴾أَلْزَمْنَـهُ طَـئِرَهُ فِى عُنُقِهِ﴿
(And We have fastened every man’s Ta’irah (deeds) to his neck,) The neck is mentioned because it is a part of the body that has no counterpart, and when one is restrained by it, he has no escape. Mamar said: Al-Hasan recited,
﴾عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ﴿
(one sitting on the right and one on the left. ) 50:17 And he said; “O son of Adam, your Book has been opened for you, and two noble angels have been entrusted to accompany you, one on your right and one on your left. The one who is on your right records your good deeds, and the one who is on your left records your bad deeds. `So do whatever you want, a lot or a little, until you die, then I will fold up your Book and tie it to your neck with you in your grave. Then when you come out on the Day of Resurrection, you will find the Book wide open, so read your Book.’ By Allah, the One Who makes you accountable for your own deeds is being perfectly just.” These are some of the best words Al-Hasan ever spoke, may Allah have mercy on him.
Arabic – Tafsir as-Saadi
ويقال له: ﴿اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا﴾ وهذا من أعظم العدل والإنصاف أن يقال للعبد: حاسب نفسك ليعرف بما عليه من الحق الموجب للعقاب.
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