The first verse speaks the resurrection after death and the Book of Deeds. This book will be written by the authority of God and will include all the deeds of men. It has been termed as “Imam Mubeen” or clear Book. The verse says:

““Verily We give life to the dead and we record that which they send before (them) and that which they leave behind and We have recorded all things in a clear book.”

The question is what is meant by signs? The word “Maa Qaddamu” refers to the deeds of men and the term “Assaarahum” means the habits that he leaves behind or it speaks about the good deeds and the ever lasting deeds that he has left behind like establishing a center for charity, endowments, books of knowledge etc.

Some people have said that the term “Maa Qaddamu” means intentions that a person has before doing something and “Assaarahum” the deeds done after his intentions.

Some others have said “Maa Qaddamu” refers to good and bad deeds and “Assaarahum” are the steps taken to do those deeds. (It has been so called because of the footprints left behind especially on soft soil.)

There is a hadith that explains the revelation of this verse:

The houses of the clan of Bani Salma among the Ansars were far from the Mosque of the Prophet and they complained about it to the Messenger because it was hard for them to regularly attend the congregational prayers. So the verse was revealed and they were told that they will be rewarded for each step that they take to come there. (1)

The “Imam Mubeen” according to many commentators means the “Divine Tablet” in which all the truth has been inscribed.

 So though special it will also be a common book of deeds which will record the deeds of all men. Detailed discussions will be made under the heading of the “Numbering of deeds”.

Mubeen defines the Divine Tablet and the Book of Deeds as being without errors for it will record all the deeds of men nothing good or bad will be omitted.

Some traditions tell us that “Imam Mubeen” mean the infallible Imams who explained every thing through the knowledge of God that they received through the Messenger.

Tafsir Ali bin Ibrahim records a tradition from Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib. He said:

“By God! I am Imam Mubeen who separates the truth from falsehood and I have the knowledge of the Messenger.”(2)

All the explanations above tell us that this term means purity and clearness for it refers to the Book of Deeds in which will be inscribed all the deeds of men good and bad. The inner meaning refers to the infallible Imams who separate the good from the bad through the great knowledge that they have received through the Messenger.

The second verse speaks about the same meaning clearly. It says:

““And the Book will be placed and you will see the sinful in great terror because of what is recorded. The will say, “Woe to us! What sort of book is this that does not omit any thing small or big but has numbered them?”

Does this refer to the general Book of Deeds spoken about in the first verse? Or is it the special Book of deeds that will be with every person and which we will discuss later Inshallah. (All the three kinds of Books of Deeds have been mentioned in the Qura’nic verses). All the three of them are relevant to this verse. The word “Book” refers to the general Book of Deeds that contains all the deeds of mean good and bad, big and small and this will make men fear because he will be presented before God.

On the other side they would have forgotten many deeds or did not give them importance but they will see them all with their eyes and will be insulted before others.

We also have to note that the term “la yu ghadiru” is derived from “Ghadar” which means to depart or leave so this sentence means that nothing left or exempted. When betrayal is called “Ghadar” it is because people break their promises.

The 3rd verse speaks about those who will record the deeds in the Books. It is said:

““Or do they think that we do not hear their secrets and their private counsels? (We do) and our Messengers are with them to record.”

Now it is clear that there is nothing contrary between this verse and the first one that said “We record their deeds”. The work of the angels is the work of God because obey His commands.

It is also said that the general books of deeds of men “Imam Mubeen” should be written through God’s decree directly and the specific book of deeds of each person should be written by the angels.

“ Rasal” is the plural of “Rasool” and here it means the angels but this does not mean that there many angels with each person who write his deeds but there is a possibility that there may be just one or two angels with each person and this is why the plural word has been used for all mankind.

Late Zamakhshiri writes in Kashaf that the word “Sirrahum” in the above verse means the private counsel that a person does in seclusion with others but “Najwa’ is the whisperings that one does with others. (3)

1. Tafsir Majmaul Bayan vol.8 page 418, Tafsir Kabeer vol.26 page 49 and Tafsir Qartabi vol.8 pages 54 and 56.

2. Tafsir Ali bin Ibrahim vol.2 page 212.

3. Tafsir Kashaf vol.4 page 265.