Surah Al-Isra 17:13

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:

(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 `Abbas, Mujahid and others said. It includes both good deeds and bad deeds, he will be forced to acknowledge them and will be rewarded or punished accordingly.

(So whosoever does good equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it.) (99:7-8). Allah says:

((Remember) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions). Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).) (50:17-18)

(But verily, over you (are appointed angels in charge of mankind) to watch you, Kiraman (Honorable) Katibin - writing down (your deeds), they know all that you do.) (82:10-12)

(You are only being requited for what you used to do.) 52:16

(whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof.) 4:123 The meaning is that the deeds of the sons of Adam are preserved, whether they are great or small, and they are recorded night and day, morning and evening.

(and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a Book which he will find wide open.) meaning, `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.'

(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.

(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:

((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.

(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. Ma`mar narrated from Qatadah, "His deeds,

(and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him) We shall bring forth those deeds."

(a Book which he will find wide open.) Ma`mar said: Al-Hasan recited,

(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.

Allah swt menjelaskan bahwa masing-masing manusia dicatat amal perbuatannya dalam suatu buku catatan dan tetap tercatat di dalamnya seperti kalung yang tetap berada di leher mereka. Amal perbuatan tersebut mencakup amal baik dan amal buruk, besar maupun kecil, yang diperbuat manusia atas dasar pilihannya sendiri.

Perumpamaan tetapnya catatan-catatan mereka dalam kitab itu dengan tetapnya kalung pada leher manusia, sebagai kiasan bahwa catatan itu akan tetap terpelihara, tidak akan hilang atau terhapus, dan selalu dinisbahkan pada seseorang.

Selanjutnya Allah swt menegaskan bahwa kitab yang mengandung catatan amal perbuatan manusia itu akan dikeluarkan dari simpanannya pada hari kiamat, dan akan diperlihatkan kepada mereka, sehingga mereka dapat mengetahui isinya secara terbuka.

Dalam ayat yang lain dijelaskan bahwa tugas pencatatan amal perbuatan manusia itu diurus oleh malaikat. Allah swt berfirman:

Dan sesungguhnya bagi kamu ada (malaikat-malaikat) yang mengawasi (pekerjaanmu), yang mulia (di sisi Allah) dan yang mencatat (amal perbuatanmu), mereka mengetahui apa yang kamu kerjakan. (al-Infithar/82: 10-12)

Hadis Nabi Muhammad berikut menerangkan lebih jelas hal yang sama:

Diriwayatkan dari Al-hasan bahwa Rasulullah saw bersabda, "Allah berfirman kepada Bani Adam, "Hai Bani Adam! Kami telah membuka lembaran-lembaran Kitab, dan telah ditunjuk dua malaikat yang mulia sebagai wakil: satu di sebelah kanan, dan satu lagi di sebelah kiri. Adapun yang di sebelah kanan, pekerjaannya mencatat amal baikmu, sedang yang di sebelah kiri mencatat amal perbuatan burukmu. Maka berbuatlah menurut kesukaanmu amal perbuatan yang banyak atau yang sedikit sehingga ajal datang merenggutmu. Dan apabila engkau telah mati, Aku lipat lembaran-lembaran kitab itu dan Aku kalungkan ke lehermu dan tetap bersamamu dalam kubur hingga hari kiamat. Pada hari itu, kitab itu akan dikeluarkan dan engkau menemuinya dalam keadaan terbuka. Bacalah kitab catatan itu niscaya pada hari itu engkau akan mengetahui bahwa kitab itu cukup sebagai penghisab amal perbuatanmu. (Riwayat Ibnu Jarir ath-thabari)