Al Qur'an is a book of Divine wisdom for the men of wisdom. Every verse embodies in itself much deeper meaning than what is apparent for the ordinary. If one ponders over each verse of Al Qur'an, new windows start top open to broaden one's horizon and level of understanding of Divine wisdom. We have been sharing selected verses that make us better believers, thus better humans.
Surah Ya Seen يٰسٓ, the 36th Surah / Chapter of Al Qur'an is one such Surah wherein wisdom is seen hidden under every verse and scholars have been trying to dig in what is hidden in the back end. Today we share its 12th verse that combines four theological realties in it for the information of our readers. Here we go:
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نُحۡىِ الۡمَوۡتٰى وَنَكۡتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوۡا وَاٰثَارَهُمۡؕ وَكُلَّ شَىۡءٍ اَحۡصَيۡنٰهُ فِىۡۤ اِمَامٍ مُّبِيۡنٍ
(36:12) We shall surely raise the dead to life and We record what they did and the traces of their deeds that they have left behind. We have encompassed that in a Clear Book.
Context within Surah Yā Sīn
Surah Yā Sīn is often called “the heart of the Qur’an” because it powerfully reminds the believers of (1) Resurrection (Ākhirah), (2) Accountability, (3) Truth of revelation, (4) Consequences of belief and disbelief.
In the Immediate context (36:7–12): Allah reassures the Prophet ﷺ that though Many people deny resurrection and mock Divine warnings, their rejection can not cancel accountability and that every deed is preserved and Resurrection is certain.
Therefore 36:12 comes as a decisive theological statement and even if people deny, nothing is lost, nothing is forgotten, and nothing escapes judgment.
The Four Major Theological Realities in 36:12
This single verse contains four foundational pillars of Islamic belief.
- Reality of Resurrection (إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ) - “Indeed, We give life to the dead”
- This is direct refutation of denial of the Hereafter and that Emphatic structure (inna - naḥnu) stresses certainty and that Life after death is not symbolic, but literal.
- Related verses:
- “He will revive them Who created them the first time.” (36:79)
- “Then you will surely be resurrected.” (23:16)
- Personal Accountability (وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا) - “We record what they sent ahead”
- This refers to: intentional deeds, words, choices, acts of obedience or sin
- “Sent ahead” implies: You are forwarding deeds to the Hereafter and Nothing is truly “past”
- Elsewhere in Al Qur'an it is said: “Every soul will find what it did present.” (3:30)
- Ongoing Impact of Actions (وَآثَارَهُمْ) - “And their آثار (traces / footprints)”
- This is one of the most profound elements of the verse.
- Āthār includes: knowledge you taught, good or bad example you set, children you raised, systems you supported and the harm or benefit that continued after death
- Supporting hadith: “When a person dies, his deeds end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)
- This is how Islam teaches moral ripple effects — deeds outlive bodies.
- Absolute Divine Knowledge & Justice (وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ) - “Everything We have precisely enumerated”
- The last part of the verses emphasises that Nothing is forgotten, nothing exaggerated and nothing is unjust
- “Not even the weight of an atom will be overlooked.” (21:47)
Meaning of the Ending Phrase: إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ (Imām Mubīn)
This is ending phrase of the verse which has been discussed deeply by classical scholars. Let us expand this in the light of explanation by some of the scholars:
- Linguistic meaning:
- Imām إِمَامٍ :
- From the root أ م م meaning to lead, to be in front, to be followed. In Arabic, imām does not only mean a person, but it can also mean: (1) a master record, (2) a comprehensive register, (3) something that guides or governs other records, (4) Something that is followed, a comprehensive reference
- That is as mentioned in AL Qur'an: “The Day We will call every people with their imām.” (17:71), meaning their record / leader / standard
- Mubīn مُّبِينٍ : Clear, Manifest, Fully explained, and leaving no ambiguity or error
- Imām Mubīn combined thus means the absolutely clear, all-encompassing Divine register (the Preserved Tablet) in which Allah has recorded every deed, event, and consequence without error or omission.
- Scholarly explanations (Ahl al-Sunnah consensus)
- The Preserved Record (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ): Most Scholars / mufassirūn (like Ibn Kathīr, Ṭabarī, Qurṭubī) are of the opinion that it refers to Allah’s complete register of all events - Past, present, future — all encompassed as asserted elsewhere in Al Qur'an: “Indeed, it is in a Preserved Tablet.” (85:22)
- The Master Register of Deeds:
- Other scholars are of the view that it includes the comprehensive account from which (1) individual books of deeds are produced and (2) judgment is conducted.
- That is “This Book will speak the truth against you.” (45:29)
- However, What it does NOT mean (important clarification) is that (1) It does not refer to a human imam, (2) It does not mean hidden esoteric leadership, (3) It does not support sectarian reinterpretations - The Qur’an itself explains Qur’an.
14th century eminent scholar and exegete Ibn Kathir's explanation focuses on the comprehensive nature of divine recording, covering several key aspects:
- Resurrection: The verse confirms the belief that Allah will surely bring the dead back to life for judgment.
- Recording of Deeds (What they send before them): All immediate actions, whether good or bad, are fully recorded in a divine register.
- Recording of Traces/Effects (wa 'atharahum): This is a key point in Ibn Kathir's tafsir. The "traces" or "effects" (athar) refer to the lasting consequences, outcomes, and influences of a person's deeds that continue after the action itself is done, or even after the person has died.
- Examples of Traces: This includes the positive or negative effects a person's actions have on future generations, society, or the environment.
- Footprints to the Mosque: Ibn Kathir includes narrations (Hadith) where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) explained that even the footprints made while walking to the mosque (for prayer) are recorded as good deeds, encouraging people to live where they are and not move closer to the mosque just to shorten the walk.
- The Clear Register (Imam Mubin): Everything is precisely computed and kept in a manifest book of record, also referred to as the Preserved Tablet (Lawh al-Mahfuz) or the person's book of deeds, which will be presented on the Day of Judgment.
Ibn Kathir's interpretation emphasizes the individual's full accountability not only for their direct actions but also for the ripple effects those actions create during their lifetime and beyond. His method involves using related Quranic verses and Hadith to strengthen his explanation, which is why his tafsir is highly renowned in the Islamic world.
Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, one of the eminent Muslim scholars of all times sums up this verse as given herein under:
There are three kinds of the entries are made in the conduct-book of men. First, whatever a person does, good or bad is entered in the divine register. Second, whatever impressions a man makes on the objects of his environment and on the limbs of his own body itself, become recorded, and all these impressions will at one time become so conspicuous that man’s own voice will become audible and the whole history of his ideas and intentions and aims and objects and the pictures of all of his good and bad acts and deeds will appear before him. Third, whatever influences he has left behind of his good and bad actions on his future generation, on his society and on mankind as a whole, will go on being recorded in his account as far as they reach and as long as they remain active and operative. The full record of the good and bad training given by him to his children, the good or evil that he has spread in the society, and its impact on mankind as a whole, will go on being maintained till the time that it goes on producing good or evil results in the world.
In Wiki Qur'an, the same verse is explained as under:
Bringing the dead back to life has always been an issue fraught with argument. Therefore such people who doubt the Resurrection are warned here that whatever they do and whatever effects their deeds cause are written down, and nothing is forgotten. It is God Almighty who brings the dead back to life, records their actions and reckons everything. All this, then, is done in the perfect way that fits anything done by God. As for the ‘clear record’ and similar descriptions such as ‘the imperishable tablet’, these are most probably references to God’s perfect knowledge that transcends time and place.
Why This Verse Is Deeply Relevant Today
In today's world of digitization and excellent record keeping, tracking one's actions has become much to easy for everyone leaves behind one's digital footprints which become a source of permanent records. This is exactly what this verse means: Nothing disappears — it only transfers realms.
That is this verse is part of reframing of our lives wherein We are not just living — we are writing and that we are not just acting — we are actually planting آثار. Which means our actions today are being written on the Divine hard drives - the Divine إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ.
Thus Qur’an 36:12 declares that Allah will resurrect the dead, record every deed and its lasting effects, and preserve all of it in a perfectly clear Divine register. It establishes resurrection, accountability, moral continuity, and absolute justice — reminding humanity that nothing they do vanishes, and nothing escapes Divine knowledge.
Final reflection: The verse can be summed up in just one line "Your body will return to dust, but your آثار will still speak."
You may refer know more about Surah Ya Sīn from our reference page: Selected Verses from Sürah 36. Yā-Sīn already published.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.
For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .
An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.
In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.
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