Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 13

(Ayah 14,13) ➊ The literal meaning of { وَ كُلَّ اِنْسَانٍ اَلْزَمْنٰهُ طٰٓىِٕرَهٗ … : ’’طَائِرٌ‘‘} is "the one who flies." It refers to that part of anything which comes to a person's share, as if it flies to him. In the case of taking omens or drawing lots, the result that comes out in his favor, whether good or bad. The thing that comes to a person's share, or the action he is to perform, and the sustenance he is to receive, all are referred to by this word. The meaning is that although Allah Almighty has given man intellect and understanding and the choice to walk the straight path or the wrong one, to do good deeds or bad, still whatever he is to do, whether it is in his control, like good or evil, or not in his control, like his lifespan, the good or bad events that befall him, all are already known to Allah Almighty, and every person will certainly do them, because Allah's knowledge and estimation (destiny) cannot be wrong. Allah Almighty has expressed this in these words, that whatever is to come to every person's fate and share, We have made it inseparable from his neck, like a collar or necklace around the neck. When something is made inseparable from someone and he cannot be separated from it, it is said: {’’ أَلْزَمْتُهُ فِيْ عُنُقِهِ ‘‘} that I have fastened it to his neck.

➋ The first of these verses relates to destiny, and this part concerns the deeds a person has done in the world. Allah Almighty has appointed angels to record them. See Surah Qaf (16 to 18) and Infitar (10 to 12). The book of deeds prepared by them will be brought before every person on the Day of Resurrection, in such a way that it will be open by itself. Whether the person is literate or illiterate, everyone will be commanded to read his book of deeds, and every person will read it, as if the complete picture of his life will come before him, which he already knows well despite his excuses. (See Qiyamah: 13 to 15) In this book of deeds, not a single small or big deed of his will be left unrecorded. See Surah Kahf (49).

➌ The construction of { كَفٰى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيْبًا :} is as follows: {’’ كَفٰى ‘‘} verb, extra ba, {’’نَفْسِكَ‘‘} subject, {’’ حَسِيْبًا ‘‘} specification, and {’’ عَلَيْكَ ‘‘} relates to it. This construction is correct, but the only shortcoming is that ba is merely called extra, whereas in the Noble Qur'an, not even a single letter is purposeless or extra. Therefore, Shanqiti, Tantawi, and many commentators have explicitly stated that this is for emphasis of {’’ كَفٰى ‘‘}, meaning today you are more than sufficient as an accountant over yourself. The same point should be kept in mind in {’’ وَ كَفٰى بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيْلًا ‘‘} (Bani Isra'il: 65).

➍ The sufficiency of the soul as an accountant also includes the situation when a person will deny this book of deeds, then by Allah's command a seal will be set upon his tongue, and every part of his body will bear witness to his deeds. Now, who can be a more sufficient accountant than his own body? See Surah Yasin (65), Ha Mim Sajdah (19 to 23), and Surah Mujadilah (18).

13. 1. The meaning of طَائِر is "bird" and the meaning of عُنُق is "neck." Imam Ibn Kathir has taken طائر to mean a person's deeds. فِیْ عُنُقِہِ means that his good or bad deeds, for which he will be given good or bad recompense, will be with him like a necklace around his neck. That is, every deed of his is being recorded, and with Allah, its complete record will be preserved. On the Day of Resurrection, his judgment will be made according to this. And Imam Shawkani has taken طائر to mean a person's destiny, which Allah Almighty has written beforehand according to His knowledge. Whoever was to be fortunate and obedient to Allah, Allah knew that, and whoever was to be disobedient, that too was in His knowledge. This very destiny (fortune or misfortune) will cling to every person like a necklace around his neck. According to this, his deeds will be, and on the Day of Resurrection, judgments will be made accordingly.

13. We have fastened every human’s deeds [13] to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection We will bring forth for him a book which he will find spread open.

[13]
The Record of Man’s Deeds is Within His Own Being:

The literal meaning of "ta'ir" is "bird," and another meaning is "ill fortune." But here, it refers to the record of a person's deeds. The meaning is that the record of a person's misfortune or good fortune is not in the external world, but rather it exists within the person himself. Allah Almighty has expressed this same theme at another place as follows: ﴿بَلِ الْاِنْسَانُ عَليٰ نَفْسِهٖ بَصِيْرَةٌ﴾ [15، 14: 75] Rather, man is a witness against himself, even though (he may put forth excuses for his innocence). One aspect of this is that with every person, there are two angels on the right and left at all times, who record every small and big deed of his, and thus his record of deeds is being prepared. This explanation is established from the Book and the Sunnah. And according to current research, it is known that whatever a person does or utters, its effects are imprinted on his body and are also preserved in the atmosphere, and they remain for a long time. Then, when the morning of Resurrection appears, the vision of man will become so sharp that he will be able to see and read all of this. These external testimonies will be in addition to his record of deeds, the mention of which is found repeatedly in the Book and the Sunnah.