سُوْرَةُ يٰسٓ
Surah Yaseen (36) — Ayah 12
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them), and their traces and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, We
نَحْنُ
naḥnu
[We]
نُحْىِ
nuḥ'yī
[We] give life
ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ
l-mawtā
(to) the dead
وَنَكْتُبُ
wanaktubu
and We record
مَا
mā
what
قَدَّمُوا۟
qaddamū
they have sent before
وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ
waāthārahum
and their footprints
وَكُلَّ
wakulla
and every
شَىْءٍ
shayin
thing
أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ
aḥṣaynāhu
We have enumerated it
فِىٓ
fī
in
إِمَامٍۢ
imāmin
a Register
مُّبِينٍۢ
mubīnin
clear
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
12. Surely, We alone give life to the dead [12]. We record what they have sent ahead and what traces [13] they leave behind. And We have recorded everything in a clear Book [14] (the Preserved Tablet).
[12] One meaning of this is clear, and this very meaning is constantly observed in the world. And this meaning is the foundation of the belief in the Hereafter. The second meaning is that, in some places, the Quran has taken "the dead" to mean the disbelievers with dead hearts. In this regard, this sentence can also mean that the Arab nation, whose moral and spiritual powers have completely died, Allah Almighty has the power to breathe the spirit of life into them again so that they may accomplish great feats in the world and leave behind their magnificent traces for the generations to come.
The Literal Meaning of Athar:
The meaning of "athar" is, in fact, the marks of footsteps that remain on the ground after a person walks. Then, this word is also applied to the footprints left on the earth, as Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ؓ states that the people of the tribe of Banu Salamah (whose houses were far from Masjid Nabawi) intended to leave their homes and come to live near the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (so that they could easily join the congregational prayer). The Prophet ﷺ disliked the idea of the outskirts of Madinah becoming deserted, so he ﷺ said to them: "Do you not wish for the reward of your footsteps?" Mujahid says that by ﴿اٰثَارَهُم﴾ is meant the marks of feet left on the earth by walking. [بخاری۔ کتاب الاذان۔ باب احتساب الآثار]
[13]
The Deeds Recorded in the Book of Deeds After Life:
There are three types of entries in every person's book of deeds. First, those deeds and words which he performed during his lifetime. Second, the effects of deeds that are imprinted on a person's own body, his limbs and organs, or on the earth or in the atmosphere as a result of his actions. And third, those deeds whose good or bad effects remain even after his life. For example, if a person wrote a beneficial book or taught people religious knowledge and this continued on, or he endowed something in the way of Allah. All of these are the effects of his actions, and their reward will continue to be recorded in his book of deeds even after this life. Similarly, if someone introduced a polytheistic belief, an innovation, or a bad custom, then whoever adopts these things, a share of their sin will continue to be recorded in the book of deeds of the one who originated them.
[14]
The Names and Attributes of the Preserved Tablet:
By "the clear book" is meant the Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz), whose other names, "Umm al-Kitab" and "Kitab Maknun," are also mentioned in the Noble Quran. The complete comprehension of this "Imam Mubeen" is beyond human grasp; however, from narrations, it is known that it is a tablet or book in which all matters related to the destiny of the universe have been written beforehand, and there is no alteration in them. It is the source of all divine commands, decrees, and words, and it is "maknun" (concealed) in the sense that no one except Allah Almighty knows its contents. Thus, the books of deeds being prepared for people, which are written after the occurrence of deeds and effects, are exactly according to the knowledge of Allah, in accordance with which He has already recorded everything in the "Imam Mubeen."
[12] One meaning of this is clear, and this very meaning is constantly observed in the world. And this meaning is the foundation of the belief in the Hereafter. The second meaning is that, in some places, the Quran has taken "the dead" to mean the disbelievers with dead hearts. In this regard, this sentence can also mean that the Arab nation, whose moral and spiritual powers have completely died, Allah Almighty has the power to breathe the spirit of life into them again so that they may accomplish great feats in the world and leave behind their magnificent traces for the generations to come.
The Literal Meaning of Athar:
The meaning of "athar" is, in fact, the marks of footsteps that remain on the ground after a person walks. Then, this word is also applied to the footprints left on the earth, as Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik ؓ states that the people of the tribe of Banu Salamah (whose houses were far from Masjid Nabawi) intended to leave their homes and come to live near the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (so that they could easily join the congregational prayer). The Prophet ﷺ disliked the idea of the outskirts of Madinah becoming deserted, so he ﷺ said to them: "Do you not wish for the reward of your footsteps?" Mujahid says that by ﴿اٰثَارَهُم﴾ is meant the marks of feet left on the earth by walking. [بخاری۔ کتاب الاذان۔ باب احتساب الآثار]
[13]
The Deeds Recorded in the Book of Deeds After Life:
There are three types of entries in every person's book of deeds. First, those deeds and words which he performed during his lifetime. Second, the effects of deeds that are imprinted on a person's own body, his limbs and organs, or on the earth or in the atmosphere as a result of his actions. And third, those deeds whose good or bad effects remain even after his life. For example, if a person wrote a beneficial book or taught people religious knowledge and this continued on, or he endowed something in the way of Allah. All of these are the effects of his actions, and their reward will continue to be recorded in his book of deeds even after this life. Similarly, if someone introduced a polytheistic belief, an innovation, or a bad custom, then whoever adopts these things, a share of their sin will continue to be recorded in the book of deeds of the one who originated them.
[14]
The Names and Attributes of the Preserved Tablet:
By "the clear book" is meant the Preserved Tablet (Lawh Mahfuz), whose other names, "Umm al-Kitab" and "Kitab Maknun," are also mentioned in the Noble Quran. The complete comprehension of this "Imam Mubeen" is beyond human grasp; however, from narrations, it is known that it is a tablet or book in which all matters related to the destiny of the universe have been written beforehand, and there is no alteration in them. It is the source of all divine commands, decrees, and words, and it is "maknun" (concealed) in the sense that no one except Allah Almighty knows its contents. Thus, the books of deeds being prepared for people, which are written after the occurrence of deeds and effects, are exactly according to the knowledge of Allah, in accordance with which He has already recorded everything in the "Imam Mubeen."
