يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا۟ كُلَّ أُنَاسٍۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمْ ۖ فَمَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يَقْرَءُونَ كِتَـٰبَهُمْ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا 71
Translations
[Mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].
Transliteration
Yawma nad'u kullu unaasin bi-imaamihim, faman ootiya kitaabahu bi-yaminih fa-ola'ika yaqra'oon kitaabahum wa la yuzlamoon fatiilaa
Tafsir (Explanation)
On the Day of Judgment, Allah will call forth every community with their leader (imam), and those who receive their record in their right hand will read it joyfully and will not be wronged even by the smallest amount (a fatiil - the thread of a date pit). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, this ayah describes the divine justice on the Day of Resurrection, where people will be judged alongside their leaders and prophets who guided them. The right hand signifies acceptance and reward, while the guarantee of no injustice emphasizes Allah's perfect fairness in judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Al-Isra (Meccan surah), which describes various scenes of the Day of Judgment and divine justice. It appears within a broader context (17:13-14) discussing the recording angels and the deeds recorded for each person. The thematic focus is on accountability and the certainty of divine justice in the afterlife.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim (2814): The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described how on the Day of Judgment, each nation will be called with their prophets and leaders. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah (4296) discusses how deeds will be presented to people on the Day of Judgment with clarity and justice.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that on the Day of Judgment, no one will be treated unjustly—not even by the smallest amount—and that our leaders and those who influenced us spiritually will play a role in our judgment. It should inspire believers to seek righteous guidance in this life and to act justly toward others, knowing that all will be fairly accounted for before Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذِ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ نَاكِسُوا۟ رُءُوسِهِمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ رَبَّنَآ أَبْصَرْنَا وَسَمِعْنَا فَٱرْجِعْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا إِنَّا مُوقِنُونَ
If you could but see when the criminals are hanging their heads before their Lord, [saying], "Our Lord, we have seen and heard, so return us [to the world]; we will work righteousness. Indeed, we are [now] certain."
مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ضَلُّوا۟ عَنَّا بَل لَّمْ نَكُن نَّدْعُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ شَيْـًٔا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Other than Allāh?" They will say, "They have departed from us; rather, we did not used to invoke previously anything." Thus does Allāh put astray the disbelievers.
ٱلْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَىٰٓ أَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَآ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
That Day, We will seal over their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify about what they used to earn.
أَسْمِعْ بِهِمْ وَأَبْصِرْ يَوْمَ يَأْتُونَنَا ۖ لَـٰكِنِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ٱلْيَوْمَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error.