إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا۟ وَءَاثَـٰرَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَـٰهُ فِىٓ إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ 12
Translations
Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.
Transliteration
Inna nahnu nuhyi al-mawta wa naktubу ma qaddamู wa atharuhum wa kulla shay'in ahsaynahu fi imamin mubin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone has the power to resurrect the dead and that He meticulously records every deed and consequence of the actions of His servants in a clear, preserved record (the Preserved Tablet - Al-Lawh Al-Mahfuz). Ibn Kathir emphasizes that this verse establishes Allah's complete knowledge and control over all affairs, while Al-Tabari notes that 'what they have sent forward' refers to good and evil deeds, and 'their traces' refers to the effects and legacies left behind by individuals.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ya-Sin, a Meccan chapter focused on resurrection, divine power, and warnings to those who deny the Day of Judgment. It contextually addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the resurrection and serves as evidence of Allah's ability to restore life to the dead, which was a central point of contention during the Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When a human being dies, his deeds end except for three: a continuing charity, knowledge by which people benefit, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him' (Sahih Muslim 1631). This hadith relates to 'their traces' mentioned in the ayah, referring to the ongoing effects of one's actions after death.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that no action—whether visible or hidden—escapes Allah's knowledge and record, encouraging accountability and conscious living. It provides comfort that our good deeds and positive legacies persist in Allah's perfect record, inspiring righteous conduct motivated by divine awareness rather than worldly recognition.
Related Ayahs
أَلَآ إِنَّهُمْ فِى مِرْيَةٍ مِّن لِّقَآءِ رَبِّهِمْ ۗ أَلَآ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ مُّحِيطٌۢ
Unquestionably, they are in doubt about the meeting with their Lord. Unquestionably He is, of all things, encompassing.
قَالَ رَبِّى يَعْلَمُ ٱلْقَوْلَ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ
He [the Prophet (ﷺ)] said, "My Lord knows whatever is said throughout the heaven and earth, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing."
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَيَجْزِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا۟ بِٱلْحُسْنَى
And to Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth - that He may recompense those who do evil with [the penalty of] what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward] -
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لِمَ تَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ تَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَأَنتُمْ شُهَدَآءُ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, why do you avert from the way of Allāh those who believe, seeking to make it [seem] deviant, while you are witnesses [to the truth]? And Allāh is not unaware of what you do."