[janeseymore09092]

Hi,
I was discussing the replies with my friend and he has raised a few further points and is wondering if anyone can answer, he is genuinely looking for an answer and seeking knowledge and I will raise the point he has raised and see if anyone can answer.

and from before it the book of Moses, an Imam and a mercy.

وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً

In the ayat above the word kitaab is clearly used to refer to the book of Moses.
The word Imam here is an adjective – saying that the book is an Imam/ a spiritual guide and a mercy. This does not make the word Imam interchangeable with book. If we said the book is black, does black then become interchangeable with book?

The same applies with 46:12 imam is translated as imam as you wrote.

In 17:71 there is no reason to believe that the word Imam means book, it is even translated as imam.

بِإِمَامِهِمْ

Bi-imami-hum – With their imam.
Bi which can mean in or with, as in ياكل الولد بالملعقة – the boys eats with the spoon.

On the day we shall summon/call all men with their imam.

يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ

None of the before mentioned give any solid reason why Imam should mean book, the first example shows the opposite.

If we look at Arabic meaning of the word Imam, it means; an Imam, a leader, a guide, a plumb-line but nothing to do with records or books.

Al Quran is in Arabic for a reason, for clarity, if Allah SWT chose a word, it is for a reason.

All Arabic words have roots and the meaning can only be derived from that root.

Please provide some evidence that the word Imam can be taken as meaning other than the above not like in your first example where it is an adjective but that it can actually possess another meaning by itself. Not a translation of an ayat but something solid from a dictionary or linguistic source.

As mentioned if I say the book is black, black does not automatically become interchangeable with book in every instance for this reason alone.

I hope this reply doesn't come across confrontational i can assure all that this is a genuine brother who is seeking the truth and since I have been intrigued by this matter I said I will help.

JazakAllah Khair.

al-Salamu 'Aleykum,

No it doesn't come across as confrontational, it's just that your friend seems confused, he's now talking about 17:71 which is a completely different verse and the word Imam does not necessarily mean book in some places it means a human who leads by example but as for the previous verse 36:12 as we stated before it is the book of Allah since it is called an Imam because people follow it, anything which is followed is an Imam whether it is a human or a book thus Imam can mean a book and there is absolutely no linguistic reason why it shouldn't, we came to this conclusion by posting other verses. Also it's obvious that this is referring to a book since Allah says he's "recording" or "enumerating", he can't be recording in a Human that doesn't make much sense does it?

So we have "Ahsaynahu fi Imamin Mubeen" in verse 36:12 and it means "recorded in a clear register" or "recorded in a clear book"...

Allah says in other verses that he has recorded all in a clear book, for example in verse 11:6

And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register. (11:6)

Above Allah uses the words "Kitabin Mubeen" so he described the book as "Mubeen" and this is a great piece of evidence that Allah has recorded all in a clear book.

another example is this:
With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read). (6:59)

Now it seems your friend changed his mind, he was first talking about verse 36:12 but now he switched to verse 17:71, and there is no reason to explain the word Imam as book in this verse, it is possible that it means "book" because some translators did understand it this way while other translators did not explain it as book, and here are the translations:

Sahih international:
[Mention, O Muhammad], 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].

Ahmad 'Ali:
The day We shall summon all men with their leaders, whosoever is given his record in his right hand will be able to read his account, and none will be wronged the breadth of a thread.

Ahmad Raza Khan:
On the day when We shall summon every group along with its leader; so whoever is given his register in his right hand – these will read their accounts and their rights will not be suppressed even a thread. (* They will be given the full reward.)

Arberry:
On the day when We shall call all men with their record, and whoso is given his book in his right hand -- those shall read their book, and they shall not be wronged a single date-thread.

Asad:
[but] one Day We shall summon all human beings [and judge them] according to the conscious disposition which governed their deeds [in life]: whereupon they whose record shall be placed in their right hand -it is they who will read their record [with happiness]. Yet none shall be wronged by as much as a hair's breadth:

Daryabadi:
Remember the Day whereon We shall call all man kind with their record: then whosoever will be vouchsafed his book in his right hand, those shall read their book, and they shall not be wronged a whit.

Hilali & Khan:
(And remember) the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam [their Prophets, or their records of good and bad deeds, or their Holy Books like the Quran, the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), etc.]. So whosoever is given his record in his right hand, such will read their records, and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.

Maududi:
Then think of the Day We shall summon every community with its leader. Those who are given their Record in their right hand shall read the Record of their deeds and shall not be wronged a whit.

Pickthall:
On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand - such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred.

Qaribullah & Darwish:
On the Day when We call all the people with their record, whosoever is given his book in his right hand shall read their book, and they shall not be wronged by as much as a single datefiber.

Sarwar:
On the day when We call every nation with their leaders, those whose record of deeds are given to their right hands will read the book and the least wrong will not be done to them.

Shakir:
(Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imam; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these shall read their book; and they shall not be dealt with a whit unjustly.

Wahidudeen Khan:
The Day will surely come when We shall summon every people with their leader. Then those who are given their records in their right hands will read their records [eagerly] and shall not in the least be wronged:

Yusuf 'Ali:
One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure), and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.


^ Above it is clear that the translators differed on the meaning of Imam and we shall see why soon, some explained it as Book or record of deeds since other verses hint towards this such as this one:

And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open. (17:13)

Others translated it as "leaders/Prophets" or they just left it as "Imam" without translating it, I need to point out that Hilali and Khan did a great job by providing all possible explanations between parentheses.


Let us check a respectable Tafseer from Ahlul-Sunnah "Tafseer ibn Kathir":

Allah tells us that on the Day of Resurrection, he will call each people to account by its Imam. The scholars differed as to the meaning of this, Imam. Mujahid and Qatadah said that it meant each nation would be called to account by its Prophet. as Allah says:

And for every nation is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged [10:47]

Some of the Salaf(pious predecessors) said this is the greatest honor for the people of Hadith, because their leader is the Prophet PBUH.
Ibn Zayd said it means they would be called to account by their Book which was revealed to their Prophet with its laws. This was also the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

Ibn Abi Najih narrated that Mujahid said, "With their Books.'' It may also be that what is meant here is what Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas concerning this Ayah when he said "which is that it refers to the Book (or record) of their deeds." This was also the view of Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan and Ad-Dahhak. This view is the most correct, because Allah says:

"and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book" [36:12]
and
"And the Book (one's record) will be placed, and you will see the criminals, fearful of that which is (recorded) therein" [18:49]

And it is possible that it means the Imam of each folks or nation, the people of belief take as leaders their prophets and messengers while the people of kufr follow their own a Allah says:
"And we have made them Imams calling to the hell-fire" [al-Qasas:41]

And in the two Sahihs:
لتتبع كل أمة ما كانت تعبد، فيتبع ما كان يعبد الطواغيت الطواغيت "So that every nation follows what it used to worship, those who worshipped the tyrants followed them."

and Allah says:
"And you will see each nation humbled to their knees, each nation will be called to its record (of deeds). This Day you shall be recompensed for what you used to do. This Our record speaks about you with truth. Verily, We were recording what you used to do." [45:28-29]

This does not contradict the fact that the Prophet will be brought forward when Allah judges between his Ummah, for he will inevitably be a witness against his Ummah over their deeds as Allah says:
"And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged." [39:69]

and He says:
"So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness?" [4:41]

But what is meant here by Imam is the Book of deeds. Allah says:
" the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam so whosoever is given his record in his right hand, such will read their records " [17:71]

Meaning, because of their happiness and joy at what is recorded therein of good deeds - they will read it and enjoy reading it. they will say:
"So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, "Here, read my record!" [69:19]

- end -

ِAnd in a narration from the prophet SAWS we also see that what is meant is the book of deeds:
عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في قوله تعالى : { يوم ندعو كل أناس بإمامهم } قال : يدعى أحدهم ، فيعطى كتابه بيمينه ، ويمد له في جسمه ستون ذراعا ، ويبيض وجهه ، ويجعل على رأسه تاج من لؤلؤ يتلألأ ، فينطلق إلى أصحابه ، فيرونه من بعد ، فيقولون : اللهم ائتنا بهذا ، وبارك لنا في هذا ، حتى يأتيهم ، فيقول لهم : أبشروا ، لكل رجل منكم مثل هذا ، وأما الكافر فيسود وجهه ، ويمد له في جسمه ستون ذراعا على صورة آدم ، ويلبس تاجا ، فيراه أصحابه ، فيقولون : نعوذ بالله من شر هذا ، اللهم لا تأتنا بهذا . قال : فيأتيهم ، فيقولون : اللهم أخره ، فيقول : أبعدكم الله ، فإن لكل رجل منكم مثل هذا From the Prophet SAWS about the saying of Allah "The Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam." he said: They call upon one of them and he receives his book in his right hand, his body shall be extended sixty cubits, his face shall shine in whiteness and on his head shall be a crown from pearls, he will go to his companions and they will see him and say "O Allah grant us like this and bless us with it." so the man will say to his companions: "I give you glad tidings, for every man among you is the same!" As for the Kaffir his face shall be darkened and his body shall be extended to sixty cubits in the image of Adam and he shall wear a crown of fire so when his companions see him they will say: "We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this, O Allah do not grant us like it." And when they see him coming they will say: "O Allah take him away from us." then the man will say to his companions: "May Allah distance you far from me! for every man among you is like what I have."

source:
-al-Munthiri said "Sahih or Hasan or like them." in al-Targheeb wal-Tarheeb 4/310.

And in this Hadith are two interesting points:
1- The nature of the body of humans shall change as stated in other authentic narrations about Adam SAWS being 60 cubits tall.
2- The importance of having good pious companions.

As for Imam al-Tabari (died 310 AH) he said in his tafseer after stating various narrations and opinions:

أولـى هذه الأقوال عندنا بـالصواب، قول من قال: معنى ذلك: يوم ندعو كلّ أناس بإمامهم الذي كانوا يقتدون به، ويأتـمُّون به فـي الدنـيا، لأن الأغلب من استعمال العرب الإمام فـيـما ائتـمّ واقتدي به، وتوجيه معانـي كلام الله إلـى الأَشهر أَوْلـى ما لـم تثبت حجة بخلافه يجب التسلـيـم لها. "What is most correct in our view from among all these opinions is the saying of those who said: (When we call the people with their Imam whose example they followed and who used to lead them in the worldly life.) Because the Arabs commonly use the word Imam for what leads and what is taken as an example, directing the meanings of the words of Allah towards what is more famous is better unless we have a proof that states otherwise in which case we would submit to that."

As for the Twelver Shia who can't stand to see the word imam being used unless they attribute it to their twelve Imams, let's take two samples from the Shia Tafaseer...

al-Tusi says in his al-Tibyan al-Jami'i:

واختلفوا في الإمام الذي يدعون به يوم القيامة، فقال مجاهد وقتادة: إِمامه نبيه. وقال ابن عباس: إِمامه كتاب علمه. وروي عنه ايضاً أن إِمامهم كتابهم الذي انزل الله اليهم فيه الحلال والحرام والفرائض والاحكام. وقال البلخي: بما كانوا يعبدونه، ويجعلونه إِماماً لهم. وقال ابو عبيد: بما كانوا يأتمون به في الدنيا. وهو قول ابي جعفر وابي عبدالله (ع). ((And they differed on the "Imam" which they will be called with on the day of judgement, Mujahid and Qatadah said: "The Imam is the Prophet". Ibn 'Abbas said: "Imam is the record of deeds." and it is also narrated from him that it means "The book which Allah revealed to you containing matters of Halal and Haram and obligatory duties and rulings." al-Balkhi said: "What they used to worship and consider their Imam." and Abu 'Ubeid said: "What they used to take as their Imam in this world." and this last one is the saying of Imams abu Ja'afar and abu 'Abdullah PBUT.))

al-Tubrusi says in Majma'a al-Bayan, I won't translate this literally as it'll take a long time so i'll just go over them quickly, he stated five opinions:
1-it means followers of Prophets or devils or evil men ect...
2-it means the holy books which descend from the sky.
3-it means the ones whom they took as leaders during their times and he mentions a Sahih hadith from al-Reda.
4-record of deeds.
5-their mothers!?

And the rest of the Shia Tafaseer pretty much mention the same possibilities while clearly adopting the ones which talk about their 12 Imams.

و عليكم السلام