وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِشِمَالِهِۦ فَيَقُولُ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى لَمْ أُوتَ كِتَـٰبِيَهْ 25
Translations
But as for he who is given his record in his left hand, he will say, "Oh, I wish I had not been given my record
Transliteration
Wa-amma man ootiya kitabahu bi-shimalihi fa-yaqoolu ya-laytani lam oot kitabiyah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who receive their record of deeds in their left hand on the Day of Judgment, expressing deep regret and wishing they had never been given their book of actions. According to classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, receiving the book in the left hand is a sign of the person's deeds being evil and their destination being Hell. The ayah emphasizes the despair and hopelessness that will grip those whose deeds were wicked, as they realize the inevitable consequence of their actions.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Haqqah, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes the certainty and reality of the Day of Judgment (Al-Haqqah). The surah describes scenes from the Day of Judgment, and this particular verse falls within the passage depicting how different groups of people will receive their records of deeds—the righteous in their right hand and the wicked in their left hand.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The person who receives his book in his right hand will have an easy reckoning' (Sahih Bukhari 6532). Additionally, Surah Al-Inshiqaq (84:7-9) describes: 'As for him who is given his record in his right hand, he will say: Here, read my record!'—contrasting with those given their books in the left hand.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful reminder that our actions in this life have eternal consequences and will be presented to us on the Day of Judgment; believers should strive to perform righteous deeds and seek Allah's mercy, knowing that regret on that day will be too late to change the outcome.
Related Ayahs
رَّبِّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ۖ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْهُ خِطَابًا
[From] the Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, the Most Merciful. They possess not from Him [authority for] speech.
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِنۢ بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ ۛ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَـٰذَا غَـٰفِلِينَ
And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware."
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَرِنَا ٱلَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ
And those who disbelieved will [then] say, "Our Lord, show us those who misled us of the jinn and men [so] we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest."
ٱلْأَخِلَّآءُ يَوْمَئِذٍۭ بَعْضُهُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Close friends, that Day, will be enemies to each other, except for the righteous