وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ 10
Translations
And when the pages are spread [i.e., made public]
Transliteration
Wa-idha as-suhuf ushirat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the scrolls of deeds being opened and unrolled on the Day of Judgment, when each soul will be confronted with the record of their actions in this life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that these are the preserved records (lawh mahfuz) that document every deed, and their unveiling represents the moment of divine accountability when nothing can be hidden. This is a powerful reminder that all actions are recorded and will be presented as evidence before Allah on the Day of Reckoning.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah At-Takwir, a Meccan chapter describing the cosmic events and scenes of the Day of Judgment. It is part of a vivid sequence depicting the unfolding of events at resurrection (81:1-14), emphasizing the certainty and inevitability of the Hereafter for the Arabian polytheists who denied the Day of Judgment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Each soul shall know what it has sent forward and kept back' (Quran 82:5), which is contextually related. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet described how deeds are sealed and presented: 'The souls of the dead are taken up to the seventh heaven, then they are recorded in the 'Illiyyun (highest record)' - referencing the recording of deeds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to maintain consciousness of Allah's all-seeing knowledge and the certainty of accountability, motivating righteous conduct in this life. Understanding that our deeds are permanently recorded should inspire us to be mindful of our actions and intentions, knowing we will face their consequences in the afterlife.
Related Ayahs
قَدْ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً قَالُوا۟ يَـٰحَسْرَتَنَا عَلَىٰ مَا فَرَّطْنَا فِيهَا وَهُمْ يَحْمِلُونَ أَوْزَارَهُمْ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِمْ ۚ أَلَا سَآءَ مَا يَزِرُونَ
Those will have lost who deny the meeting with Allāh, until when the Hour [of resurrection] comes upon them unexpectedly, they will say, "Oh, [how great is] our regret over what we neglected concerning it [i.e., the Hour]," while they bear their burdens [i.e., sins] on their backs. Unquestionably, evil is that which they bear.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهُ حَفِيظٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَآ أَنتَ عَلَيْهِم بِوَكِيلٍ
And those who take as allies other than Him - Allāh is [yet] Guardian over them; and you, [O Muḥammad], are not over them a manager.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُو قَالَ أَكَذَّبْتُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِى وَلَمْ تُحِيطُوا۟ بِهَا عِلْمًا أَمَّاذَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
Until, when they arrive [at the place of Judgement], He will say, "Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what [was it that] you were doing?"
وَتَذَرُونَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ
And leave [i.e., neglect] the Hereafter.