However...

However, despite the fact that His grace and favor are both in action, we must also go on with our struggle, never to take pride in our cleverness or audacity. “…you may seek grace from your Lord…” The night and the day form a natural calendar which is perennial, universal, easy to use, understandable, means of establishing order, and planning, knowing the number of years and keeping account of the affairs.

The holy verse continues saying: “…and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning…” Incidentally, the measures for the organization of the system of creation are not unintended or without due causes. They are all having man as their main axis. In the hierarchy of existence, everything is well organized, based on universal laws, and distinctly separated so as to avoid any collision, interference, and collapse.

“And every man’s record of action have We fastened to his neck; and on the Day of Judgment, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open.” The Arabic term /t a’ir/, mentioned in this holy verse, alludes metaphorically to man’s action, for man’s actions are like birds which fly in order to reach man himself. Everybody’s record of action, whether good or bad, will be hung up around his neck.

We have frequent references made in the Qur’an to man’s record of action and there are various points dealt with in different verses, among which are the followings: Man’s record of action is universal. The above verse says: “And every man’s record of action have We fastened to his neck…” Nothing is left out of that record. “…it leaves out nothing, small or great…” [^3] The culprits are intimidated by it.

“…and you see the guilty fearful at what is in it…” ^4 Man himself is in a position to arbitrate about his own course of action. “Read your book, your own self suffices today…” [^5] Those who are salvaged will be given their books to their right hand and the ones who are supposed to go to Hell will be given their books to their left hand. “Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say: ‘Lo!