Comprehensive Definition:
ṢAḤĪFATU ʾL-AʿMĀL (صحيفة الأعمال) refers to the “Book of Actions” or “Record of Deeds” in Islamic theology. This spiritual ledger meticulously chronicles every individual’s actions during their lifetime. According to Quranic teachings, these records are maintained by two angels known as Kirāmu ʾl-Kātibīn, one sitting on the right to note good deeds and the other on the left to record bad deeds.
Etymology:
The term ṢAḤĪFATU ʾL-AʿMĀL is derived from the Arabic words “Ṣaḥīfah” (صحيفة), meaning “book” or “scroll,” and “ʾAʿmāl” (أعمال), meaning “actions” or “deeds.”
Background:
In Islam, the concept of the Book of Actions is paramount in the eschatological narrative, where all human actions are documented without omission. This cosmic record plays a fundamental role during the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah), where each individual will be presented with their ledger to scrutinize their life’s course.
Cultural Differences and Similarities:
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Similarities:
The concept parallels the idea of a spiritual ledger found in various traditions. Christianity speaks of the “Book of Life” in the Day of Judgment, analogous to the Islamic Book of Actions. Hinduism and Buddhism consider karma, which accumulates one’s actions affecting future cycles of rebirth, akin to an ongoing ledger of deeds. -
Differences:
Unique to Islam is the belief in Kirāmu ʾl-Kātibīn actively recording deeds, with the Quran emphasizing them as ever-present witnesses to human actions.
Synonyms:
- Book of Deeds
- Ledger of Actions
- Record of Deeds
Antonyms:
- Amnesia (forgetfulness)
- Oblivion (complete forgetfulness)
Related Terms with Definitions:
- Kirāmu ʾl-Kātibīn: The honorable scribes or recording angels in Islam responsible for noting down human deeds.
- Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah): The final day when all beings are resurrected and held accountable for their earthly actions.
- Mizān: The scale used on the Day of Judgment to weigh and balance human deeds.
Exciting Facts:
- The extent of detail in the ṢAḤĪFATU ʾL-AʿMĀL is believed to be so meticulous that even the most trivial actions are recorded.
- This concept emphasizes accountability and underscores the weight of moral choices in one’s daily life.
Quotations from Notable Writers:
“And every man’s fate have We (God) fastened about his neck; and on the Day of Resurrection will We bring forth to him a book, which shall be proffered to him wide open: Read thy Book: There needeth none but thyself to make out an account against thee this day.”
— The Holy Quran, Sūrah 17:13-14
References:
- The Qur’an: Surah Qaaf (50:16), Surah Al-Isra (17:13-14)
- Al-Ghazali, The End of the World
- Sayyid Hossein Nasr, Islamic Life and Thought
Suggested Literature and Other Sources:
- “The Hereafter (Ma’ad)” by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari
- “Resurrection and the Afterlife” by Reza Shah-Kazemi
- “The Divine Reality: God, Islam, and the Mirage of Atheism” by Hamza Andreas Tzortzis
In the cosmic scheme of existence, the ṢAḤĪFATU ʾL-AʿMĀL underscores humanity’s enduring link between the ephemeral and the eternal, reminding us of the irreversible imprints our actions leave behind. As we navigate through life’s mosaic, may we find within ourselves the inspiration to etch deeds of justice, compassion, and humility into our celestial chronicles.
Warm regards, Ibrahim Al-Haddad
