The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 554
CH. 17 BANI ISRĀ'ĪL PT. 15 اِقْرَأْ كِتُبَكَ كَفَى بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ Read thy book. Sufficient. 15 حَسِيبان is thy own soul this day as reckoner against thee. ' 1944 "17:72; 45:30; 69:20, 26, 27. actions of man. Sometimes they appear to be of little significance, yet their effects are far-reaching and permanent. The verse warns man to be very careful about his actions. He is reminded that since a deed once done cannot be undone and has far- reaching effects and, even if hidden from the human eye, still remains attached to the doer's neck, it is clear that it is impossible to obliterate it. We should therefore be on our guard against hasty and careless actions, because sooner or later we are bound to reap their consequences. The Quran says, Whoso does good an atom's weight will see it, and whoso does evil an atom's weight will also see it (99:8, 9). These verses, however, should not be understood to mean that repentance is denied to man. The door of repentance is always open but man's moral and spiritual lapses, even though they may be forgiven, leave a more or less lasting imprint on his spiritual progress. He lags behind those who are not guilty of such lapses unless he makes a special effort to make up the deficiency. The effects of sins must linger on. The discovery of ethereal waves has confirmed the great truth enunciated about 1,400 years ago by Islam that even the smallest motion causes a stir in the air which goes on enlarging and widening. So we should be very careful about our actions because every deed like a seed grows into a big tree without our knowing it. The verse may also be taken to mean that man augurs good or evil from outside things while his good or bad augury is inseparably linked to his own neck. The words, fastened to his neck, have been used deliberately and with a purpose. When a man does a good deed, he raises his head with pride while with the commission of an evil one he hangs his head in shame. So the word 'neck' has been used here to bring home to him the fact that he himself is his own judge. If he feels that he can raise his head with pride before his associates and friends, he should conclude that he is on the right path but if his head hangs in shame, he must know that he is going to rack and ruin. 1762 The words, which he will find wide open, mean that the effect of man's deeds will begin to manifest itself. It will not remain only like a seed but will grow and develop into a big tree and later bear fruit. 1944. Commentary: The expression, Read thy book, used figuratively means, "take thy punishment". The words, Sufficient is thy own soul this day as reckoner against thee, clearly show that punishment is not something that comes from outside but it takes its birth within man himself. In fact, the