Question:
Assalamualaikum w.b.t. I would like to ask. Do the disbelievers also have their books of deeds like the believers?
Hope for an explanation. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
In conclusion, we state that the disbelievers also have their own books of deeds the same as the believers as stated literally by the text of al-Quran. However, the method of reckoning (hisab) is different between these two.
For believers, they will be given their books of deeds by right hand. So, their reckoning will be much easier and lighter by presentment of their past deeds.
While for disbelievers, their books of deeds will be given from the left or back. Then they will be reckoned in harsh and detail that it raises the feelings of fear, disappointment and regret as the punishment for their disbelief in Allah SWT.
Wallahu a’lam.
Explanation:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Firstly, this question is closely related to the scholars’ discussion on the reckoning (hisab) on the Hereafter. The scholars explained that this hisab is implied upon the believers and disbelievers among jinn and humans, except for the people who are chosen by Allah SWT to enter Paradise without hisab. This is stated in the book Tuhfat al-Murid Syarh Jawharat al-Tauhid:
وَ يَكُونُ لِلمُؤْمِنِ وَ الكَافِرِ إنْسًا وَ جِنًّا إِلَّا مَنْ وَرَدَ الحَدِيثُ باسْتِثْنَائِهِمْ كَالسَّبْعِينَ أَلْفًا وَ أَفْضَلُهُمْ أَبُو بَكْر الصِّدِّيقُ فَلَا يُحَاسَبُ
And (hisab) is implied upon the believers and non-believers among jinn and human except for those who are included in the hadith which states on the exception like 70,000 (those who enter Paradise without hisab). And he who will lead them is Abu Bakar al-Siddiq RA. He will not be reckoned. (Refer Ibrahim al-Laqqani, Tuhfat al-Murid Syarh Jawharat al-Tauhid, 1:280)
However, the method of hisab is different depending on the condition of a person whether he is a believer or non-believer. Imam al-Laqqani said:
وَ كَيْفِيَّتُهُ مُخْتَلِفَةٌ فَمِنْهُ اليَسِيرُ وَ العَسِيرُ وَ السِرُّ وَ الجَهْرُ وَ التَوْبِيخُ وَ الفَضْلُ وَ العَدْلُ
And its method (of hisab) is different. Some are easy, some are hard, some in secret, some in transparent and cursed, some are given advantages and some are by adil. (Refer Ibrahim al-Laqqani, Tuhfat al-Murid Syarh Jawharat al-Tauhid, 1:280)
While for believers, they will be given their books of deeds by right hand and are reckoned in an easy and simple way. Allah SWT says:
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ ﴿٧﴾ فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا ﴿٨﴾
Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, (7) He will be judged with an easy account (8)
Surah al-Insyiqaq (7-8)
The believers are not reckoned in a harsh and detail way, in fact, their books of deeds will only be presented. This is because, whoever is reckoned in a harsh and detail way, he is ruined.
This is in accordance with the hadith narrated by Sayyidatina Aisha RAnha where the Prophet PBUH said:
" لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ يُحَاسَبُ إِلاَّ هَلَكَ ". قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ جَعَلَنِي اللَّهُ فِدَاءَكَ، أَلَيْسَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ))فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ * فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا((. قَالَ " ذَاكَ الْعَرْضُ يُعْرَضُونَ، وَمَنْ نُوقِشَ الْحِسَابَ هَلَكَ "
"(On the Day of Resurrection) any one whose account will be taken will be ruined (i.e. go to Hell)." I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! May Allah make me be sacrificed for you. Doesn't Allah say: "Then as for him who will be given his record in his right hand, he surely will receive an easy reckoning.?" (84.7-8) He replied, "That is only the presentation of the accounts; but he whose record is questioned, will be ruined."
Sahih al-Bukhari (4939) and Sahih Muslim (2876)
While for disbelievers, they will be given their books of deeds by left hand from their back. Allah SWT’s saying states on this condition of the disbelievers who regretted and wished that they will not be reckoned:
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِشِمَالِهِ فَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُوتَ كِتَابِيَهْ ﴿٢٥﴾ وَلَمْ أَدْرِ مَا حِسَابِيَهْ ﴿٢٦﴾
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 (25) And had not known what is my account. (26)
Surah al-Haqqah (25-26)
Allah SWT also says:
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ ﴿١٠﴾ فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُو ثُبُورًا ﴿١١﴾ وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا ﴿١٢﴾
But as for he who is given his record behind his back, (10) He will cry out for destruction (11) And [enter to] burn in a Blaze. (12)
Surah al-Insyiqaq (10-12)
Besides, they will also be reckoned with a very harsh and detail reckoning. Allah WT says:
وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا
And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, "Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?" And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.
Surah al-Kahf (49)
Conclusion
In conclusion, we state that the disbelievers also have their own books of deeds the same as the believers as stated literally by the text of al-Quran. However, the method of reckoning (hisab) is different between these two.
For believers, they will be given their books of deeds by right hand. So, their reckoning will be much easier and lighter by presentment of their past deeds.
While for disbelievers, their books of deeds will be given from the left or back. Then, they will be reckoned in harsh and detail that it raises the feelings of fear, disappointment and regret as the punishment for their disbelief in Allah SWT.
Wallahu a’lam.