Appearance
Calling Humanity by Their Imam
The Qur’anic verses present a vivid depiction of human accountability on the Day of Resurrection:
“(Remember) the day when We will call every people by their Imām; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these shall read their book; and they shall not be dealt with a whit unjustly. Whoever is blind in this (life) will be blind in the Hereafter, and further astray from the way”
This scene reveals a profound truth about the consequences of following righteous or corrupt leaders in the worldly life. ʿAllāmah Ṭabāṭabāʾī explores the depth of this verse, focusing on the concepts of leadership, human choice, and the ultimate justice of God. The calling of people by their Imām—their leader or guide—reflects not only divine justice but also the responsibility of individuals to discern truth from falsehood in this world. Those whom humanity chooses to follow will serve as witnesses to their moral choices, leading either to salvation or ruin in the Hereafter.
The analysis, begins by examining the Qur’anic term imām and its significance. Linguistically, imām means a leader—someone who is followed as a guide in belief, thought, or action. The Qur’an employs this term to refer both to leaders of truth (divinely chosen guides) and to leaders of falsehood who mislead people from the path of God. This dual usage reflects the expansive nature of the term in the Qur’anic worldview. The imām of a person, therefore, may be a righteous leader who embodies divine guidance or a corrupt leader who leads people astray. On the Day of Resurrection, each group will be gathered alongside the leader they followed, as a manifestation of their moral and spiritual alignment. The use of the phrase “their Imām” without qualification indicates that leadership is a matter of personal choice and responsibility. Each individual will be called in accordance with the leader they willingly aligned themselves with, whether righteous or unrighteous.
Exegetes have provided varied interpretations of the term Imām in the verse , often aligning it with concepts like scriptures, prophets, records of deeds, or even figurative meanings like “mother.” Allāmah critically evaluates these interpretations, pointing out their linguistic and contextual shortcomings. He emphasizes that Imām in the Qur’anic language refers to either a divinely appointed leader who guides by God’s command or a leader of misguidance who leads followers astray. This unique Qur’anic usage, he argues, cannot be reduced to general lexical definitions or speculative explanations.
For instance, interpretations suggesting that Imām refers to scriptures, records of deeds, or collective religions fail to align with the individual accountability implied in the verse’s latter part: “then whoever is given his book in his right hand…” Likewise, views that equate Imām with “mother” or use it figuratively are linguistically strained and lack sufficient Qur’anic or textual support. Allāmah argues that the Qur’anic understanding of Imām as a leader—whether guiding toward truth or misguidance—provides the most consistent and coherent explanation within the Qur’an’s thematic framework.
The Qur’anic narrative emphasizes that the followers of true guidance will receive their “book” in their right hand—a symbol of honor and divine acceptance. This book serves as a record of their deeds, a testimony to their faithfulness and sincerity in following the path of truth. The righteous will read their book with pride and peace, knowing that they adhered to leaders who guided them to success in both this life and the next. Receiving the book in the right hand signifies not merely divine favor but also the fulfillment of a journey marked by correct choices and alignment with true leadership. This reward is both personal and collective, for it reflects the efficacy of the righteous imām’s guidance as well as the follower’s conscious commitment to truth.
Conversely, those who followed false leaders will face a different fate. The verse declares that “whoever is blind in this (life) will be blind in the Hereafter, and further astray from the way.” This metaphor of blindness represents a profound spiritual reality: those who failed to recognize or accept the truth in the worldly life were living in a state of spiritual blindness, incapable of discerning the path of guidance. This blindness is not physical but moral and intellectual. On the Day of Resurrection, it will manifest as a complete inability to find the way to salvation. Those who rejected divine guidance and chose corrupt leaders will realize, too late, the consequences of their decisions. Their spiritual blindness in this world becomes an enduring condition in the next, rendering them unable to escape their plight.
The scene depicted in the verse highlights the importance of human agency in choosing whom to follow. Leadership, in this sense extends to all those who serve as guides in belief and action. An imām can be anyone whom people revere, imitate, or set as a model for their lives—be it a political leader, a thinker, a cultural icon, or even personal desires elevated to the status of guidance. ʿAllāmah argues that this universal meaning of imām affirms the profound responsibility individuals have in selecting their leaders. The choice of leadership is not trivial; it shapes one’s moral and spiritual trajectory, determining one’s ultimate fate in the Hereafter. Those who follow true guides—leaders appointed by God or those aligned with divine principles—will find their efforts validated and rewarded. Those who align themselves with false or corrupt leadership, however, will be held accountable for their decisions.
The concept of divine justice emerges as a central theme in this verse. The Qur’an assures that no one will be dealt with unjustly, no matter how small their actions may be. The symbolic “book” given to every individual is a complete and precise record of their deeds. This record does not omit even the smallest detail, for God’s justice is absolute. The imagery of receiving the book in the right hand reflects divine fairness, rewarding those who strove for truth with honor and recognition. The assurance that no injustice will occur emphasizes the impartiality of divine judgment. Each person’s actions, intentions, and allegiances are fully accounted for, leaving no room for grievance or complaint.
Through this verse, ʿAllāmah highlights a critical lesson about the interconnectedness of human choice and divine justice. The Day of Resurrection is not merely a moment of judgment but a culmination of the choices individuals made in the worldly life. Leadership, as portrayed here, is both a blessing and a test. To follow a true leader is to walk toward light, guidance, and salvation; to follow a false leader is to walk toward darkness, misguidance, and loss. The calling of people by their Imām serves as a stark reminder that leadership shapes destinies, and each individual must carefully discern whom they allow to influence their beliefs and actions.
This understanding of leadership extends beyond the individual to collective societies. Groups, nations, and communities are similarly accountable for the leaders they elevate and follow. The verse reflects a universal principle: the path one chooses is inseparable from the guides one adopts. In this way, the Qur’an emphasizes the critical importance of recognizing and adhering to true guidance, which is grounded in divine principles. Failure to do so not only leads to personal loss but also perpetuates moral and spiritual blindness within society.
In conclusion, the commentary on verses reveals an insightful message about the role of leadership (or guides) in shaping human destinies. The Qur’anic portrayal of people being called by their Imām on the Day of Resurrection reflects the enduring consequences of human choices. It highlights the responsibility of individuals to seek and follow righteous guidance while warning against the dangers of aligning with false leaders. Divine justice, as exemplified by the symbolic book of deeds, ensures that every action and every choice is accounted for with perfect fairness. Ultimately, this verse serves as both a reminder and a warning: the leaders one chooses in this world will accompany them into the next, and the path of true guidance remains the only way to secure eternal success and salvation.
Qur’an, – “And for every people, there is a guide.” ↩︎
While the Qur’an elsewhere uses Imām to refer to the Guarded Tablet (al-lawḥ al-maḥfūẓ), as in: “We have recorded everything in a clear writing (Imāmin mubīn)” (), the context of verse indicates a different meaning. The addition of the possessive pronoun “their” to “Imām” implies a unique leader for each group, rather than the universal and singular Guarded Tablet. ↩︎
Thus it becomes evident that the Imām of “every people” means the person whom they follow in the path of either truth or falsehood. ↩︎
The calling of humanity by their Imām aligns with the Qur’anic themes of guidance and misguidance, free will, and accountability. The concept echoes verses such as “And for every people, there is a guide” () and “Indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it” (), highlighting the importance of adhering to true guidance. ↩︎
The Qur’anic depiction of the “book” given in the right hand reflects divine acceptance and honor, as seen in verses such as “Then as for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will soon be reckoned with an easy reckoning” (). Conversely, the fate of those who follow the imām of falsehood is illustrated in verses like “And as for him who is given his book in his left hand, he will say, ‘I wish I had not been given my book’” (). This contrast emphasizes the moral and spiritual outcomes of aligning with truth versus falsehood, as reflected in the symbolic act of receiving the book in the right or left hand. ↩︎
Spiritual blindness is a recurring metaphor in the Qur’an, representing a state of ignorance or deliberate rejection of divine guidance. In this context, it emphasizes the consequences of neglecting the truth in this world. Those who are spiritually blind fail to perceive and follow the correct path and, as a result, face a similar blindness and estrangement in the Hereafter. ↩︎
In short, the verse means those who do not recognize the true imām and do not follow the true path in the life of this world will not find salvation and felicity in the life of hereafter and will not achieve forgiveness and mercy. ↩︎
“And the Book will be set down. Then you will see the guilty fearful of what is in it, and they will say, ‘Woe to us! What a book is this! It does not leave any small or great thing, but it has enumerated it.’ And they will find present whatever they had done, and your Lord does not wrong anyone.” (Qur’an ). ↩︎
The Qur’an vividly portrays the regret of those who followed false leaders on the Day of Judgment in these verses: “And they will say, ‘Our Lord! Indeed we obeyed our leaders and elders, and they led us astray from the path. Our Lord, give them a double punishment and curse them with a great curse!’” (). ↩︎