The Books of Deeds that are kept in Illiyin and Sijjeen

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The Guardian AngelsThe Books of Deeds will speak

The 8th verse has come twice in Surah Mutafffifin. It is about the deeds of the good and the bad people and gives a little detail about it. It first speaks about the deeds of the sinners:

““No! Truly the record of the sinners is preserved in the archives. And what will make you know what Sijjin is? It is a register of records.”

Then a few verses later this Surah speaks about the deeds of the pious people:

“No the record of the pious is preserved in Illiyun (Annals) and what will explain it? (It is) an inscribed register.”

These verses speak about Sijjeen and Illiyin in which will be kept the deeds of the sinners and the pious so the meaning of these two verses should be absolutely clear.

The word “Sijjeen” is a hyperbole derived from the word “Sijjin” which means a jail and here it has been given different meanings like Hell, or a special place in Hell where the deeds of the sinners will be kept. But the most appropriate meaning seems to be that it is a composite register in which will be inscribed the sins of all the sinners. We can say in plain words that it is like a journal, a book of records in which will have the accounts of all the debtors and the creditors because it has been said earlier that there are many registers.

The word “Illiyin” is plural of the word “I’lly” which is from the word “Illaw” which means elevation and so it speaks about an elevated status. The word can use for the people who live on the mountains also.

According to many commentators this means the best palaces of Paradise or the best houses in the highest level of the heaven in this verse.

But when we compare it to the explanation about “Sijjeen” noted earlier we learn that this too is a large book in which are inscribed the deeds of the pious people, a big journal kept close with God. (1)

 


 

1. The word “Illyin” is plural masculine but “Siijin” is singular but this does not prevent it from being used to denote a single high rise building or place.

 

The Guardian AngelsThe Books of Deeds will speak
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