Overview (Verses 13 - 15)

Personal Responsibility
 
The law of action and reward is directly linked to the meticulous law of the universe:
 
Every human being’s action have We tied around his own neck. On the Day of Resurrection We shall produce for him a record which he will find wide open. [And We will say:] ‘Read this your record! Sufficient it is for you today that your own soul should make out your account.’ (Verses 13-14)
 
The Arabic phraseology of this verse provides a highly graphic description which uses the word, ‘bird’, in place of ‘action’, as used in the translated text. Thus we have here a metaphor referring to what flies of a person’s actions and becomes tied around his neck, so that it never parts from him. Thus does the Qur’ān in graphically describing things in order to emphasize its point. A person’s actions do not leave him, and he cannot disown them. The same applies to the wide open record of all his actions. Thus whatever he has done in life is laid bare. He cannot hide, ignore or disown it. Both descriptions, of the bird denoting action and the record thrown open, produce a very strong effect that adds to the fears experienced on that very difficult day when nothing remains hidden. Everyone is told to read their own records because, “Sufficient it is for you today that your own soul should make out your account.” (Verse 14)
 
Again the same accurate universal law is linked to the rules governing action and reward: “Whoever chooses to follow guidance does so for his own good, and whoever goes astray does so to his own loss. No soul shall be made to bear the burden of another.” (Verse 15) It is all individual responsibility. When one follows guidance, one reaps the fruits, and when one chooses error, one bears the consequences. None will bear or lighten the burden of another. Everyone will be questioned about their own actions and will have the reward for what they have done in this life. Close friends will be of no help to each other.
 
Yet as a sign of God’s grace, He does not leave man’s guidance dependent only on the signs that are available in the universe. Nor does He leave him to the covenant God has made with human nature before a person is born. He has sent messengers to warn and remind: “We would never inflict punishment [on anyone] until We have sent a messenger [to give warning].” (Verse 15) This is certainly an aspect of God’s grace which gives everyone ample opportunity to follow His guidance. Only when they have been properly warned and still persist in error does He punish them, if He so wills.