[CAxrrAYN]

salaam,

Hoping someone with understanding of Arabic can help me on this matter.
I was having this discussion with a friend and a topic arose and it entrigued me so hoping the brothers here can assist me.

What is the meaning of the word 'imam' in the quran?
what is the meaning of the word 'mubeenin' in the quran?
what is the meaning of the 2 words put together 'imamin mubeenin'

I will explain further once I have an answer to the above 3 questions.

JazakAllah

[THOUTHCAW]

وَقَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ وَقَتَادَةُ وَابْنُ زَيْدٍ: أَرَادَ اللَّوْحَ الْمَحْفُوظَ. وَقَالَتْ فِرْقَةٌ: أَرَادَ صَحَائِفَ الْأَعْمَالِ

Hazrat Mujahid and Qatadah and Ibn Ziyad رحمهم الله say that Imam here means Loh Mahfooz. And some say it means the Book in which your amaal are written.

Tafseer Qurtubi.

Mubeen means Clear.

Tafseer Ibn e Kaseer says:

يَوْمَ نَدْعُوا كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ} [الْإِسْرَاءِ: 71] أَيْ: بِكِتَابِ أَعْمَالِهِمِ الشَّاهِدِ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمَا عَمِلُوهُ مِنْ خَيْرٍ وشر

He mentions another ayat which says that day when we will call all people with their Imams meaning the books in which their Amaal - good and bad - are written.

[THOUTHCAW]

This is the english translation of the ayat:

and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.

The thing is that knowing Arabic is not enough to understand the Quran. You need tafaseer.

[CAxrrAYN]

Thanks for your reply.

My Arabic is very weak and poor so I am asking those who's is better than mine to help understand this interesting point which has been raised by a brother.

With reference to;

Ya Sin 36:12
Transliteration : Inna nahnu nuhyee almawta wanaktubu ma qaddamoo waatharahum wakulla shay-in ahsaynahu fee imamin mubeenin

The translation for this can be seen here by many different translators;

http://www.islamawakened.com/quran/36/12/default.htm

Muhammad Asad
Verily, We shall indeed bring the dead back to life; and We shall record whatever [deeds] they have sent ahead, and the traces [of good and evil] which they have left behind: for of all things do We take account in a record clear.

M. M. Pickthall
Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before (them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.

Shakir
Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing.

Yusuf Ali
Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).

However there is one translation which states;

Ali Quli Qara'i
Indeed it is We who revive the dead and write what they have sent ahead and their effects [which they left behind], and We have figured everything in a manifest Imam.

Now the point which has been raised is that a lot of these translation refer to imamin mubeenin as 'clear record/book'
The translation by Ali Quli Qara'i seems to point to an imam?

Any ideas why there is a difference an arab speaking Iraqi brother has bought this to my attention and convinced that the 'clear record' translation is completely wrong and states the translation by Ali Quli Qara'i is closest to the true meaning.

Does anyone have a very good knowledge of arabic where this might be able to be explained?

I have read online that translation by Ali Quli Qarai is considered the best English translation of the Qur'an from the Shia perspective...

Without going too deep into the sunni/shia debate is there any truth inwhat I have posted above?

[janeseymore09092]

Salam 'Aleykum,

That's because the Quran and the book of Musa (as) are called Imams:

So is one who [stands] upon a clear evidence from his Lord [like the aforementioned]? And a witness from Him follows it, and before it was the Scripture of Moses an Imam and a mercy. Those [believers in the former revelations] believe in the Qur'an. But whoever disbelieves in it from the [various] factions - the Fire is his promised destination. So be not in doubt about it. Indeed, it is the truth from your Lord, but most of the people do not believe. (11:17)

And before it was the scripture of Moses an Imam and a mercy and this is a confirming Book in an Arabic tongue to warn those who have wronged and as good tidings to the doers of good. (46:12)

[Mention, O Muhammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their Imam then whoever is given his book in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed]. (17:71)

Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear Imam. (36:12)

^ So the books are also called Imams and this word means "He/It which is followed", anyone who is followed is an Imam, if the people follow the book (Quran) then the book is called an Imam to the people, if they follow a man in prayer that man is called an Imam of prayer, if they follow a Caliph of Rassul-Allah SAWS who leads them then this man is called an Imam (as in leader).

[Colorostikse]

Now the point which has been raised is that a lot of these translation refer to imamin mubeenin as 'clear record/book'
The translation by Ali Quli Qara'i seems to point to an imam?

Any ideas why there is a difference an arab speaking Iraqi brother has bought this to my attention and convinced that the 'clear record' translation is completely wrong and states the translation by Ali Quli Qara'i is closest to the true meaning.

Assalaamu'alaikum,

With all due respect, simply because this Iraqi brother speaks Arabic does not in any way make him an authority on interpreting the Qur'an. One may look at the word in arabic and the actual word used is 'imam', so one may think this is what the verse refers to, but there are so many references in the Qur'an where something a layman may regard as meaning a certain thing means something completely different.

In tafsir al jalalayn it is translated as 'a clear register' which is explained again as referring to the Preserved Tablet (al lawh al Mahfuz)

And as was mentioned earlier in the thread, tafsir ibn Kathir has examples of where this phrase has been used elsewhere.

Wallahu a'lam

[janeseymore09092]

Actually the 'Iraqi (maybe Shia) didn't translate it, he kept it as "Imam" in English, for reasons we do not know.


Sahih International:
Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.

Ahmed Ali:
It is We indeed who bring back the dead to life, and write down what they send ahead (of their deeds), and traces that they leave behind. We keep an account of all things in a lucid register.

Ahmad raza Khan:
We will surely bring the dead to life and We record what they send ahead and the signs they will leave behind; and We have accounted all things in a clear Book.

Arberry:
Surely it is We who bring the dead to life and write down what they have forwarded and what they have left behind; everything We have numbered in a clear register.

Asad:
Verily, We shall indeed bring the dead back to life; and We shall record whatever [deeds] they have sent ahead, and the traces [of good and evil] which they have left behind: for of all things do We take account in a record clear.

DaryAbadi:
Verily We! We shall guicken the dead. And We write down that which they send before and their footsteps. And everything We have counted up in a Book luminous.

Hilali and Khan:
Verily, We give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before (them), and their traces [their footsteps and walking on the earth with their legs to the mosques for the five compulsory congregational prayers, Jihad (holy fighting in Allah's Cause) and all other good and evil they did, and that which they leave behind], and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book.

Maududi:
We shall surely raise the dead to life and We record what they did and the traces of their deeds that they have left behind. We have encompassed that in a Clear Book.

Pickthall:
Lo! We it is Who bring the dead to life. We record that which they send before them, and their footprints. And all things We have kept in a clear Register.

Qaribullah and Darwish:
Surely, it is We who revive the dead and write down what they have forwarded and what they have left behind; We have counted everything in a Clear Book.

Sarwar:
It is We who bring the dead to life and records the deeds of human beings and their consequences (of continual effects). We keep everything recorded in an illustrious Book.

Shakir:
Surely We give life to the dead, and We write down what they have sent before and their footprints, and We have recorded everything in a clear writing.

Wahiduddin Khan:
We shall surely bring the dead back to life and We record what they send ahead and what they leave behind. We have recorded everything in a clear book.

Yusuf Ali:
Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).


Now here's the fun part, let's open the Shia books of Tafseer and read what they say:

In the Shia book "Majma'a al-Bayan fi Tafseer al-Quran" by al-Tubrusi (548 AH):
{ وكل شيء أحصيناه في إمام مبين } أي وأحصينا وعدَّدنا كل شيء من الحوادث في كتاب ظاهر وهو اللوح المحفوظ "It means we have enumerated and counted all things and all events in a pure book which is the preserved tablet."

Then he mentions a second opinion:
وقيل: أراد به صحائف الأعمال وسمي ذلك مبيناً لأنه لا يدرس أثره عن الحسن. "It is said: he meant by this the records of deeds and it was called clear..."

Now another Shia book "Tafseer 'Ali bin ibrahim al-Qummi" by 'Ali bin Ibrahim who died at an unknown time:
أي: في كتاب مبين وهو محكم، وذكر ابن عباس عن أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام أنه قال: أنا والله الإِمام المبين أبين الحق من الباطل وورثته من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وهو محكم. "This means in a clear book which is precise, also Ibn 'Abbas mentioned from Ameer al-Mumineen 'Ali PBUH that he said: By Allah I am that clear Imam, I make clear what is truth from what is false and I inherited it from the Prophet peace be upon him and his family and it is precise."

Another Shia tafseer "al-Tibyan al-Jami'i" by al-Tusi (460 AH):
ثم قال { وكل شيء أحصيناه في إمام مبين } ومعناه أحصيناه في كتاب ظاهر، وهو اللوح المحفوظ. "This means we recorded it in an apparent book and that is the preserved Tablet."

The Shia tafseer "al-Meezan" by al-Tabatabai (1401 AH):
وقوله: { وكل شيء أحصيناه في إمام مبين } هو اللوح المحفوظ من التغيير الذي يشتمل على تفصيل قضائه سبحانه في خلقه فيحصي كل شيء وقد ذكر في كلامه تعالى بأسماء مختلفة كاللوح المحفوظ وأم الكتاب والكتاب المبين والإِمام المبين كل منها بعناية خاصة. "As for this saying it means the preserved Tablet, it is preserved from change and in it are the details of his judgement swt towards his creations so he records everything and it was mentioned in the Quran with different names such as "al-Lawh al-Mahfouz" "Umm al-Kitab" "al-Kitab al-Mubeen" "al-Imam al-Mubeen" each with special care."

then he says:
وقيل: المراد بالإِمام المبين صحف الأعمال وليس بشيء، وقيل: علمه تعالى وهو كسابقه نعم لو أُريد به العلم الفعلي كان له وجه. "And it is said: What is meant by Imam Mubeen are the records of deeds, it is also said: his knowledge swt..."

then he states a third opinion:
ومن عجيب القول في هذا المقام ما ذكره بعضهم أن الذي كتب في اللوح المحفوظ هو ما كان وما يكون إلى يوم القيامة "From the strangest of opinions in this regard is the saying that what is in the preserved tablet is all that was and all that is to come until the day of judgement."

Another Shia tafseer "al-Safi" by al-Faydh al-Kashani (1090 AH):
{ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِى إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ } قيل يعني اللّوح المحفوظ He states the verse then says "They said it means the preserved Tablet"
Then he quotes Tafseer 'Ali bin Ibrahim al-Qummi who says it is Imam 'Ali.

Then he says:
وفي المعاني عن الباقر عن ابيه عن جدّه عليهم السلام قال لمّا نزلت هذه الآية على رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله { وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِى إِمامٍ مُبِينٍ } قام ابو بكر وعمر من مجلسهما وقالا يا رسول الله هو التوراة قال لا قالا فهو الانجيل قال لا قالا فهو القرآن قال لا قال فأقبل امير المؤمنين عليه السلام فقال رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله هو هذا انّه الإِمام الذي احصى الله فيه علم كلّ شيء.
وفي الإِحتجاج عن النبيّ صلّى الله عليه وآله في حديث قال معاشر النّاس ما من علم الاّ علّمنيه ربّي وانا علّمته عليّاً وقد احصاه الله فيّ وكلّ علم علمت فقد احصيته في إِمام المتّقين وما من علم الاّ علّمته عليّاً. In al-Ma'ani from Imam al-Baqir that when this verse was revealed on Rassul-Allah SAWS, Abu Bakr and 'Umar stood in their Majlis and said "Is it the Torah?" The Prophet SAWS said "No" they said "Is it the Injil?" He said "No" they said "Is it the Quran?" He said "No", then Ameer al-Mumineen 'Ali PBUH appeared so the Prophet SAWS said "That is him, that is the Imam in which Allah recorded the knowledge of everything."

In a narration from al-Ihtijaj from the Prophet SAWS: "O people, there is no knowledge that Allah did not teach me, and I taught it (all) to 'Ali, Allah recorded it in me and every knowledge I was taught I recorded it in Imam al-Mutaqeen ('Ali), and there is no knowledge which I did not teach 'Ali."

Another Shia Tafseer "Bayan al-Sa'adah" by al-Janabithi whose exact date of birth is also unknown:
{ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ } اى كتبناه { فِيۤ إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ } هو اللّوح المحفوظ، او القلم الاعلى، او الامام الّذى هو بنفسه علم الله بكلّ شيءٍ فانّ الله بكلّ شيءٍ عليم "It means we wrote it in the preserved tablet or the high pen or the Imam which is the knowledge of Allah in everything and Allah is all knowing."

Another Shia tafseer "Sadr" by al-Shirazi (1059 AH):
أي عدَّدنا كلَ شيء من الحوادث، في كتاب ظاهر الكتابة، لأن حقائق الأشياء مسطورة أوَّلاً فيه، ثم تتفرع منه العلوم المفصَّلة، وتتشعّب من بحره أنهار الحقائق، وجداول المعارف، وهو " اللوح المحفوظ " ، و " لوح القضاء الإلهي " "means we counted all the events in a book of clear writing because the reality of matter is written first therein and then from it the different types of knowledge comes..."


- end -

(that was fun).

[FallJimerks]

Hah. That's awesome. So even the shi'a don't say it's imam.

[lapInsalm]

Shaykh Taha Karaan has a specific lecture dealing with Imaama in the Quraan.

Please locate that audio file on the net, it will prove beneficial in clearing up this matter

[Boveosteors]

Excellent write up brother TripolySunni, nice to read and see the differences in Shia's themselves...

[CAxrrAYN]

TripolySunni & the other brothers who have contributed to the thread thank you very much for sharing the knowledge.
I will relay this to my friend who is currently studying Arabic this particular ayaat was bought to his attention hence the thread to gain some understanding.
JazakAllah Khair.

[CAxrrAYN]

Shaykh Taha Karaan has a specific lecture dealing with Imaama in the Quraan.

Please locate that audio file on the net, it will prove beneficial in clearing up this matter

If you can find this please let me know.

[CAxrrAYN]

Hi,
I was discussing the replies with my friend and he has raised a few further points and is wondering if anyone can answer, he is genuinely looking for an answer and seeking knowledge and I will raise the point he has raised and see if anyone can answer.

and from before it the book of Moses, an Imam and a mercy.

وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً

In the ayat above the word kitaab is clearly used to refer to the book of Moses.
The word Imam here is an adjective – saying that the book is an Imam/ a spiritual guide and a mercy. This does not make the word Imam interchangeable with book. If we said the book is black, does black then become interchangeable with book?

The same applies with 46:12 imam is translated as imam as you wrote.

In 17:71 there is no reason to believe that the word Imam means book, it is even translated as imam.

بِإِمَامِهِمْ

Bi-imami-hum – With their imam.
Bi which can mean in or with, as in ياكل الولد بالملعقة – the boys eats with the spoon.

On the day we shall summon/call all men with their imam.

يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ

None of the before mentioned give any solid reason why Imam should mean book, the first example shows the opposite.

If we look at Arabic meaning of the word Imam, it means; an Imam, a leader, a guide, a plumb-line but nothing to do with records or books.

Al Quran is in Arabic for a reason, for clarity, if Allah SWT chose a word, it is for a reason.

All Arabic words have roots and the meaning can only be derived from that root.

Please provide some evidence that the word Imam can be taken as meaning other than the above not like in your first example where it is an adjective but that it can actually possess another meaning by itself. Not a translation of an ayat but something solid from a dictionary or linguistic source.

As mentioned if I say the book is black, black does not automatically become interchangeable with book in every instance for this reason alone.

I hope this reply doesn't come across confrontational i can assure all that this is a genuine brother who is seeking the truth and since I have been intrigued by this matter I said I will help.

JazakAllah Khair.

[janeseymore09092]

Hi,
I was discussing the replies with my friend and he has raised a few further points and is wondering if anyone can answer, he is genuinely looking for an answer and seeking knowledge and I will raise the point he has raised and see if anyone can answer.

and from before it the book of Moses, an Imam and a mercy.

وَمِن قَبْلِهِ كِتَابُ مُوسَىٰ إِمَامًا وَرَحْمَةً

In the ayat above the word kitaab is clearly used to refer to the book of Moses.
The word Imam here is an adjective – saying that the book is an Imam/ a spiritual guide and a mercy. This does not make the word Imam interchangeable with book. If we said the book is black, does black then become interchangeable with book?

The same applies with 46:12 imam is translated as imam as you wrote.

In 17:71 there is no reason to believe that the word Imam means book, it is even translated as imam.

بِإِمَامِهِمْ

Bi-imami-hum – With their imam.
Bi which can mean in or with, as in ياكل الولد بالملعقة – the boys eats with the spoon.

On the day we shall summon/call all men with their imam.

يَوْمَ نَدْعُو كُلَّ أُنَاسٍ بِإِمَامِهِمْ

None of the before mentioned give any solid reason why Imam should mean book, the first example shows the opposite.

If we look at Arabic meaning of the word Imam, it means; an Imam, a leader, a guide, a plumb-line but nothing to do with records or books.

Al Quran is in Arabic for a reason, for clarity, if Allah SWT chose a word, it is for a reason.

All Arabic words have roots and the meaning can only be derived from that root.

Please provide some evidence that the word Imam can be taken as meaning other than the above not like in your first example where it is an adjective but that it can actually possess another meaning by itself. Not a translation of an ayat but something solid from a dictionary or linguistic source.

As mentioned if I say the book is black, black does not automatically become interchangeable with book in every instance for this reason alone.

I hope this reply doesn't come across confrontational i can assure all that this is a genuine brother who is seeking the truth and since I have been intrigued by this matter I said I will help.

JazakAllah Khair.

al-Salamu 'Aleykum,

No it doesn't come across as confrontational, it's just that your friend seems confused, he's now talking about 17:71 which is a completely different verse and the word Imam does not necessarily mean book in some places it means a human who leads by example but as for the previous verse 36:12 as we stated before it is the book of Allah since it is called an Imam because people follow it, anything which is followed is an Imam whether it is a human or a book thus Imam can mean a book and there is absolutely no linguistic reason why it shouldn't, we came to this conclusion by posting other verses. Also it's obvious that this is referring to a book since Allah says he's "recording" or "enumerating", he can't be recording in a Human that doesn't make much sense does it?

So we have "Ahsaynahu fi Imamin Mubeen" in verse 36:12 and it means "recorded in a clear register" or "recorded in a clear book"...

Allah says in other verses that he has recorded all in a clear book, for example in verse 11:6

And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register. (11:6)

Above Allah uses the words "Kitabin Mubeen" so he described the book as "Mubeen" and this is a great piece of evidence that Allah has recorded all in a clear book.

another example is this:
With Him are the keys of the unseen, the treasures that none knoweth but He. He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth, nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered), but is (inscribed) in a record clear (to those who can read). (6:59)

Now it seems your friend changed his mind, he was first talking about verse 36:12 but now he switched to verse 17:71, and there is no reason to explain the word Imam as book in this verse, it is possible that it means "book" because some translators did understand it this way while other translators did not explain it as book, and here are the translations:

Sahih international:
[Mention, O Muhammad], the Day We will call forth every people with their record [of deeds]. Then whoever is given his record in his right hand - those will read their records, and injustice will not be done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside the date seed].

Ahmad 'Ali:
The day We shall summon all men with their leaders, whosoever is given his record in his right hand will be able to read his account, and none will be wronged the breadth of a thread.

Ahmad Raza Khan:
On the day when We shall summon every group along with its leader; so whoever is given his register in his right hand – these will read their accounts and their rights will not be suppressed even a thread. (* They will be given the full reward.)

Arberry:
On the day when We shall call all men with their record, and whoso is given his book in his right hand -- those shall read their book, and they shall not be wronged a single date-thread.

Asad:
[but] one Day We shall summon all human beings [and judge them] according to the conscious disposition which governed their deeds [in life]: whereupon they whose record shall be placed in their right hand -it is they who will read their record [with happiness]. Yet none shall be wronged by as much as a hair's breadth:

Daryabadi:
Remember the Day whereon We shall call all man kind with their record: then whosoever will be vouchsafed his book in his right hand, those shall read their book, and they shall not be wronged a whit.

Hilali & Khan:
(And remember) the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam [their Prophets, or their records of good and bad deeds, or their Holy Books like the Quran, the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), etc.]. So whosoever is given his record in his right hand, such will read their records, and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.

Maududi:
Then think of the Day We shall summon every community with its leader. Those who are given their Record in their right hand shall read the Record of their deeds and shall not be wronged a whit.

Pickthall:
On the day when We shall summon all men with their record, whoso is given his book in his right hand - such will read their book and they will not be wronged a shred.

Qaribullah & Darwish:
On the Day when We call all the people with their record, whosoever is given his book in his right hand shall read their book, and they shall not be wronged by as much as a single datefiber.

Sarwar:
On the day when We call every nation with their leaders, those whose record of deeds are given to their right hands will read the book and the least wrong will not be done to them.

Shakir:
(Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imam; 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.

Wahidudeen Khan:
The Day will surely come when We shall summon every people with their leader. Then those who are given their records in their right hands will read their records [eagerly] and shall not in the least be wronged:

Yusuf 'Ali:
One day We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imams: those who are given their record in their right hand will read it (with pleasure), and they will not be dealt with unjustly in the least.


^ Above it is clear that the translators differed on the meaning of Imam and we shall see why soon, some explained it as Book or record of deeds since other verses hint towards this such as this one:

And [for] every person We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open. (17:13)

Others translated it as "leaders/Prophets" or they just left it as "Imam" without translating it, I need to point out that Hilali and Khan did a great job by providing all possible explanations between parentheses.


Let us check a respectable Tafseer from Ahlul-Sunnah "Tafseer ibn Kathir":

Allah tells us that on the Day of Resurrection, he will call each people to account by its Imam. The scholars differed as to the meaning of this, Imam. Mujahid and Qatadah said that it meant each nation would be called to account by its Prophet. as Allah says:

And for every nation is a messenger. So when their messenger comes, it will be judged between them in justice, and they will not be wronged [10:47]

Some of the Salaf(pious predecessors) said this is the greatest honor for the people of Hadith, because their leader is the Prophet PBUH.
Ibn Zayd said it means they would be called to account by their Book which was revealed to their Prophet with its laws. This was also the view favored by Ibn Jarir.

Ibn Abi Najih narrated that Mujahid said, "With their Books.'' It may also be that what is meant here is what Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas concerning this Ayah when he said "which is that it refers to the Book (or record) of their deeds." This was also the view of Abu Al-`Aliyah, Al-Hasan and Ad-Dahhak. This view is the most correct, because Allah says:

"and all things We have recorded with numbers (as a record) in a Clear Book" [36:12]
and
"And the Book (one's record) will be placed, and you will see the criminals, fearful of that which is (recorded) therein" [18:49]

And it is possible that it means the Imam of each folks or nation, the people of belief take as leaders their prophets and messengers while the people of kufr follow their own a Allah says:
"And we have made them Imams calling to the hell-fire" [al-Qasas:41]

And in the two Sahihs:
لتتبع كل أمة ما كانت تعبد، فيتبع ما كان يعبد الطواغيت الطواغيت "So that every nation follows what it used to worship, those who worshipped the tyrants followed them."

and Allah says:
"And you will see each nation humbled to their knees, each nation will be called to its record (of deeds). This Day you shall be recompensed for what you used to do. This Our record speaks about you with truth. Verily, We were recording what you used to do." [45:28-29]

This does not contradict the fact that the Prophet will be brought forward when Allah judges between his Ummah, for he will inevitably be a witness against his Ummah over their deeds as Allah says:
"And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged." [39:69]

and He says:
"So how [will it be] when We bring from every nation a witness and we bring you, [O Muhammad] against these [people] as a witness?" [4:41]

But what is meant here by Imam is the Book of deeds. Allah says:
" the Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam so whosoever is given his record in his right hand, such will read their records " [17:71]

Meaning, because of their happiness and joy at what is recorded therein of good deeds - they will read it and enjoy reading it. they will say:
"So as for he who is given his record in his right hand, he will say, "Here, read my record!" [69:19]

- end -

ِAnd in a narration from the prophet SAWS we also see that what is meant is the book of deeds:
عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في قوله تعالى : { يوم ندعو كل أناس بإمامهم } قال : يدعى أحدهم ، فيعطى كتابه بيمينه ، ويمد له في جسمه ستون ذراعا ، ويبيض وجهه ، ويجعل على رأسه تاج من لؤلؤ يتلألأ ، فينطلق إلى أصحابه ، فيرونه من بعد ، فيقولون : اللهم ائتنا بهذا ، وبارك لنا في هذا ، حتى يأتيهم ، فيقول لهم : أبشروا ، لكل رجل منكم مثل هذا ، وأما الكافر فيسود وجهه ، ويمد له في جسمه ستون ذراعا على صورة آدم ، ويلبس تاجا ، فيراه أصحابه ، فيقولون : نعوذ بالله من شر هذا ، اللهم لا تأتنا بهذا . قال : فيأتيهم ، فيقولون : اللهم أخره ، فيقول : أبعدكم الله ، فإن لكل رجل منكم مثل هذا From the Prophet SAWS about the saying of Allah "The Day when We shall call together all human beings with their (respective) Imam." he said: They call upon one of them and he receives his book in his right hand, his body shall be extended sixty cubits, his face shall shine in whiteness and on his head shall be a crown from pearls, he will go to his companions and they will see him and say "O Allah grant us like this and bless us with it." so the man will say to his companions: "I give you glad tidings, for every man among you is the same!" As for the Kaffir his face shall be darkened and his body shall be extended to sixty cubits in the image of Adam and he shall wear a crown of fire so when his companions see him they will say: "We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this, O Allah do not grant us like it." And when they see him coming they will say: "O Allah take him away from us." then the man will say to his companions: "May Allah distance you far from me! for every man among you is like what I have."

source:
-al-Munthiri said "Sahih or Hasan or like them." in al-Targheeb wal-Tarheeb 4/310.

And in this Hadith are two interesting points:
1- The nature of the body of humans shall change as stated in other authentic narrations about Adam SAWS being 60 cubits tall.
2- The importance of having good pious companions.

As for Imam al-Tabari (died 310 AH) he said in his tafseer after stating various narrations and opinions:

أولـى هذه الأقوال عندنا بـالصواب، قول من قال: معنى ذلك: يوم ندعو كلّ أناس بإمامهم الذي كانوا يقتدون به، ويأتـمُّون به فـي الدنـيا، لأن الأغلب من استعمال العرب الإمام فـيـما ائتـمّ واقتدي به، وتوجيه معانـي كلام الله إلـى الأَشهر أَوْلـى ما لـم تثبت حجة بخلافه يجب التسلـيـم لها. "What is most correct in our view from among all these opinions is the saying of those who said: (When we call the people with their Imam whose example they followed and who used to lead them in the worldly life.) Because the Arabs commonly use the word Imam for what leads and what is taken as an example, directing the meanings of the words of Allah towards what is more famous is better unless we have a proof that states otherwise in which case we would submit to that."

As for the Twelver Shia who can't stand to see the word imam being used unless they attribute it to their twelve Imams, let's take two samples from the Shia Tafaseer...

al-Tusi says in his al-Tibyan al-Jami'i:

واختلفوا في الإمام الذي يدعون به يوم القيامة، فقال مجاهد وقتادة: إِمامه نبيه. وقال ابن عباس: إِمامه كتاب علمه. وروي عنه ايضاً أن إِمامهم كتابهم الذي انزل الله اليهم فيه الحلال والحرام والفرائض والاحكام. وقال البلخي: بما كانوا يعبدونه، ويجعلونه إِماماً لهم. وقال ابو عبيد: بما كانوا يأتمون به في الدنيا. وهو قول ابي جعفر وابي عبدالله (ع). ((And they differed on the "Imam" which they will be called with on the day of judgement, Mujahid and Qatadah said: "The Imam is the Prophet". Ibn 'Abbas said: "Imam is the record of deeds." and it is also narrated from him that it means "The book which Allah revealed to you containing matters of Halal and Haram and obligatory duties and rulings." al-Balkhi said: "What they used to worship and consider their Imam." and Abu 'Ubeid said: "What they used to take as their Imam in this world." and this last one is the saying of Imams abu Ja'afar and abu 'Abdullah PBUT.))

al-Tubrusi says in Majma'a al-Bayan, I won't translate this literally as it'll take a long time so i'll just go over them quickly, he stated five opinions:
1-it means followers of Prophets or devils or evil men ect...
2-it means the holy books which descend from the sky.
3-it means the ones whom they took as leaders during their times and he mentions a Sahih hadith from al-Reda.
4-record of deeds.
5-their mothers!?

And the rest of the Shia Tafaseer pretty much mention the same possibilities while clearly adopting the ones which talk about their 12 Imams.

و عليكم السلام

[janeseymore09092]

As for the point your friend raised when he said about verse 36:12 that we cannot use the word imam and Book interchangeably, aside from what i told you above that Allah enumerated and recorded in a book not a Human, your friend needs to remember that the Quran and Arabic in general is an eloquent tongue and we understand Arabic based on how our ancestors understood it, for example in the Arabic dictionary "Lisan al-'Arab" we read:

قال الأَخفش: جُعلت الهمزة ياء لأَنها في موضع كَسْر وما قبلها مفتوح فلم يَهمِزُوا لاجتماع الهمزتين، قال: ومن كان رَأْيه جمع الهمزتين همَز، قال: وتصغيرها أُوَيْمة، لما تحرّكت الهمزة بالفتحة قلبها واواً، وقال المازني أُيَيْمَة ولم يقلِب، وإِمامُ كلِّ شيء: قَيِّمُهُ والمُصْلِح له، والقرآنُ إِمامُ المُسلمين، وسَيدُنا محمد رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم، إِمام الأَئِمَّة، والخليفة إمام الرَّعِيَّةِ، وإِمامُ الجُنْد قائدهم. "And the Quran is the Imam of the Muslims, and the Prophet SAWS is the Imam of the Aimmah, The Caliph is the Imam of the subjects(citizens), The Imam of the soldiers is their general(leader)."

I add and the Imam of the prayer is the one who leads the Muslims in prayer.

It also says in Lisan al-'Arab:
الإِمامُ الخَيْطُ الذي يُمَدُّ على البناء فيُبْنَي عليه ويُسَوَّى عليه سافُ البناء "The Imam is the rope extended for construction of a building..."

and it says:
والإِمامُ الطريقُ.
وقوله عز وجل: وإِنَّهما لَبِإِمامٍ مُبينٍ And the Imam means the road. So when Allah said: ((So We took retribution from them, and indeed, both [cities] are on a clear highway.)) [15:79] In the transliteration it is "La bi Imam-min Mubeen." a clear road.

قال الفراء: وإِنهما لَبِإِمامٍ مُبين، يقول: في طَريق لهم يَمُرُّون عليها في أَسْفارِهم فَجعل الطَّريقَ إِماماً لأَنه يُؤم ويُتَّبَع.
والأَمامُ بمعنى القُدّام. And Allah called the road an Imam because as we explained before, the Imam is everything which is followed, since humans follow the road then it is called an Imam.

In "Maqayees al-Lugha" we read:
والإمام كلُّ من اقتُدِي به وقُدِّم في الأمور. "The Imam is everything whose example is followed and is placed before all else in any matter."

Which is why the Quran is called an Imam because it is followed and placed before all else, and the preserved tablet is an Imam as it has recorded the destiny and it is placed before all events.

[CAxrrAYN]

Tripolysunni jazakAllah khair once again for your time and efforts this has made much more sense and together with the following email from Dr Tammam Adi he is more than satisfied with the answers.

Email from Dr. Tammam Adi

Imaam in Arabic has many meanings including: book, road, direction, master, leader etc. It is from the same word root as umm (alif meem meem). Umm also has all these meanings in addition to the meanings of "mother" and "community." It is the context that determines which meanings Allah wants, and Allah does that in a muhkam way, i.e., the meaning is strongly tied up and restrained by the context and the usage. There is no room for false speculation. The following are all muhkam verses with clear meanings as strongly pointed to by the context and the usage.

Ayah 12 of surah 36 Yaseen clearly speaks of a book of because it speaks of writing (wanaktubu) and comprehensive record-keeping (ahsaynaahu):

. . . wanaktubu ma qaddamoo wa aatharahum wakulla shay-in ahsaynahu fee imamin mubeenin:

we write what they put forward and what they left behind and we have kept comprehensive record of everything (that will ever happen) in a master (record) (imaam here means umm or "master," i.e., ummul kitaab, the master book, i.e., allawh almahfooz, the well-preserved tablet) that clearly displays the facts (mubeenin).

In ayah 7 of Aal-Imran, ummul kitab means the essential content of the qur'an, or the bulk of the qur'an, referring to muhkam verses.

Ayah 79 of surah 15 Al-Hijr, "imaam" simply means "road." The expression "imaam mubeen" means "a clearly visible road":

wa innahuma la bi imaamin mubeenin . . . : and (the ruins of ) both (destroyed civilizations) are on a clearly visible road (that you pass in your travels, so look and take a lesson).

Similarly, ayah 17 of surah 11 Hud calls the book of Moses "imam," meaning that it was a road i.e., instructions for a path to be followed by the Children of Israel.

wa min qablihee kitaabu moosa imaaman warahmatan: and before it, the book of Moses (was revealed) as (instructions for) a path (to follow) and as mercy. . .


Wallahu a'lam (and Allah knows better).

with love,

Tammam

This thread can be closed now .. objective achieved thanks to all
Fi amaan-illah.

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