Surah Al Isra Notes (13-15)

( Source: Ibn Kathir )

Every Person will have the Book of his Deeds with Him

 (13) And We have fastened every man's deeds to his neck, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a book which he will find wide open.

(And We have fastened every man's Ta'irah (deeds) to his neck,) The word Ta'irah (lit. something that flies) refers to man's deeds which fly from him, as Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and others said. It includes both good deeds and bad deeds, he will be forced to acknowledge them and will be rewarded or punished accordingly.

(So whosoever does good equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of a speck of dust shall see it.) (99:7-8). 

(and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him a Book which he will find wide open.) meaning, `We will collect all of his deeds for him in a Book which will be given to him on the Day of Resurrection, either in his right hand, if he is one of the blessed, or in his left hand if he is one of the wretched.'

(wide open) means, it will be open for him and others to read all of his deeds, from the beginning of his life until the end.

(And We have fastened every man's Ta'irah (deeds) to his neck,) The neck is mentioned because it is a part of the body that has no counterpart, and when one is restrained by it, he has no escape.

(and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall bring out for him) We shall bring forth those deeds.''

 (14) (It will be said to him): "Read your book. You yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day."

No One will have to bear the Sins of Another

(15) Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).

Allah tells us that whoever is guided and follows the truth, walking in the footsteps of the Prophet , he will gain the good consequences of that for himself.

(And whoever goes astray,) meaning from the truth, deviating from the way of guidance, he is wronging himself and will have to bear the consequences. Then Allah says:

(No one laden with burdens can bear another's burden.) no one will have to bear the sins of another, and he does not wrong anyone besides himself, as Allah says:

(and if one heavily laden calls another to (bear) his load, nothing of it will be lifted) ﴿35:15﴾ There is no contradiction between this and other Ayat:

(And verily, they shall bear their own loads, and other loads besides their own.) ﴿29:13﴾ and:

(and also of the burdens of those whom they misled without knowledge.) ﴿16:25﴾ 

For those who called others to do evil will bear the sin of their own deviation as well as the sin of those whom they led astray, without detracting the least amount from the burden of those people, and none of this burden shall be removed from them. This is the justice and mercy of Allah towards His servants. As Allah says:

(And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning).)