Al-Haqqah (The Inevitable Event): (20) I truly thought that I...

There are several interpretations regarding the phrase "I truly thought that I would meet my account" (إني ظننت أني ملاق حسابيه):

Inferential Certainty (Yaqīn Istidlālī): What is established through inference (reasoning) is never free from differing thoughts and considerations. Therefore, it was likened to mere conjecture (ẓann).

Anticipation of Judgment: The meaning is: "I used to think that I would face my reckoning on the Day of Judgment, and that God would punish me for my sins. But He has favored me with forgiveness and did not hold me accountable for them. So, come, read my book!"

Narration from Hadith (Abu Hurayrah): It is narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A man will be brought forth on the Day of Resurrection, and his book will be brought. His good deeds will appear on the back of his palm, and his sins will be written on the palm itself. He will look at his sins and become distressed. He will be told: 'Turn your hand over.' He will look and see his good deeds, and rejoice. Then he will say: {So, come, read my book! I truly thought that I would meet my account} (Al-Haqqah: 20) – this was said out of distress. But now, God has relieved me of that sorrow." For the wretched (the damned), the situation will be the opposite of what we have described.

Conjecture as Knowledge: The word "I thought" (ẓanantu) here means "I knew" (ʿalimtu). It is used in the place of knowledge because a strong presumption (ẓann ghālib) is often treated as knowledge in customs and legal rulings. People say, "I have a conjecture as certain as knowledge that the matter is such and such."

Expectation vs. Reality: The intent is: "In the world, I thought that because of the deeds I was doing, I would reach these high ranks on the Day of Resurrection. Now, I have attained certainty." Thus, the word ẓann remains on its apparent meaning, because people in the world cannot be absolutely certain about such matters.

Then, the Exalted One explained the consequence of his state:

! 7 < { So he is in a pleasing life (Rāḍiyah) } . > 7 !