Al-Infitar: (10) And indeed, over you are guardians.

Herein lie several discussions:

The First Discussion: Objections to the Presence of the Noble Scribes

Some people have raised objections against the presence of the Noble Scribes (al-Kirām al-Kātibīn) in several ways:

1. The Nature of the Angels: These angels are either composed of subtle bodies (like air, breeze, or fire) or gross bodies.
   • If they are subtle, their structure would be easily disrupted by the slightest cause, such as strong winds or passing a hand, sleeve, or whip through the air.
   • If they are gross, we should be able to see them. If they can be present without being seen, then it would be possible for suns, moons, villas, and trumpets to be in our presence without us seeing or hearing them, which leads to willful ignorance. The same argument applies to denying their records, their essence, their pens, and their writing.

2. The Purpose of the Recording: If this recording is devoid of benefit, it is futile, which is impossible for God Almighty. If there is a benefit, it must accrue either to God or to the servant.
   • The former is impossible because He is exalted above need for benefit or harm. This refutes those who claim He records deeds out of fear of forgetfulness or error.
   • The latter is also impossible. The utmost that can be argued is that the benefit is to serve as witnesses against people on the Day of Resurrection. However, this benefit is weak because a person who knows that God is just and does not oppress does not need this proof established on his behalf. Conversely, one who does not know this will not benefit from this proof, as he might suspect that God commanded the angels to record things against him unjustly.

3. The Recording of Inner Thoughts: The actions of the hearts are neither visible nor perceptible; thus, they belong to the realm of the unseen (al-Ghayb). None knows the unseen except God, as He says: {And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except He} (Al-An'am: 59). If these actions are not known to the angels, it is impossible for them to record them. Yet, the verse implies that they record everything we do, whether it is an action of the heart or not.

The Response:

• To the First Objection (Nature of Angels): This doubt persists only if one adheres to our foundational principles: (1) Structure/Composition is not a prerequisite for life for us. (2) Even if the senses are sound, the object is present, and all other conditions are met, perception is not obligatory. Based on the first principle, angels can be subtle bodies that disperse but retain their life. Based on the second principle, they can be dense bodies that we are simply not permitted to see.
• To the Second Objection (Purpose): God conducts His affairs with His servants in a manner consistent with how they deal with each other, as this is more effective in establishing the meaning for them. Since the most effective means of accountability among humans involves presenting a written record with witnesses, they are addressed similarly regarding the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection: books will be spread out, and angels will testify against them, just as the Sultan's trustworthy officials testify against one who disobeys his command. God knows the reality of the matter best.
• To the Third Objection (Heart Actions): The most that can be done is to restrict this generality to the actions of the limbs, which is not impossible.

The Second Discussion: The Scope of the Guardians

The address in {And indeed, over you are guardians} might be direct speech, but the Ummah is agreed that this ruling is general for all accountable persons. There are two possibilities here:

1. There is a group of guardians who guard all of humankind without any single angel being specialized for a specific person.
2. Each person is assigned a guardian different from the one assigned to another. Furthermore, it is possible that each person is assigned a single angel (as the plural "guardians" is matched with the plural "you"), or it is possible that each person is assigned a group of angels (as some say two at night and two during the day, or that they are five in total).

The Third Discussion: The Attributes of These Angels

God described these angels with several attributes:

1. Being guardians (Hāfiẓīn).
2. Being noble (Kirām).
3. Being scribes (Kātibīn).
4. Knowing what you do (Ya'lamūna mā taf'alūn).

Regarding the fourth attribute, there are two views:

1. They know the actions so they can record them. This serves as a reminder that a person should not testify except after knowledge.
2. They record them so that they become knowledgeable about them when they give testimony.

Know that God’s description of them with these five attributes indicates that He has praised them and magnified their status. In magnifying them, He magnifies the matter of recompense, showing it to be among the most momentous affairs in God's sight. Otherwise, He would not have entrusted the recording of what one is held accountable for to such great and noble beings. Abu Uthman said: If the monitoring by God deters one from sin, how much more so should the recording by the Noble Scribes deter him!

! 7 < { Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss * And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire * They will enter it on the Day of Recompense * And they will not be absent therefrom } > 7 !

The Third Type: Branches of the Issue of Resurrection

This is His saying: {Indeed, the righteous will be in bliss * And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire * They will enter it on the Day of Recompense * And they will not be absent therefrom}.