Tafsir of Al-Isra 17:71

"The Day We will call every people..."

It is read as yad‘ū (He calls) with a yā’ and a nūn (referring to God). It is also read as yud‘ā (every people are called) in the passive voice. Al-Hasan read it as yad‘ū kulla unāsin (He calls every people), based on the conversion of the alif into a wāw in the dialect of those who say af‘ū.

The adverbial phrase (the Day) is in the accusative case, implying the command: "Remember." It is also possible that the wāw is a sign of the plural, as in: "And they whispered in secret—those who did wrong" (21:3). The nominative case is implied, as in yud‘ā. The nūn was omitted due to a lack of concern for it, as it is not a pronoun but merely a sign.

"By their Imam (leader/record)..."

Meaning: by those whom they followed, whether a prophet, a religious leader, a book, or a religion. It will be said: "O followers of so-and-so," or "O people of such-and-such religion and book." It is also said: by their book of deeds. It will be said: "O people of the book of good," or "O people of the book of evil." In Al-Hasan’s reading, it is bi-kitābihim (by their book).

Among the innovative interpretations is that Imām is the plural of umm (mother), and that people will be called on the Day of Resurrection by their mothers. The wisdom behind calling by mothers rather than fathers is to honor the right of Jesus (peace be upon him), to manifest the nobility of Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn, and to prevent the exposure of children born out of wedlock. I wonder which is more innovative: the soundness of the wording or the splendor of its wisdom?

"Then whoever is given his record in his right hand—those will read their record..."

The plural "those" (ulā’ika) is used because "whoever" (man) carries the meaning of a collective group.

If you ask: Why are the people of the right hand singled out for reading their record, as if the people of the left do not read theirs? I say: Indeed they do, but when they behold what is in their records, they are seized by the state of one confronted with their crimes and forced to confess their evils before being punished and retaliated against. They are overcome by shame, embarrassment, humiliation, speechlessness, stuttering, and the inability to articulate words or form coherent speech; thus, their reading is as if it were no reading at all.

As for the people of the right hand, their affair is the opposite. Naturally, they read their records in the best and clearest manner, and they are not content with reading it alone, to the point that the reader will say to the people of the gathering: "Here, read my record!" (69:19).

"And they will not be wronged [even as much as] a thread."

They will not have their reward diminished by the slightest amount, similar to His saying: "And they will not be wronged at all" (19:60), and "He will fear neither injustice nor deprivation" (20:112).

"But whoever is blind in this [life] will be blind in the Hereafter and more astray in way."