كِتابٌ مَرقومٌ
It is a written record.
EXEGESIS
Marqūm is an adjective indicating clear writing in bold fonts, and it signifies clear marking.
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
Commentators have had long and detailed discussions about the possible meanings of the key words in this set of verses which are: kitāb (record), sijjīn, and marqūm. The following provides a summary of some of the main suggested meanings that were not adopted in other sections of this work.
Ṭabarī says that kitāb is the book in which the deeds of the fujjār are recorded, sijjīn is the seventh lowest earth, and marqūm means written. Thus, The record (kitāb) of the vicious is indeed in sijjīn means their book of deeds will be imprisoned in the seventh lowest earth. His opinion is based on many weak narrations attributed to Kaʿb al-Aḥbār. In addition to presenting the previous opinion, Ṭabrisī cites Abū Muslim al-Iṣfahānī who is of the opinion that sijjīn is the name of the book that records what is decreed against the transgressors as a consequence of their actions.
Makārim Shīrāzī describes two possible meanings for kitāb and sijjīn: first, every vicious transgressor is assigned a kitāb – a book that records all deeds – it does not miss any small or big action. Sijjīn is a reference book in which the deeds of all vicious people are collected and registered. One possible reason for naming the book sijjīn is that what is recorded in it leads to the imprisonment of these people in hell. On the other hand, ʿilliyyīn is a reference book in which the deeds of all pious people are collected and registered. Second, sijjīn is hell or a specific place in hell such that: 1. The deeds of the vicious transgressors will be placed in it; or 2. The records of deeds of the vicious transgressors will be placed in it; or 3. The decreed consequence of the vicious transgressors is that they will be imprisoned in it. In this case, kitāb means the outcome or what was decreed for them as a consequence of their actions. The first possible meaning, which says sijjīn is a reference book, and the second possible meaning, which says sijjīn is hell or a place in hell, can be combined, according to Makārim Shīrāzī, because there is a cause and effect relationship between the two meanings such that if the records of deeds are in the reference book then the consequence is a deep place in hell.
Ṭabrisī says that kitābun marqūm is a description of kitāb al-fujjār (the record of the vicious). However, Rāzī says that there are two possible opinions: 1. Kitābun marqūm is related to sijjīn, or 2. It is related to kitāb al-fujjār (record of the vicious). According to Rāzī, the second opinion indicates that kitāb al-fujjār (record of the vicious) has two descriptions: sijjīn and kitābun marqūm (written record). On the other hand, the first opinion indicates that kitāb al-fujjār (the record of the vicious) is a book inside another book called sijjīn, or its content is also copied into a book which is called sijjīn. Thus sijjīn is a reference book that includes all the records of deeds which exist in all the books of the fujjār. Furthermore, Rāzī gives five possible meanings of marqūm with reference to kitāb al-fujjār: 1. The deeds are recorded in it. 2. Hell is decreed to them in it. 3. Similar to making an embroidered badge on cloth to mark its value, the book of the fujjār is marked with a sign to show its misery. 4. The book is sealed. 5. The book is evident to them such that it is like a permanent mark that cannot be erased.
[1] Raghib, p. 362; Mizan, 20/231.
[2] Tabari, 30/60.
[3] Tabrisi, 10/688.
[4] Amthal, 20/22.
[5] Amthal, 20/21.
[6] Amthal, 20/23.
[7] Amthal, 20/23.
[8] Razi, 31/87.
[9] Razi, 31/87.
[10] Razi, 31/87.