The Quranic verse **"Kullu shai'in ahsaināhu fī Imām-in Mubīn"** (كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ) from *Sūrah Yāsīn* (36:12)

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The Quranic verse **"Kullu shai'in ahsaināhu fī Imām-in Mubīn"** (كُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ) from *Sūrah Yāsīn* (36:12) translates to **"We have recorded all things in Imām al-Mubīn)."** The term **"Imām al-Mubīn"** has been interpreted diversely across Islamic schools of thought, reflecting theological, mystical, and sectarian perspectives. Below is an analysis of these interpretations:

1. Sunni Interpretations  

- **Literal/Preserved Tablet (al-Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ)**:  

  - **Mainstream Sunni View**: Most Sunni exegetes (e.g., Ibn Kathīr, al-Ṭabarī) interpret "Imām al-Mubīn" as the **Preserved Tablet** (*Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ*), the divine repository where Allah’s decrees and all creation are eternally recorded. This aligns with verses like *Quran 85:22* ("Guarded Tablet").  

  - **Theological Implications**: Emphasizes divine omniscience and predestination (*qadar*), asserting that Allah’s knowledge encompasses all events past, present, and future.  

- **Sufi/Mystical Views**:  

  - Some Sufi scholars (e.g., Ibn ʿArabī) interpret "Imām al-Mubīn" as the **Universal Intellect** (*al-ʿAql al-Kullī*) or the **Muhammadan Light** (*Nūr Muḥammadī*), representing the primordial blueprint of creation and the source of divine wisdom.  

  - Others link it to the **Perfect Human** (*al-Insān al-Kāmil*), the cosmic archetype through which Allah manifests His knowledge.  

2. Shia (Twelver/Imāmī) Interpretation  

- **Imams as the Manifest Register**:  

  - Twelver Shia scholars (e.g., al-Qummī, al-Majlisī) identify "Imām al-Mubīn" as the **divinely appointed Imams** (e.g., ʿAlī, Ḥusayn, and the 12 Imams). They argue that the Imams are the earthly custodians of Allah’s knowledge and the "living register" of all truths.  

  - **Rationale**: Based on Shia hadiths stating that the Imams possess *ʿilm al-ghayb* (knowledge of the unseen) inherited from the Prophet (ﷺ) and that "nothing is hidden from them."  

  - **Theological Implications**: Reinforces the Shia doctrine of Imamate (*wilāyah*), where the Imams are infallible guides and interpreters of divine revelation.  

3. Ismaili Shia Interpretation  

- **Cosmic and Esoteric Register**:  

  - Ismailis interpret "Imām al-Mubīn" as the **Universal Intellect** (*al-ʿAql*) and the **Esoteric Imam**.  

  - They view it as a metaphysical reality where the hierarchy of divine guides (Imams and *ḥujjahs*) manifests Allah’s knowledge.  

  - The "Clear Register" also symbolizes the eternal guidance of the Ismaili Imam, who unveils the Quran's *bāṭin* (hidden meaning).  

4. Sufi/Mystical Perspectives  

- **Divine Manifestation**:  

  - Sufis like Rūmī and al-Jīlī interpret "Imām al-Mubīn" as the **Divine Name** or the **Essence of Allah** (*Dhāt Allāh*), through which all creation is articulated.  

  - Others equate it with the **Book of Deeds** (recorded by angels) or the **spiritual heart** (*qalb*) of the believer, where divine truths are inscribed.  

  - **Ibn ʿArabī**: Links it to the *"Mother of the Book"* (*Umm al-Kitāb*), the archetypal reality from which all scriptures and creation emanate.  

5. Muʿtazili Rationalist View  

- **Metaphorical Interpretation**:  

  - Muʿtazili scholars (e.g., al-Zamakhsharī) emphasize the verse’s rhetorical function: to assert Allah’s total control over creation.  

  - They interpret "Imām al-Mubīn" as a metaphor for **divine omniscience** rather than a physical or metaphysical register.  

  - **Theological Focus**: Aligns with their rationalist theology, rejecting anthropomorphic or esoteric readings.  

6. Salafi/Literalist Approach  

- **Literal Preserved Tablet**:  

  - Salafis (e.g., Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Bāz) strictly adhere to the *Lawḥ al-Maḥfūẓ* interpretation, rejecting esoteric or allegorical readings.  

  - They emphasize that the verse affirms Allah’s predestination (*qadar*) and total knowledge of creation.  

**Key Theological Debates**  

1. **Nature of Divine Knowledge**:  

   - Sunnis and Salafis stress Allah’s transcendence (*tanzīh*), while Shia/Sufis emphasize His immanence (*tashbīh*) through the Imams or cosmic registers.  

2. **Free Will vs. Predestination**:  

   - The verse is cited in debates about whether human actions are pre-recorded (Sunni/Ashʿarī) or dynamically inscribed (Muʿtazili).  

3. **Authority of Imams**:  

   - Shia use this verse to legitimize the Imam’s role as the bearer of divine knowledge, contrasting with Sunni reliance on scholarly consensus (*ijmāʿ*).  

**Conclusion**  

The interpretation of *"Imām al-Mubīn"* reflects core theological divergences in Islam:  

- **Sunnis**: Focus on predestination and the Preserved Tablet.  

- **Shia**: Elevate the Imams as the embodiment of divine knowledge.  

- **Sufis**: Seek mystical/metaphysical meanings.  

- **Rationalists**: Prioritize metaphorical coherence.  

This diversity underscores how Quranic exegesis (*tafsīr*) is shaped by sectarian doctrines, epistemological frameworks, and spiritual priorities in Islamic thought.