A young man recalls an incident during his stay in Holland when he inadvertently violated traffic laws. The signal was red, the coast was clear, and he didn’t feel the need to apply the brakes. However, a few days later, he received a traffic violation ticket through mail, charging him an amount equivalent to 150 euros at that time. Along with the ticket, there were three images of his car’s journey – one before crossing the signal, one in the middle, and the last one while exiting the intersection. The ticket raised several questions about the violation and asked if he had any objections.

In response, the young man expressed his objection, emphasizing that he hadn’t committed the violation and had not passed through that road. He sent a written reply, curious to see the course of action taken by the authorities. A week later, he received a response from the authorities, including his three images and a statement of commitment to the violation. This straightforward situation made him realize that the acknowledgment of the offense was sufficient, with no room for evasion or deceit.

During a recitation, he came across a verse from Surah Al-Jathiyah that shook him to the core. The verse stated, “Here is a record which speaks about you with truth. We were recording whatever you used to do.” The notion that there was a recording mechanism at the disposal of the Almighty left him astounded. Was it that there was no escape from this divine mechanism, even with the most intricate of excuses? The verse implied that all actions were being recorded, irrespective of the concerns of hardware failure, memory formatting, or environmental disturbances. It made him ponder, were all sins being meticulously documented, along with their contexts, locations, backgrounds, purposes, and consequences? The thought left him feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Another verse from Surah Ghafir further intensified his contemplation. It stated, “And the record [of deeds] will be placed [open], and you will see the criminals fearful of that within it, and they will say, ‘Oh, woe to us! What is this book that leaves nothing small or great except that it has enumerated it?’ And they will find what they did present [before them]. And your Lord does injustice to no one.” These verses compelled him to reflect on the prospect of being confronted with his life’s deeds. Would every small and significant action be presented, leaving no detail unaccounted for? Would there be no possibility of the Lord’s injustice, with every individual facing the full weight of their actions?

In conclusion, the experience led him to a profound realization of the concept of accountability in the light of divine justice. It made him question the extent to which our actions are recorded, monitored, and presented before the Almighty, emphasizing the inevitability of ultimate justice and accountability. It highlighted the importance of acknowledging one’s deeds and recognizing the responsibility that comes with every action, irrespective of the intricacies involved.