Bismillah.
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِيَ كِتَابَهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَيَقُولُ هَاؤُمُ اقْرَءُوا كِتَابِيَهْ إِنِّي ظَنَنتُ أَنِّي مُلَاقٍ حِسَابِيَهْ
As for him who is given his book in his right hand, he will say, ‘Here, take and read my book!’
(Sūrat al-Hāqqah No.69, Āyat 19)
The Quran often mentions the people of the right hand (As-hāb al-Yamīn) and the people of the left hand (As-hāb al-Shimāl) as referenced in the verses: The People of the Right Hand—and what are the People of the Right Hand?! (8) And the People of the Left Hand—and what are the People of the Left Hand?! (Q 56:8–9).
These expressions illustrate the fate of human beings on the Day of Judgment. It describes the people of the right hand as those who will rejoice in their good deeds and receive divine blessings, while the people of the left hand will face regret and punishment due to their misdeeds. The Day of Judgement will be a time when all hidden aspects of one’s actions, characteristics, spiritual traits, and intentions become apparent. On that day, the deeds performed in secret as well as the true nature of a person’s heart and soul will become apparent. The reaction of human beings to their account of deeds will reveal the truth of their spiritual state.
The verse in context highlights the reaction of the people of the right hand who had actively prepared for this day. They were mindful that obedience to Allah ‘azza wajall would earn them divine reward while disobedience would result in punishment. For them the Day of Judgment was an undeniable reality. Even though its exact time was unknown they did not consider it impossible or distant. This conviction shaped their lives and actions. As a result, on the Day of Resurrection the people of the right hand will experience overwhelming joy and exultation. Upon receiving their record of deeds, they will proudly and excitedly proclaim to the angels and all present: “Here, take and read my book!” Their joy will reflect the fulfillment of a life lived in obedience and faith, rewarded with eternal success.
The key to attaining this joyous reaction on the day of resurrection lies in possessing certainty about one’s accountability. As the verse after it states: Indeed, I knew that I would encounter my account [of deeds]. (Q 69:20) The word dhann used in this verse in its literal sense means a conjecture. Imam Ali ‘alayhis-salām explains its deeper implications: Conjecture (dhann) is of two types: conjecture of doubt and conjecture of certainty. As for matters of the Hereafter, they are conjectures of certainty, while matters of this world are conjectures of doubt. (Al-Tawhīd by Shaykh Sadūq, p. 267)
The conjecture of certainty regarding the hereafter motivates a person to exercise caution and mindfulness in their actions, striving to avoid disgrace and humiliation before the entire creation on that fateful day. The firmer the conjecture, the stronger the spirit of God-consciousness (taqwā). This fosters a conscious effort to avoid committing evil acts. And in instances where sins may occur, the individual is quick to seek repentance. It will be such people who will receive the book in their right hand and will be happy to show it to others.
We pray to the Almighty to enable us to be among those who are certain about the Day of Resurrection and exercise consciousness in their deeds so that we can be from the people of the right hand.
Resources: ‘Allāmah Muhammad Husayn Tabātabā’ī, Tafsīr al-Mīzān; Āyatullāh Nāsir Makārim Shirāzī (Ed.), Tafsīr-e Namūneh; Shaykh Tabarsī, Tafsīr Majma‘ al-Bayān; Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī, Tafsīr al-Kabīr; Shaykh Muhammad Jawad Mughniyya, Tafsīr al-Kāshif.