Why does it say in Surat Al-Isra, "And [for] every human, We have made [his] omen cling to his neck," instead of his deeds or sins, and what is meant by "omen" (الطائر)?

The interpretation of the verse: "And every human being We have made his fate (or deed) cling to his neck" has two aspects:

1. The "bird" (or fate) is the deed: This means that a person's deeds are inseparable from him. Many verses support this meaning, such as: "Whoever does evil will be recompensed for it" and "You are only recompensed for what you used to do." 2. The "bird" (or fate) is what was destined for him, whether misery or happiness: This means that a person's lot and what was predetermined for him in Allah's knowledge, whether good or evil, is inseparable from him. Verses like: "And among you are disbelievers, and among you are believers" and "A group in Paradise and a group in the Blaze" support this.

The two interpretations are interconnected, for what is destined for him from deeds is the cause of what he will ultimately face, whether misery or happiness. And "to his neck" means that it is inseparable from him, like the inseparability of a necklace or a collar, which cannot be removed from him.