Who is "clear Imam" in the verse 36:12 of Quran?

Question

In this verse exactly the Arabic word of Imam is used. but amazingly it is translated "register".

It will be interesting to know why the Arabic word امام (Imam) is translated to register or book.

Anyway this verse is clearly saying "clear Imam"

إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَ‌هُمْ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ

Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register. http://tanzil.net/#36:12

The question is who is this Imam in this verse?

Please avoid any answer or tafseer without evidence from Quran or hadith. even if it is the commentary (personal idea) of a famous interpreter of Quran but without any hadith as evidence.

Answer 1

It means that all the creator are written in a book. إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ according to Tafseer Ibn Katheer refers to Suratul Fatihah (أم الكتاب). Imam also refers to the book of deeds the good of them, and the bad.

يَوۡمَ نَدۡعُواْ ڪُلَّ أُنَاسِۭ بِإِمَـٰمِهِمۡ‌ۖ فَمَنۡ أُوتِىَ ڪِتَـٰبَهُ ۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَقۡرَءُونَ ڪِتَـٰبَهُمۡ وَلَا يُظۡلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً۬ (٧١)

Think of) the Day when We will call every people with their books of deeds. Then the ones who will be given their book in their right hands will read their book (happily) and will not be wronged even to the measure of a fine thread. (71)

Suratul Isra' Ayah 71

Source: Tafseer Ibn Katheer