Mungu amempa mwanadamu uwezo wa kutambua na kuthamini baadhi ya sheria za maumbile, nguvu zake na uwezo wake, ili aweze kuzitumia katika kutekeleza jukumu alilopewa la kuijenga dunia na kukuza maisha ya binadamu na ustaarabu.
God has given man the ability to recognize and appreciate some of the laws of nature, its forces and potentials so that he may be able to use these in discharging the task assigned to him of building the earth and promoting human life and civilization.
Lakini Mwenyezi Mungu hakumpa mwanadamu uwezo wa kufikia kiini cha ukweli kamili wa ulimwengu wala kuzielewa dunia iliyo nje ya uwezo wa hisia zake. Dunia hiyo inajumuisha utendaji wa akili yake na nafsi yake, pamoja na utendaji wa viungo vyake mwenyewe na sababu zinazowezesha mwili wake kufanya kazi vizuri, kwa mujibu wa mfumo maalum na namna fulani mahsusi.
But man has not been granted by God the ability to get to the core of the absolute truths of the universe or to fathom the world which lies beyond the reach of his perceptions. This world includes the workings of his own mind and soul, and even the workings of his own organs and the causes which enable his body to function properly, according to a definite system and a particular fashion.
Hivyo basi, mwanadamu anahitaji mwongozo wa Mungu kuhusu kila kitu kinachohusiana na asili yake mwenyewe, ikiwa ni pamoja na imani, maadili, thamani na viwango, mifumo na sheria. Ni kwa mwongozo kama huo tu ndipo mwanadamu anaweza kuendesha maisha yake jinsi yanavyopaswa kuendeshwa. Kila mara mwanadamu anapokubali mwongozo wa Mungu, hujikuta akifuata njia iliyo sahihi, kwa kuwa "mwongozo wa Mungu ndio mwongozo pekee". Kila mara mwanadamu anapoacha kabisa mwongozo wa Mungu au kuupotoka kwa sehemu ili kuubadilisha na kitu kingine, hupotea njia. Hii ni kwa sababu kila kitu kinachopingana na mwongozo wa Mungu huwakilisha upotovu na hasara. Hakuna sababu ya tatu kabisa: "Na nini kinachopingana na haki isipokuwa upotovu?" (10: 32)
Hence, man is in need of divine guidance concerning everything that relates to his own nature, including faith, morals, values and standards, systems and laws. Only with such guidance can man regulate his life as it should be regulated. Whenever man adopts God’s guidance, he finds himself following the right track, because “God’s guidance is the only guidance”. Whenever man abandons God’s guidance completely or deviates from it partially in order to replace it with something else, he loses his way. This is due to the fact that whatever is in conflict with God’s guidance represents error and loss. There is simply no third cause: “What is in conflict with the truth other than error.” (10: 32)
Ubinadamu unaendelea kuvumilia madhara makubwa ya kupotea njia, kwani haya hayaepukiki pale wanadamu wanapoondoka katika uongozi wa Mungu. Kwa hakika, hii ndiyo kanuni pekee ya kihistoria isiyo na shaka ambayo lazima itimie, kwa sababu, tofauti na zile kanuni zinazodaiwa na wafuasi wa falsafa mbalimbali, hii imeamuliwa na Mungu. Yeyote anayetaka kuangalia kwa makini mateso ambayo watu hujiweka ndani yake wanapoacha uongozi wa Mungu hahitaji kwenda mbali. Mateso hayo yako kila mahali, tunayaona. Wale waliojaliwa busara na akili wanaendelea kupaza sauti zao kuonya dhidi yake.
Humanity continues to endure the terrible effects of going astray, for these are inevitable when mankind moves away from God’s guidance. Indeed, this is the one historical inevitability which is certain to take place because, unlike those inevitabilities claimed by the advocates of different philosophies, this one is determined by God. Anyone who wishes to look closely at the misery to which people expose themselves when they deviate from God’s guidance does not need to look far. That misery is everywhere for us to see. Those who are endowed with insight and intelligence continue to raise their voices to warn against it.
Aya ya Qur'ani inasema wazi kwamba binadamu lazima ajisalimishe kwa Mungu peke yake, amtolee ibada, na aendelee kumcha Yeye peke yake: "Tumeamrishwa kujisalimisha kwa Bwana wa viumbe vyote, na kushika Sala zetu kwa uthabiti na kumcha Yeye." (Aya 71-2)
The Qur’ānic verse states clearly that human beings must submit themselves to God alone, offer worship to Him and continue to fear Him alone: “We are commanded to surrender ourselves to the Lord of all the worlds, and to attend regularly to our prayers and to fear Him.” (Verses 71-2)
Maagizo aliyopewa Mtume Muhammad (amani iwe juu yake) ni kwamba lazima atangaze kwa uwazi kabisa kwamba uongozi wa Mungu ndio uongozi pekee. Hivyo, tumeamrishwa kujisalimisha kwa Mola wa viumbe vyote, kwa sababu ni Kwake Yeye pekee ambapo dunia zote zinajisalimisha. Kwa nini mwanadamu awe peke yake ndiye kiumbe pekee cha kipekee katika uumbaji wote, wakati kila kitu katika ulimwengu kinajisalimisha kwa Utawala kamili wa Mungu? Kutajwa hapa kwamba Mungu ni `Mola wa walimwengu wote` kunakuja wakati mwafaka. Kunasisitiza ukweli usiopingika kwamba dunia zote, zinazojulikana kwetu au zisizojulikana, zinajisalimisha kwa sheria ambazo Mungu ameziweka kufanya kazi, na haziwezi kujitenga nazo. Kibiolojia, mwanadamu pia yuko chini ya sheria za maumbile. Basi, anachopaswa kufanya ni kujisalimisha pia katika eneo ambalo amepewa uchaguzi: kufuata uongozi au kuzama katika upotovu. Mwanadamu atakapochagua kumtii Mungu kwa namna ile ile anavyofanya kibiolojia, mambo yake yote yatanyooka, kwa sababu maelewano yatapatikana kati ya muundo wake na matendo yake, kati ya mwili wake na roho yake, kati ya maisha yake ya sasa na maisha yake ya baadaye. Tangazo lililotolewa na Mtume wa Mungu na wafuasi wake kwamba wametii amri ya kujisalimisha kwa Mungu linatosha kumvutia yeyote kufungua akili yake na kujiandaa kuitikia amri ya Mungu.
The instructions given to the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him) are such that he has to declare in absolute clarity that God’s guidance is the only guidance. As such, we are commanded to submit to the Lord of all the universe, because to Him alone all the worlds submit. Why should man be the only exception out of all creation when everything in the universe submits to God’s absolute Lordship? The reference made here to the fact that God is `the Lord of all the worlds’ comes at the right time. It emphasizes an undeniable fact that all the worlds, whether known or unknown to us, submit to the laws God has set in operation and cannot break away from them. Biologically, man is also subject to the laws of nature. What he needs to do, then, is to submit also in the area in which he has been given a choice: to follow guidance or to sink in error. When man chooses to submit to God in the same way as he does biologically, all his affairs will be set aright, because harmony will be established between his constitution and his action, between his body and his soul, between his present life and his life to come. The declaration made by God’s Messenger and his followers that they have complied with the commandment to surrender themselves to God is enough to inspire anyone to open his mind and make himself ready to respond to the divine instruction.
Baada ya tamko la kujisalimisha kwa Mola wa viumbe vyote kutolewa, baadhi ya wajibu anaotakiwa mwanadamu yametajwa kwa njia ya matendo ya ibada na mitazamo.
After the declaration of surrender to the Lord of all the worlds is given, some of the duties required of man are given in terms of acts of worship and attitudes:
"Simamisheni swala kwa usahihi na mcheni Yeye." (Aya ya 72) Jambo lililo la msingi zaidi, basi, ni kujisalimisha kikamilifu kwa Mwenyezi Mungu na kukiri Ukuu Wake juu ya ulimwengu. Utoaji wa ibada na kuunda mitazamo ya kiroho na kimawazo hufuata kutokana na hili, kwa kuwa haya hayawezi kufanyika ipasavyo isipokuwa yakijengwa juu ya msingi imara wa mwanadamu kujisalimisha kwa Mwenyezi Mungu.
“Attend regularly to prayers and to fear Him.” (Verse 72) The most essential thing, then, is complete submission to God and the acknowledgement of His Lordship over the universe. The offering of worship and the moulding of conscious attitudes follow from this, because these cannot be done properly unless they are based on the solid foundation of man’s submission to God.
Noti ya mwisho katika kifungu hiki inakusanya vipengele kadhaa muhimu vya dhana ya imani, yaani, ufufuo, uumbaji, hekima na ufahamu wa yote yanayotokea katika ulimwengu. Sifa hizi zote ni muhimu ili dhana yetu ya Mungu iundwe ipasavyo: “Ni kwake Yeye mtakusanywa nyote. Ndiye aliyeziumba mbingu na ardhi kwa haki. Anaposema, ‘Kuwa,’ basi huwa. Neno lake ni haki. Ufalme wote utakuwa wake siku itakapopulizwa parapara. Anajua yaliyo mbali ya upeo wa ufahamu wa binadamu, na yaliyo dhahiri. Yeye peke yake ndiye Mwenye hekima, Mjuzi wa yote.” (Aya 72-3)
The final note in this passage brings together a number of essential components of the concept of faith, namely, resurrection, creation, wisdom and awareness of all that takes place in the universe. All these are attributes so that our concept of God is properly formulated: “It is to Him you all shall be gathered. He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in truth. Whenever He says, Be,’ it shall be. His word is the truth. All sovereignty shall be His on the day when the trumpet is blown. He knows all that is beyond the reach of human perception, and all that is manifest. He alone is truly wise, all-aware.” (Verses 72-3)
Kwa kuwa viumbe vyote vitakusanywa mbele ya Mola Mlezi wa walimwengu wote, utiifu kwake yeye peke yake ni jambo la lazima kabisa. Ni busara tu kwamba watu waitazame kesho yao kwa mwanga wa ukweli kwamba bila shaka watakusanywa kwa Mungu. Ni bora wamtii, kama walimwengu wote na viumbe vyote wanavyomtii, kabla hawajahesabiwa mbele yake. Tunaona jinsi ukweli wa kufufuliwa unavyotumiwa hapa kuwashawishi watu kwamba ni kwa manufaa yao kumtii Mungu tangu mwanzo kabisa.
Since all creation will be gathered before the Lord of all the worlds, submission to Him alone is absolutely essential. It is only wise that people should consider their future in the light of the fact that they will inevitably be gathered to God. They better submit to Him, as all the worlds and all creation do, before they are brought to account in front of Him. We see how the fact of resurrection is used here to convince people that it is in their best interests to submit to God right at the beginning.
Hasa kwa kuwa hawana chaguo jingine zaidi ya kujisalimisha Kwake mwishowe.
Especially since they have no option but to submit to Him in the end.
"Yeye ndiye ambaye ameumba mbingu na ardhi kwa haki." (Aya ya 73) Hii ni hakika nyingine isiyopingika iliyotajwa hapa ili kuwashawishi watu wachague njia sahihi ya kujisalimisha kwa Mungu. Wakifanya hivyo, wanajisalimisha tu kwa Yule ambaye ameumba mbingu na ardhi. Hapana shaka kwamba yule anayeumba ndiye anayemiliki, anayedhibiti na anayeamua hatima ya mbingu na ardhi pamoja na kila kilicho hai ndani yake au juu yake. Zaidi ya hayo, uumbaji huu umefanywa `kwa haki`. Hili ni kukataa nadharia zote za kubahatisha zilizotolewa na wanafalsafa, hasa Plato na Wautopia, ambazo zinadokeza kwamba ulimwengu huu wa kimwili ni udanganyifu usio na uhalisia. Kauli ya Qur'ani inakwenda mbali zaidi ya kukanusha nadharia kama hizo. Inaweka wazi kwamba haki ni kipengele cha msingi katika muundo wa ulimwengu huu, pamoja na hatima yake. Haki ambayo watu wanaitafuta na kuielekea inaungwa mkono na haki iliyo ndani ya asili ya uwepo wenyewe. Hivyo, inakuwa nguvu kuu inayoufagia uongo wote. Kwa hakika, uongo hauwezi kuota mizizi katika muundo wa ulimwengu. Ni kama `mti mbaya uliong'olewa kutoka ardhini na usio na mizizi yoyote`. Uongo ni kama povu linalovimba juu ya maji yanayotiririka: halina uzito wowote. Hii pia ni kauli yenye nguvu kubwa ya ukweli.
“He it is who has created the heavens and the earth in truth.” (Verse 73) This is another undeniable fact mentioned here to influence people into choosing the right course of submission to God. If they do, they only surrender to the One who has created the heavens and the earth. Needless to say, the one who creates is the one who owns, controls and determines the destiny of the heavens and the earth and all that lives in or on them. Moreover, this creation has been made `in truth’. This is to refuse all the conjectural theories advanced by philosophers, particularly Plato and the Utopians, which suggest that this physical world of ours is a delusion and has no real substance. The Qur’ānic statement goes further than refuting such theories. It makes it clear that the truth is an essential element in the foundation, as well as the destiny of this universe. The truth which people seek and to which they turn is supported by the truth which is essential in the nature of existence. Thus, it becomes an overpowering force which sweeps all falsehood away. Indeed, falsehood cannot establish any roots in the structure of the universe. It is only `like an evil tree torn out of the earth and shorn of all its roots’. Falsehood is like swelling foam surfacing over running water: it has no substance. This is again a profoundly powerful statement of fact.
Muumini anahisi kwamba ukweli ambao anautetea na ambao anauhisi ndani yake unaunganishwa moja kwa moja na ukweli mkubwa zaidi unaodhihirika katika ulimwengu, na huo nao unaunganishwa moja kwa moja na ukweli kamili wa Mungu. Katika sura nyingine, tunasoma kauli hii ya Qur’ani: “Hakika Mungu ndiye ukweli mkuu.” (22: 62) Akiwa na ufahamu huu, muumini huuona uongo kuwa si zaidi ya Kiputo kikubwa ambacho hakika kitapasuka.
A believer feels that the truth which he advocates and feels within himself is directly linked to the greater truth manifested in the universe, and this, in turn, is directly linked to the absolute truth of God. In another sūrah, we read this Qur’ānic statement: “Indeed, God is the ultimate truth.” (22: 62) Equipped with this realization a believer views falsehood as no more than a large bubble which is certain to explode.
Uongo unaweza kweli kujionyesha kuwa mkubwa na wenye nguvu, na kuweza kuwasababishia waumini madhara makubwa. Hata hivyo, ukweli unabaki kuwa haina mzizi wa kuutegemeza muundo wake. Hivi karibuni hutoweka na kusahaulika kana kwamba haikuwahi kuwepo.
Falsehood may indeed manifest itself as large and powerful and able to cause believers much harm. The fact remains, however, that it has no root to support its structure. It soon disappears and becomes forgotten as if it never existed.
Mtu asiyeamini anapotafakari ukweli huu, hakika atahisi hali ya hofu na mshangao. Huenda akaacha upotofu wake na kukubali uongofu wa Mwenyezi Mungu.
When an unbeliever contemplates this truth, he is bound to experience a feeling of awe. He may give up his falsehood and accept God’s guidance.
“Kila anaposema, ‘Kuwa,’ basi litakuwa.” (Aya ya 73) Uwezo wake unatawala kila kitu, na matakwa yake hayazuiliki. Huumba, hubadilisha na kuleta mbadala kadri atakavyo. Ukweli huu umetajwa hapa kwa madhumuni mawili: unasaidia kuunda kwa usahihi dhana sahihi ya imani katika nyoyo za waumini, na unawahamasisha wale walioitwa kujisalimisha kwa Mungu, Mola wa viumbe vyote, Muumbaji wa kila kitu, Yule anayesema kwa kila kitu anachotaka kukiumba, “Kuwa”, nacho kikawepo papo hapo.
“Whenever He says, ‘Be,’ it shall be.” (Verse 73) His power dominates all, and His will is unrestrained. He creates, changes and replaces as He pleases. This fact is mentioned here for a dual purpose: it helps the proper formulation of the correct concept of faith in the believers’ hearts and it inspires those who are called upon to submit to God, the Lord of all the worlds, the Creator of everything, the One who says to anything He wishes to create, “Be”, and it is instantly there.
"Neno lake ndilo ukweli." (Aya ya 73) Ukweli huu unahusu neno la Mwenyezi Mungu, "Kuwa", ambalo husababisha kuumbwa kwa viumbe. Ni amri yake kwamba viumbe vyote vimnyenyekee Yeye peke yake; ni neno lake linalotoa sheria za kutekelezwa na wanadamu; na ni neno lake linalotueleza yaliyopita, yaliyopo na yajayo, asili ya uumbaji, ufufuo, hesabu na malipo. Katika yote haya, neno lake ni ukweli. Kwa hiyo, wale wanaomshirikisha Yeye washirika ambao hawawezi kuleta manufaa wala madhara, wale wanaofuata amri ya mtu yeyote mwingine isipokuwa Yeye, au wanaokubali falsafa yoyote isipokuwa ile ya imani ya kimungu, au wanaotekeleza sheria yoyote isipokuwa kanuni yake, wanashauriwa kujisalimisha kwake Yeye peke yake.
“His word is the truth.” (Verse 73) This fact applies to God’s word, “Be”, which causes creation. This His commandment that all creation should submit to Him alone, this His word providing legislation for mankind to implement, and this His word which tells us about the past, present and future, the origin of creation, resurrection, reckoning and reward. In all this, His word is the truth. Hence, those who associate with Him partners that can cause no benefit or harm, those who follow the bidding of anyone other than Him, or who adopt any philosophy other than that of the divine faith, or who implement any legislation other than His code are advised to surrender themselves to Him alone.
"Ufalme wote utakuwa wake siku itakapopulizwa tarumbeta." (Aya ya 73) Siku ya Kiyama, tarumbeta itapulizwa kwa namna ambayo hadi sasa hakuna binadamu aliyewahi kuisikia. Ni sehemu ya mambo ambayo Mungu amejihifadhia mwenyewe. Asili ya tarumbeta hiyo na jinsi watu watakavyoitikia hazijulikani kwa mtu yeyote isipokuwa Mungu. Riwaya zilizopo kwetu zinaashiria kwamba ni tarumbeta yenye umbo la pembe, iliyotengenezwa kwa nuru. Hupulizwa na malaika. Wafu walio kaburini wanapoisikia, hunyanyuka mara moja. Kwa hakika, hii ni mpulizo wa pili wa tarumbeta hiyo. Mpulizo wa kwanza husababisha viumbe vyote vilivyo mbinguni na ardhini kuzimia, isipokuwa wale ambao Mungu anawachagua kuwaepusha. Hili limetajwa katika aya ya 68 ya Sūrah 39: "Tarumbeta itapulizwa, na wote waliomo mbinguni na wote waliomo ardhini watazimia, isipokuwa wale ambao Mungu atapenda kuwaepusha. Kisha itapulizwa tena, nao watasimama wakitazama." Maelezo haya ya tarumbeta na athari za kupulizwa kwake yanatufanya tuelewe wazi kwamba ni kitu tofauti na kile ambacho binadamu wameona au kusikia duniani hapa, au wanachokifikiria. Ni cha ulimwengu uliopo zaidi ya uwezo wa binadamu wa kutambua. Tunalijua tu kwa sababu Mungu ameamua kutujulisha umbo lake na athari yake. Tunajizuia kwenye maelezo haya ili kutojihusisha na dhana zisizo na msingi imara.
“All sovereignty shall be His on the Day when the trumpet is blown.” (Verse 73) On the Day of Resurrection, the trumpet is sounded in a way that no human being has thus far heard. It is part of what God has kept to Himself. The nature of that trumpet and how people respond to it remain unknown to anyone other than God. The reports available to us suggest that it is a horn-like trumpet, made of light. It is blown by an angel. As the dead in their graves hear it, they immediately rise up. Indeed, this is the second blow given on that trumpet. The first one causes all creatures in the heavens and on earth to be stunned, with the exception of those God chooses to exempt. This is mentioned in verse 68 of Sūrah 39: “The trumpet will be sounded, and all creatures that are in the heavens and all that are on earth will fall down senseless, unless they be such as God wills to exempt. And then it will be sounded again, and they all stand up and will begin to see.” These descriptions of the trumpet and the effects of its blowing make it clear to us that it is something different from what human beings have seen or heard on this earth or what they visualize. It belongs to the world that lies beyond the reach of human perception. We know about it only by virtue of what God has chosen to inform us of its shape and effect. We confine ourselves to this information so as not to indulge in speculation which lacks solid foundation.
Siku hiyo itakapopulizwa tarumbeta, hata wale wanaokataa na vipofu watapata kuona na kutambua kwamba mamlaka yote ni ya Mungu peke yake. Hakuna yeyote aliye na uwezo isipokuwa Yeye. Hakuna mapenzi yanayoweza kutekelezwa isipokuwa mapenzi Yake. Kwa hiyo, wale wanaokataa katika maisha haya kujisalimisha kwake kwa hiari yao wanashauriwa vyema kubadilisha mtazamo wao kabla hawajalazimika kujisalimisha kwa nguvu zake kamili siku tarumbeta itakapopulizwa.
On that day when the trumpet is sounded, even the rejecters and the blind will begin to see and realize that all sovereignty belongs to God alone. No one has any power other than Him. No will can operate other than His. Hence, those who in this life refuse to submit to Him willingly are well advised to change their attitude before they have to submit to His absolute power on the day when the trumpet is blown.
"Anajua yote yaliyo nje ya uwezo wa utambuzi wa binadamu, na yote yaliyo wazi." (Aya ya 73) Ujuzi wake ni kamili, usio na kikomo. Unajumuisha kila kitu kilichofichwa kwetu pamoja na kile tunachokiona katika ulimwengu. Hakuna jambo lolote katika mambo ya watu wala sehemu yoyote ya maisha yao linaloweza kufichika Kwake. Tena, watafuata ushauri mwema iwapo watajisalimisha Kwake, wakimwabudu na kuwa wenye kumcha Mungu.
“He knows all that is beyond the reach of human perception, and all that is manifest.” (Verse 73) His knowledge is perfect, absolute. It includes everything that is kept away from us as well as that which we see in the universe. Nothing of people’s affairs and no part of their lives can be hidden from Him. Again, they will follow good counsel if they surrender themselves to Him, worship Him and be God-fearing.
Ukweli huu umetajwa hapa kwa ajili yake yenyewe, na unatumika kama kitu cha kuwashawishi wale wanaokataa imani.
This fact is mentioned here for its own sake and is used as something with which to influence those who reject the faith.
"Yeye peke yake ndiye mwenye hekima, mjuzi wa kila kitu." (Aya ya 73) Yeye ndiye anayesimamia mambo yote ya ulimwengu aliouumba, pamoja na mambo ya viumbe ambao yuko nao mamlaka kamili katika maisha haya na katika maisha ya Akhera. Kila analofanya lina sifa ya hekima na limejengwa juu ya elimu isiyo na mipaka. Watakapojisalimisha kwa sheria yake, watafurahia furaha ambayo hekima yake huwapa katika maisha yao. Watajiondoa kwenye hasara na mshangao wao ili wafurahie uongofu wake na kujifunza furaha kutokana na hekima yake.
“He alone is truly wise, all-aware.” (Verse 73) He conducts all the affairs of the universe which He has created, as well as the affairs of the creatures over whom He has absolute power in this life and in the life to come. All that He does is characterized by wisdom and is based on unbounded knowledge. When they submit to His law, they will enjoy the happiness that is imparted to their lives by His wisdom. They will bring themselves out of their loss and bewilderment to enjoy His guidance and learn happiness from His wisdom.