Sura iliyotangulia ilitoa maelezo marefu kuhusu hadithi ya uumbaji wa mwanadamu na mapambano dhidi ya jamii ya kijahili ya Waarabu, na kwa hakika dhidi ya jamii zote za kijahiliyyah, kuhusu suala la staha na uadilifu wa mwenendo. Maadili kama haya yanahitaji miili ifunikwe kwa mavazi yanayofaa, na nafsi zipambwe kwa khofu ya Mungu. Jambo lote hili linahusiana moja kwa moja na suala kuu la imani.

The previous passage in the sūrah provided a long comment on the story of man’s creation and the confrontation with the ignorant Arabian society, and indeed all jāhiliyyah societies, over the question of propriety and decency. Such values require that bodies be covered with appropriate dress and that souls be adorned with fear of God. The whole question relates directly to the major issue of faith.

Anwani hii mpya kwa wanadamu inashughulikia suala kuu ambalo swali la mavazi lilihusiana nalo katika kifungu kilichotangulia. Inahusu swali la nani wa kufuata kuhusiana na ibada na desturi za kidini, pamoja na masuala ya kisheria, na kwa hakika katika mambo yote ya maisha. Wanadamu wanapaswa kufuata Mitume wanaowaletea wahyi kutoka kwa Mola wao Mlezi. Ni kwa msingi wa mwitikio wao kwa Mitume hao ndipo uwajibikaji na malipo siku ya Hukumu yatakapoamuliwa.

This new address to mankind tackles the central issue to which the question of dress was related in the previous passage. It deals with the question of whom to follow in connection with religious rites and practices, as well as in legal issues, and indeed in all matters of life. Mankind must follow the messengers who bring them revelations from their Lord. It is on the basis of their response to those messengers that accountability and reward on the Day of Judgement will be determined.

"Enyi wana wa Adam! Kila watakapowajia Mitume miongoni mwenu wenyewe wakukusomeeni Ishara Zangu, basi wale wenye kunicha Mimi na wakatengenea, hakutakuwa na khofu juu yao wala hawatahuzunika. Lakini wale wanaozikadhibisha Ishara Zetu na kuzifanyia kiburi, hao ndio watu wa Motoni, humo watadumu."

“Children of Adam! Whenever there come to you messengers from among yourselves to relate to you My revelations, then those who are conscious of Me and live righteously shall have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve. But those who deny and scorn Our revelations are the ones destined for the fire, where they shall abide.” (Verses 35-36)

Ni agano ambalo Mwenyezi Mungu amemfanyia Adamu na watoto wake, pamoja na sharti alilowekewa mwanadamu ili apewe jukumu la kuwa khalifa duniani. Hakika ni Mwenyezi Mungu aliyeiumba dunia na kuifanya inafaa kuhimili uhai, kisha akamkabidhi mwanadamu jukumu la kuijenga, na akampa vipaji, uwezo na njia zinazohitajika ili kutimiza wajibu wake kulingana na agano la Mwenyezi Mungu. Isipokuwa binadamu wafuate mitume ambao Mwenyezi Mungu huwatuma kwao, basi chochote wanachokifanya katika maisha haya kitakataliwa. Hakuna atakayejisalimisha kwa Mwenyezi Mungu atakayekubali vitendo kama hivyo, ambavyo siku ya Hukumu vitakuwa mzigo utakaompelekea kwenye Jahannamu bila shaka: "Enyi wana wa Adamu! Itakapokufikieni mitume kutoka miongoni mwenu, wakikusimulieni aya Zangu, basi atakayemcha Mimi na akatengenea, hawatakuwa na khofu wala hawatahuzunika." (Aya ya 35)

Tunaona sasa mfululizo wa matukio yanayoonyesha mwisho wa maisha haya na mwanzo wa maisha ya Akhera. Kwanza tunaona tukio la kifo kinavyowakumba wale wanaozusha madai ya uongo dhidi ya Mungu, wakidai kwamba dhana zao walizorithi, falsafa zao, pamoja na mila na sheria wanazojitungia wenyewe, zimeidhinishwa na Mungu. Watu wa namna hii wanakanusha ufunuo wa Mungu unapowafikia kupitia kwa Mitume Wake, ilhali ufunuo huo una kanuni kamilifu ya kimungu. Hivyo wanapendelea elimu yao yenye shaka, isiyothibitishwa, kuliko ukweli uliothibitishwa wa ufunuo wa Mungu. Wameshapokea yale yaliyokadiriwa kuwa sehemu yao ya starehe za dunia hii. Wamekamilisha kipindi cha mtihani ambacho Mungu alikusudia wapitie, na wamepokea sehemu yao ya ufunuo ambao Mungu aliwateremshia Mitume Wake, nao wakawafikishia: "Ni nani aliye dhalimu zaidi kuliko yule anayemzulia Mungu uongo au kukanusha ufunuo Wake? Hao watapata sehemu yao iliyoandikwa [maishani]. Wakati Mitume Wetu watakapokuja kuzichukua roho zao, watasema: 'Yuko wapi sasa wale mliokuwa mkiwaomba badala ya Mungu?' Watajibu: 'Wametuacha!' Hivyo, watashuhudia juu ya nafsi zao wenyewe kwamba walikuwa makafiri." (Aya ya 37)

We have now a series of scenes portraying the end of this life and the beginning of the next one. We see first a scene of death as it overwhelms those who fabricate false claims against God, alleging that their inherited concepts and philosophies and the traditions and laws they enact for themselves have been sanctioned by God. Such people deny God’s revelations when they are conveyed to them by His messengers although these contain a perfect divine code. Thus, they prefer their suspect, unconfirmed knowledge to the confirmed truth of God’s revelations. They have already received what was decreed to be their lot of the comforts of this world. They have completed the period of test God had willed them to go through, and received their part of the revelations God has given to His messengers who, in turn, conveyed it to them: “Who is more wicked than one who invents lies about God or denies His revelations? These shall have whatever has been decreed to be their lot [in life]. When Our messengers come to carry off their souls, they will say: `Where, now, are those whom you used to invoke besides God?’ They will reply: ‘They have forsaken us!’ Thus, they will bear witness against themselves that they had been unbelievers.” (Verse 37)

Hapa tunaona mbele ya macho yetu picha ya wale waliozusha uwongo dhidi ya Mungu na kukanusha ufunuo Wake. Malaika wanakuja kuchukua roho zao na kuwafanya wafe, kisha kunabadilishwa maneno fulani kati ya makundi hayo mawili. Malaika wanawauliza: “Yuko wapi sasa wale mliokuwa mkiwaomba badala ya Mungu?” (Aya ya 37) Je, vile madai ya uwongo mliyokuwa mkiyasisitiza yalikwenda wapi?

Here we see portrayed before our eyes the scene of those who invented lies against God and denied His revelations. The angels come to gather their souls and cause them to die, at which point certain remarks are exchanged between the two groups. The angels ask them: “Where, now, are those whom you used to invoke besides God?” (Verse 37) What happened to the fabricated claims you used to emphasize?

Hebu sasa tuangalie upande wa pili: "Kwa wale walioamini na kutenda mema, Sisi hatumtwishi nafsi yoyote zaidi ya uwezo wake. Hao ndio watu wa Peponi, watakaa humo milele. Tutaondoa kinyongo chochote kilichobaki mioyoni mwao."

Let us now look at the opposite scene: “As for those who believe and do righteous deeds, We never burden a soul with more than it can bear. They are destined for paradise, where they will abide. We shall remove any rancour that may be lingering in their hearts.

Mito ya maji itapita chini ya miguu yao; nao watasema: Sifa zote njema ni za Mwenyezi Mungu, aliyetuongoza kwa hili. Lau kama Yeye asingetuongoza, hakika tusingeweza kuiona njia iliyo sawa. Hakika Mitume wa Mola wetu wamekuja na haki.” (Sauti) itawaita: “Hii ndiyo Pepo mliyorithishwa kwa sababu ya yale mliyokuwa mkiyafanya.” (Sura Al-A'raf, Aya 42-43)

Running waters will flow at their feet; and they will say: All praise is due to God who has guided us to this. Had He not given us guidance, we would certainly have not found the right path. Our Lord’s messengers have certainly brought us the truth.’ (A voice) will call out to them: ‘This is the paradise you have inherited by virtue of what you used to do.’” (Verses 42- 43)

Hapa kuna maelezo ya hatima ya wale wanaoamini na kutenda mema kwa kadiri ya uwezo wao. Hawa wanarudi peponi, kwa sababu, kwa neema ya Mungu, ndio wamiliki halali wake. Yeye amewapa kama malipo ya matendo yao mema yanayotokana na imani. Ni wao waliowafuata Mitume wa Mungu, wakatii amri za Mola wao Mlezi, Mwenye Nguvu, Mwenye Rehema, na kumwasi Shetani, adui yao wa tangu zamani. Lau isingekuwa neema ya Mungu, matendo yao yangekuwa hayatoshi, kwa kuzingatia uwezo wao mdogo. Mtume ﷺ anasema katika Hadithi sahihi iliyopokewa na Muslim: "Hakuna mmoja wenu atakayeingia peponi kwa sababu ya tendo lake." Maswahaba zake wakauliza: "Hata wewe, Ee Mjumbe wa Mungu?" Akajibu:

Here we have a description of the destiny of those who believe and do righteous deeds as best they can. These return to paradise, because they are, by God’s grace, its rightful owners. He has granted it to them as a reward for their good deeds which are motivated by faith. It is they who followed God’s messengers, obeyed the commandments of their Lord, the Almighty, the Merciful and disobeyed Satan, their age- old enemy. Had it not been for God’s grace, their actions would not have been sufficient, considering their limited ability. The Prophet says in an authentic ĥadīth related by Muslim: “No one of you will be admitted into heaven by virtue of his action.” His companions asked: “Not even you, Messenger of God?” He replied:

“Wala mimi, isipokuwa Mwenyezi Mungu atanijaalia rehema na neema Yake.” Hakuna mkanganyiko wala utofauti kati ya kile Mungu anachosema kuhusu jambo hili na kile kilichoelezwa katika Hadithi hii na Mtume Wake, ambaye hasemi chochote kinachohusiana na dini kwa hiari yake mwenyewe. Mjadala wote wa kitaaluma uliofanyika miongoni mwa madhehebu ya Kiislamu kuhusu swali hili haukutegemea ufahamu sahihi wa dini hii. Mungu anajua kwamba wanadamu ni dhaifu mno kiasi cha kupata kuingia peponi kwa sababu ya matendo yao wenyewe. Kwa hakika, chochote wanachofanya hakitoshi kulipa hata jambo moja katika neema Yake ambayo Mungu huwapa katika maisha haya ya duniani. Kwa hiyo, Yeye amejifunga kuwaneemesha kwa rehema Yake na kukubali kutoka kwao juhudi zao ndogo na kuwapa pepo kama malipo, lakini kwa neema Yake tu. Hivyo, wanaipata kwa matendo yao pamoja na rehema na neema ya Mungu.

Tofauti kati ya makundi haya mawili ni kubwa kabisa, lakini sūrah inaendelea kutuchorea mbele ya macho yetu tukio linalotokea baadaye kuliko lile tuliloliona hivi punde. Sasa tunawaona watu wa peponi wakiwa wametulia kwa raha katika makazi yao, huku watu wa motoni sasa wakiwa na hakika ya maangamizi yao. Kundi la kwanza linawaita wale wa upande wa pili na kuwauliza kuhusu ahadi ya Mungu: "Watu wa peponi watawaita watu wa motoni: 'Sisi tumeona kuwa kweli ni yale ambayo Mola wetu Mlezi alituahidi. Je, nanyi mmeona kuwa kweli ni ahadi ya Mola wenu Mlezi?' Watajibu: 'Ndiyo.' Hapo mtangazaji kutoka miongoni mwao atatangaza: 'Hakika walaaniwa ni wale madhalimu, ambao waliwazuia wengine na njia ya Mungu na kutaka kuifanya ionekane potovu, na ambao waliikataa haki ya Siku ya Kiyama ijayo.'" (Aya 44-45)

The contrast between the two groups is total, but the sūrah moves on to raise before our eyes a scene that comes later than the one we have just witnessed. Now we see the people of heaven having settled down comfortably in their dwelling place, while the people of hell are now certain of their doom. The former group calls out to the latter asking them about God’s promise: “The dwellers of paradise will call out to the inmates of the fire: ‘We have found what our Lord promised to be true. Have you, too, found the promise of your Lord to be true?’ They will answer: ‘Yes,’ whereupon someone from their midst will proclaim: ‘Cursed indeed are the wrongdoers who turn others away from God’s path and try to make it appear crooked, and who reject the truth of the lift to come.’” (Verses 44-45)

Swali lenyewe limejaa kejeli. Waumini wana hakika kamili kwamba kile ambacho Mungu alikikataza kimetokea kweli, kwa namna ile ile ambayo ahadi yake imetimia. Hata hivyo, wanawauliza watu wa motoni kuhusu jambo hilo. Jibu linatolewa kwa neno moja: “Ndiyo”.

The question itself is full of irony. The believers are absolutely certain that what God has warned against has actually come to pass in the same way as His promise has been fulfilled. Nevertheless, they ask the people of hell about it. The answer is given in a single word: “Yes”.

Hivyo mazungumzo yanayofanyika kupitia pengo kubwa kati ya mbingu na jehanamu yanakoma pale sauti inaposikika kwa makundi hayo mawili. Mtu fulani atatangaza katikati yao: "Hakika walaaniwe wale wadhalimu wanaowazuia watu kuifuata njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu na kujaribu kuifanya ionekane potofu, na wanaokataa ukweli wa maisha yajayo." (Aya 44-45) Kauli hii inaeleza wazi maana ya `wadhalimu', neno ambalo mara nyingi hutumika katika Qur'ani kama kisawe cha `makafiri'. Ni wale wasio na imani ndio wanaowazuia watu kuifuata njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu na kujitahidi sana kuifanya ionekane potofu. Hawaamini maisha yajayo.

Thus the dialogue that takes place across the great divide between heaven and hell comes to a stop as a voice is heard by the two groups. Someone will proclaim in their midst: “Cursed indeed are the wrongdoers who turn others away from God’s path and try to make it appear crooked, and who reject the truth of the lift to come.” (Verses 44-45) This statement clearly defines the meaning of `the wrongdoers’ which is often used in the Qur’ān as a synonym for `unbelievers’. It is the ones who are devoid of faith that turn people away from God’s path and try hard to make it appear crooked. They do not believe in the life to come.

Katika hatua hii, sura inatuvutia kwenye jambo jingine la ziada lililoonyeshwa katika tukio hili. Tunaona kwamba makundi mawili yametenganishwa na kizuizi ambacho juu yake wamesimama baadhi ya watu wanaowatambua wakazi wa peponi na wakazi wa Moto kwa sura zao na maumbile yao. Ni muhimu kufahamu watu hawa ni akina nani na wana uhusiano gani na makundi mawili yaliyokusudiwa kuingia peponi au motoni.

At this juncture, the sūrah draws our attention to something additional painted in this scene. We see that the two camps are separated by a barrier over which stand some people who recognize the dwellers of heaven and the inmates of the fire by their looks and features. It is important to find out who these people are and what have they got to do with the two groups destined either for heaven or hell.

Kati ya makundi mawili kutakuwa na kizuizi, na juu ya Al-A'raf kutakuwa na watu wanaowatambua kila mtu kwa sura zao. Watawaita watu wa Peponi:

Between the two parties there will be a barrier, and on the Heights there will be men who recognize everyone by their looks. They will call out to the dwellers of paradise:

"Amani iwe juu yenu" — wao hawajaingia humo wenyewe, lakini bado wanatamani kuwa humo. Na macho yao yatakapoelekezwa kwa watu wa Motoni, watasema: "Mola wetu Mlezi, usitufanye pamoja na watu hawa madhalimu." Kisha watu wa Al-A'raf wataita baadhi ya watu wanaowatambua kwa sura zao, wakisema:

“Peace be upon you” — not having entered it themselves, but longing still [to be there]. And whenever their eyes are turned towards the inmates of the fire, they will say: “Our Lord, do not place us alongside such wrongdoing people.” Then those on the Heights will call out to certain people whom they recognize by their looks, saying:

"Mikusanyiko yenu mingi na kiburi chenu cha uongo kimewasaidia nini? Je, hawa ndio watu wale wale ambao mliapa kwamba Mungu hatawaonyesha rehema kamwe?" (Sasa wataambiwa,) "Ingieni Peponi. Hamna cha kuogopa, wala hamtahuzunika."

“What have your great throngs and your false pride availed you? Are these the selfsame people whom you swore that God would never show them mercy?” (Now they have been told,) “Enter Paradise. You have nothing to fear, nor will you grieve.” (Verses 46-49)

Imepokewa kwamba watu walioko juu ya Al-A'raf, yaani mahali pa kati panapotenganisha pepo na moto, ni wanadamu ambao mema yao na maovu yao yana uzito na kipimo sawa. Kwa hiyo, mema yao hayatoshi kuwahakikishia kuingia peponi, wala dhambi zao hazijawahukumu kuingia motoni. Wanabaki katikati wakisubiri neema ya Mungu iwashukie. Wanawatambua watu wa peponi kwa sura zao, pengine kwa kuwa nyuso zao ni nyeupe na zenye mwangaza, au kwa mwanga unaowaambatana. Pia wanawatambua watu waliokusudiwa moto kwa sura zao, pengine kwa nyuso zao kuwa nyeusi, au kwa alama zilizochorwa juu ya pua zao ambazo walikuwa wakiinua kama ishara ya kiburi. Kuchorwa kwa alama hii kwenye pua zao kumetajwa katika Surat 68, Al-Qalam. Wanawasalimu watu wa peponi kwa salamu ya amani, huku wakiwa na matumaini wazi kwamba Mungu atawaneemesha kwa rehema yake na kuwaingiza peponi pia. Macho yao yanapowaangukia watu wa motoni, ambao wanalazimishwa kuonekana kwao kwa makusudi, huwaomba wasamehewe hatima yao.