Sehemu hii ya sura inazungumzia tu na kuwahutubia waumini, kundi hilo la kipekee na lenye furaha miongoni mwao ambao walitoa ahadi zao na kujifunga kwa Mtume ﷺ chini ya mti, mbele ya Mwenyezi Mungu, Shahidi aliyeithibitisha ahadi hiyo kwa kuweka mkono Wake juu ya mikono yao.

This part of the surah speaks only about and with the believers, with that unique and happy group of them who gave their pledges and commitments to the Prophet under the tree, in the presence of God, the witness who solemnized that pledge placing His hand over theirs.

Kundi hilo kundi teule lilisikia maneno ya Mwenyezi Mungu yaliyoteremshwa kwa Mtume Wake: { Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu alikuwa radhi na Waumini walipokuapia chini ya mti; Akajua yaliyomo katika nyoyo zao, basi akawateremshia utulivu, na akawathawabisha ushindi wa karibu. } (Aya ya 18). Pia walimsikia Mtume ﷺ akiwaambia: "Leo nyinyi ndio watu bora duniani." [Imepokewa na al-Bukhari kwa mapokezi ya Jabir ibn 'Abdullah.] Tunachokiona hapa ni mazungumzo kuhusu kundi hili teule, Mwenyezi Mungu akizungumza na Mtume Wake. Pia tunayo maneno ya Mwenyezi Mungu kwa kundi hili teule, yakiwapa habari njema ya ushindi na ufanisi wa vita utakaokuja.

That elite group heard God’s words revealed to His Messenger: “ God was indeed wellpleased with the believers when they pledged their allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts and so He sent down tranquillity upon them, and rewarded them with a speedy victory. ” (Verse 18) They also listened to the Prophet as he said to them: “You are today the best people on earth.” [Related by al-Bukhari on the authority of Jabir ibn 'Abdullah.] What we have here is a discourse about this select group as God speaks to His Messenger. We also have Gods words to this select group, giving them the happy news of forthcoming war gains and conquests.

Mungu pia anazungumzia jinsi alivyowatunza, akiwalinda dhidi ya adui zao wakati wa safari hii, na yale atakayowafanyia baadaye, akiwahakikishia ushindi kwa njia ya sheria alizoziweka zifanye kazi, ambazo kamwe hazishindwi. Anawalaani kwa nguvu maadui wa jamii ya Waislamu, anaeleza hekima iliyo nyuma ya kuchagua amani wakati huu, akithibitisha ukweli wa ndoto ya Nabii ﷺ kuhusu kutembelea Msikiti Mtukufu. Anawahakikishia Waislamu kwamba wataingia humo kwa usalama, bila kuogopa chochote, na kwamba dini yake itashinda dini zote duniani.

God also speaks about the care He took of them, protecting them from their enemies, during this trip and what He will do for them in future, assuring them of victory by means of the laws He has set in operation, which never fail. He strongly condemns the enemies of the Muslim community, explains the wisdom behind choosing peace this time, confirming the truth of the Prophets dream about visiting the Sacred Mosque. He assures the Muslims that they will enter it in safety, fearing nothing, and that His faith will prevail over all religions on earth.

Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu aliwaridhia waumini walipokuapia utii chini ya mti, akijua yaliyokuwamo mioyoni mwao. Hivyo akawateremshia utulivu, na akawalipa ushindi wa karibu, pamoja na ngawira nyingi watakazozichukua. Mwenyezi Mungu ni Mwenye nguvu, Mwenye hekima. (Aya 18-19)

God was indeed well pleased with the believers when they pledged their allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts and so He sent down tranquillity upon them, and rewarded them with a speedy victory, and with many war gains for them to take. God is Almighty, Wise. (Verses 18-19)

Leo, zaidi ya miaka elfu moja mia nne tangu tukio hilo, ninajaribu kuona kwa macho ya akili ile saa kubwa ambayo ulimwengu wote ulishuhudia tangazo la kimungu kutoka juu lililotolewa na Mwenyezi Mungu kwa Mtume wake mwaminifu kuhusu jumuiya ya Waislamu. Nataka kuona ulimwengu wote katika saa ile kuu na dhamiri yake inavyoitikia tangazo hili la ukarimu mkubwa, likizungumzia kundi la watu katika sehemu fulani ya ulimwengu huu. Nataka kuhisi jinsi watu wale waliofurahi sana walivyojisikia walipousikia kwa masikio yao wenyewe kwamba Mungu anazungumza kuhusu wao, akiwaambia kwamba ameridhika nao, akibainisha mahali walipokuwa na yale waliyoyafanya ili wapate radhi yake: “walipokuapia utii chini ya mti.” (Aya ya 18) Waliyasikia yote kutoka kwa Mtume ﷺ ambaye hakuwahi kusema jambo isipokuwa kweli, akilifikisha kama ujumbe maalum kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu.

Today, fourteen hundred years after the event, I am trying to visualize the great moment when the universe witnessed the divine announcement from on high addressed by God Almighty to His trusted Messenger concerning the Muslim community. I want to see the whole universe at that great moment and its conscience as it responds to this most generous announcement, speaking of a group of people at a particular spot in this universe. I want to feel how those extremely happy people felt when they heard, with their own ears, that God was speaking about them, telling them that He was well pleased with them, defining the place where they were and what they had done in order to earn His pleasure: “when they pledged their allegiance to you under the tree.” (Verse 18) They heard it all from the Prophet who never said anything but the truth, delivering it as a special message from God Almighty.

Ee Mungu wangu! Watu hao wenye furaha walipokea vipi ujumbe huo wa kimungu wakati ule wa kicho na shangwe? Ni ujumbe unaowaelekea kila mmoja wao na kusema: "Kwako wewe mwenyewe, Mungu anasema kwamba Alikuridhia ulipoapa utii wako chini ya mti. Alijua hisia zako za moyoni, na Akakupa utulivu." Tunaposoma au kusikia kauli ya Mungu: "Mungu ndiye Mlinzi wa waumini" (2: 257), au, "Mungu yu pamoja na wenye subira" (), huenda tukajisikia kufarijika na kutulia, tukitumaini kwamba nasi tunaweza kujumuishwa miongoni mwao. Watu wale, hata hivyo, walisikia kwamba Mungu alikuwa akizungumza kuhusu wao binafsi na mmoja mmoja, akimwambia kila mmoja wao kwamba Alikuwa radhi nao, akijua yaliyo ndani ya mioyo yao. Hilo ni kubwa kweli! "Hakika Mungu aliwaridhia waumini walipokuapia utii chini ya mti. Alijua yaliyo ndani ya mioyo yao, hivyo akawashushia utulivu, na akawapa thawabu ya ushindi wa karibu" (Aya ya 18). Alijua kwamba shauku waliyoihisi mioyoni mwao ilikuwa kwa ajili ya imani yao, si kwa ajili ya nafsi zao au utukufu wa kibinafsi. Alijua kwamba ahadi zao zilikuwa za dhati, na kwamba walijizuia kwa uzito ili wasimame nyuma ya Mtume ﷺ kwa unyofu, wakitii amri zake, wakipokea kila dhiki kwa subira. Kwa hiyo, "Akawashushia utulivu." Karibu tunauona utulivu huo ukishushwa kwa upole na kwa heshima, ukimwaga hali ya amani na faraja juu ya nyoyo zile zilizojaa hamasa ya kuchukua hatua.

Sasa sura inawaelekea waumini wenyewe, ikiwazungumzia mkataba wa amani, au ushindi, ambao walijisalimisha kwao:

Now the surah addresses the believers themselves, speaking to them of the peace treaty, or victory, to which they resigned themselves:

Mungu amewaahidi [enyi watu] ushindi mwingi wa vita ambao mtaupata.

God has promised you [people] many war gains that you shall achieve.

Amewaharakisha kwenu faida hii, na amezuia mikono ya watu wenye uadui dhidi yenu, ili iwe ishara kwa waumini.

He has hastened this gain for you and He has held back the hands of hostile people from you, so that this may become a sign for the believers.

Atakuongoza katika njia iliyo nyoofu. Kuna pia faida nyingine zitakazokuja, ambazo bado ziko nje ya uwezo wako. Mwenyezi Mungu ana mamlaka kamili juu yake. Mwenyezi Mungu ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu. (Aya 20-21)

He will guide you on a straight way. There are still other gains to come, which are still beyond your power. God has full control over them. God has power over all things. (Verses 20-21)

Hii ni habari njema ya mambo mema yatakayotokea, aliyoitoa Mwenyezi Mungu kwa waumini wanaoikubali kuwa ni ya hakika. Wanatambua kwamba Mungu amewaandalia faida nyingi, na wakaishi baadaye kuiona ahadi hii ya kweli ikitimia kwa njia bora kabisa. Hapa Mungu anawaambia kwamba ameharakisha hili, ambalo linaweza kuwa rejeo la al-Hudaybiyah, kama alivyosema Ibn ‘Abbas, ili kusisitiza kuwa ni ushindi, kama kweli ulivyokuwa, au linaweza kuwa rejeo la Khaybar, kama asemavyo Mujahid, kwa kuwa Khaybar ilizaa faida za kwanza za vita baada ya al-Hudaybiyah. Mtazamo wa kwanza huenda una uzito zaidi sana.

This is an announcement of happy things to happen, given by God to the believers who accept it as certain. They realize that God has prepared for them numerous gains and they lived afterwards to see this true promise fulfilled in the best way. God says to them here that He has hastened this one, which may be a reference to al-Hudaybiyah, as stated by Ibn ‘Abbas, to emphasize its being a victory, as indeed it was, or it may be a reference to Khaybar, as Mujahid says, since Khaybar produced the first war gains after al-Hudaybiyah. The first view is perhaps much weightier.

Mungu pia aliwafanyia wema alipozizuia mikono ya maadui. Hakika alizuia mikono ya Quraysh, pamoja na makundi mengine ya maadui yaliyokuwa yakisubiri fursa ya kuwashambulia Waislamu.

God also granted them a favour when He restrained the hands of hostile forces. He indeed held back the hands of the Quraysh, as well as other hostile groups who were waiting for a chance to attack the Muslims.

Sura hiyo kisha inawaeleza waumini kuhusu msimamo wa wapinzani wao mbele za Mwenyezi Mungu. Inaeleza jinsi Mungu anavyozichukulia vitendo vya makafiri wanapowazuia waumini kutoka katika Nyumba Yake Takatifu, na jinsi Anavyowatazama waumini kwa namna tofauti kabisa na hao wengine:

The surah then tells the believers about their opponents’ position in Gods sight. It explains how God considers the unbelievers’ actions as they turn the believers away from His Sacred House, and how He looks at the believers in a totally different way from these others:

Hao ndio waliokufuru, na waliokuzuieni kuingia Msikiti Mtukufu na kuzuia sadaka kufika mahali pake pa kuchinjiwa. Lau si kwamba kuna miongoni mwao waumini wanaume na wanawake msiowajua, ambao huenda mkawakanyaga bila kujua, na kwa sababu yao mkajikuta mnapata dhambi bila kujua... Mwenyezi Mungu humtia katika rehema yake amtakaye. Lau wangalitengana, bila shaka tungaliwaadhibu wale wasiomwamini miongoni mwao kwa adhabu chungu. Wale waliomkataa walijaza ghadhabu mioyoni mwao, ghadhabu ya kijinga. Lakini Mwenyezi Mungu alimteremshia utulivu Mtume wake na waumini, na akawalazimisha neno la uchaji Mungu, nao ndio waliostahili zaidi nalo na walikuwa wanastahiki sana.

They were the ones who disbelieved, and who debarred you from the Sacred Mosque and prevented your offering from reaching its place of sacrifice. Had it not been for the fact that there were among them believing men and women unknown to you and whom you might have unwittingly trampled underfoot, and on whose account you would have unwittingly incurred guilt... God will admit to His grace whomever He wills. Had they stood apart, We would have inflicted on the unbelievers among them truly painful suffering. The unbelievers fanned fury in their hearts, the fury of ignorance. Meanwhile, God sent down tranquillity on His Messenger and on the believers, and made the word of piety binding on them. They were most worthy of it and deserved it well.

Mungu ana ujuzi kamili wa mambo yote. (Aya 25-26)

God has full knowledge of all things. (Verses 25-26)

Kulingana na kipimo cha Mwenyezi Mungu, hakika hao ni makafiri, wanastahili maelezo haya ya kuchukiza: {Hao ndio waliokufuru.} (Aya ya 25)

According to God’s measure, they are truly unbelievers, deserving this repugnant description: “They were the ones who disbelieved.” (Verse 25)

Hii imeandikwa dhidi yao kana kwamba wao ndio pekee katika kundi hili, wamethibitishwa katika ukafiri. Kwa hiyo, wanastahili kuchukiwa na Mungu, ambaye huchukia kukufuru na makafiri. Tendo lao lingine la kuchukiza la kuwageuza waumini mbali na Msikiti Mtakatifu na kuzuia wanyama wa dhabihu kufika mahali pao pa kuchinjiwa pia limeandikwa: “Hao ndio waliokufuru, na waliokuzuieni kuingia Msikiti Mtakatifu na kuzuia sadaka zenu zisifikie mahali pake pa kuchinjiwa.” (Aya ya 25)

Tumeshajifunza tayari kwamba baadhi ya Maswahaba wa Nabii katika safari hii, ambao walifurahishwa sana na ndoto ya Nabii wakijua kwamba ndoto za manabii daima hutimia, walipata shida kuona ndoto yake haitimii mwaka huo, na kwamba wangezuiwa kuingia Msikiti Mtukufu. Hata hivyo, Mungu aliwahakikishia kwamba ndoto ya Nabii ﷺ ni ya kweli. Muhammad ibn Maslamah alitangulia mbele akiwa na farasi na silaha hadi alipofika Marr al-Zahran, umbali wa safari ya siku moja kwa ngamia kutoka Makka. Huko alikutana na watu wachache wa Quraysh ambao walikuwa na wasiwasi mkubwa kwa yale waliyoyaona. Walidhani kwamba alikuwa karibu kuishambulia Makka kinyume cha mkataba wa amani, ambao ulitaka kusiwe na vita kati ya pande hizo mbili kwa miaka kumi. Nabii ﷺ alipoweka kambi huko Marr al-Zahran, mahali ambapo angeweza kuona sanamu zilizowekwa katika Msikiti Mtukufu, alituma silaha zote za Waislamu, zikiwemo pinde, mishale na mikuki, hadi mahali panapoitwa Batn Ya'juj. Kisha akaelekea Makka pamoja na Maswahaba wake wakiwa na panga zao tu ndani ya ala zake, kama alivyokuwa ameahidi watu wa Makka.

We have already learnt that some of the Prophet’s Companions on this trip, who were delighted with his dream knowing that prophets’ dreams always come true, found it hard that his dream should not be fulfilled that year, and that they would be prevented entry to the Sacred Mosque. God assured them, however, that the Prophet’s dream was true Muhammad ibn Maslamah went ahead with horses and arms until he arrived at Marr al-Zahran, about one days travel, by camel, from Makkah. There he found a few men from the Quraysh who were greatly worried at what they saw. They thought that he was about to attack Makkah in violation of the peace treaty, which stipulated that there would be no war between the two sides for ten years. When the Prophet encamped at Marr al-Zahran where he could see the idols placed in the Sacred Mosque, he sent all the Muslims’ arms, including bows, arrows and spears to a place called Batn Ya’juj. He then marched towards Makkah with his Companions having only their swords in their sheaths, as he had promised the people of Makkah.

Kisha Quraysh walimtuma Mikraz ibn Hafs akiwa mkuu wa ujumbe kwa Nabii ﷺ. Wakamwambia: "Muhammad, hatujawahi kukujua ukivunja ahadi tangu ulipokuwa mtoto mdogo." Akauliza kwa nini wanasema hivyo. Wakajibu: "Unajaribu kuingia mjini ukiwa umebeba silaha zako zote; mikuki, pinde na mishale." Nabii ﷺ akasema: "Sitaingia mjini na silaha. Tumezipeleka Batn Ya'juj." Mikraz ibn Hafs akajibu: "Hii inaendana zaidi na tunavyojua kuhusu uaminifu wako." Wakuu wengi wa Quraysh waliondoka Makka na kwenda milimani iliyoizunguka; hii ilikuwa kwa sababu hawakutaka kuwaona Waislamu wanapoingia mjini kwa ibada. Kwa hakika, kuwaona tu kulikuwa kunawakasirisha. Watu wengine wa Makka walikuwa mitaani au juu ya paa za nyumba wakimtazama Nabii ﷺ na Maswahaba wake wanavyoingia, wakirudia maneno yao yanayotangaza kujisalimisha kwa Mungu.

Sura inamalizika kwa aya inayochora picha nzuri sana ya jamii ya Maswahaba wa Nabii ﷺ, ikiongeza sifa ya Mwenyezi Mungu kwa kundi hilo la kipekee na lenye furaha, ambao walipata radhi Zake na ambao pia waliarifiwa juu ya jambo hilo.

The surah concludes with a verse that paints a superb picture of the community of the Prophet’s Companions, adding Gods commendation of that unique and happy group of people who earned His pleasure and who were also informed of that fact:

Muhammad ni Mjumbe wa Mungu ﷺ; na wale walio pamoja naye ni wakali kwa makafiri, wenye huruma kwa wao kwa wao. Utawaona wakirukuu na kusujudu, wakitafuta fadhila kutoka kwa Mungu na radhi zake. Alama zao ziko katika nyuso zao kutokana na athari ya kusujudu. Hivi ndivyo walivyoelezwa katika Taurati. Na katika Injili, ni kama mbegu inayotoa chipukizi lake, kisha inaliimarisha, inanenepa, na kusimama imara juu ya shina lake, ikiwafurahisha wakulima. Kupitia wao Mungu atawakasirisha makafiri. Kwa wale miongoni mwao walioamini na kutenda mema, Mungu amewaahidi msamaha na malipo makubwa. (Aya ya 29)

Muhammad is God's Messenger; and those who are with him are firm and unyielding towards the unbelievers, full of mercy towards one another. You can see them bowing down, prostrating in prayer, seeking favour with God and His good pleasure. They bear on their faces the marks of their prostrations. This is how they are pictured in the Torah. And in the Gospels, they are like a seed that brings forth its shoot, strengthens it, grows thick and stands firm on its stem, delighting the sowers. Through them God will enrage the unbelievers. To those of them who believe and do righteous deeds God has promised forgiveness and a rich reward. (Verse 29)

Hii ni picha ya ajabu iliyochorwa kwa mtindo wa hali ya juu wa Qur'ani.

This is a remarkable picture drawn by the superior style of the Qur’an.

Ina picha kadhaa zinazoonyesha hali kuu za kundi hilo, zilizo za wazi na zisizo za wazi. Picha moja inaonyesha mtazamo wao kwa makafiri na kwa kila mmoja wao. Hivyo, wao ni "wakali dhidi ya makafiri, wenye huruma kwa kila mmoja wao." Nyingine inawaonyesha walivyo katika ibada: "Utawaona wakiinama, wakisujudu katika sala." Picha ya tatu inaonyesha kinachoshughulisha akili zao na kuelezea hisia zao: "wakitafuta fadhila za Mwenyezi Mungu na radhi zake." Picha ya nne inalenga athari inayoonekana ya ibada katika nyuso zao wanapojitolea yote kwa Mwenyezi Mungu: "Alama zao ziko katika nyuso zao kutokana na athari ya kusujudu. Hivi ndivyo wanavyoelezwa katika Taurati." Picha kadhaa za haraka zaidi zinatueleza jinsi wanavyoelezwa katika Injili: "Ni kama mbegu inayotoa chipukizi lake; inaliimarisha; inanenepa; inasimama imara juu ya shina lake; inawafurahisha wapanzi; kupitia wao Mwenyezi Mungu atawakasirisha makafiri." Aya hiyo inaanza kwa kuthibitisha hadhi ya Mtume ﷺ, ambayo ilikanushwa na mjumbe wa Kikuraishi, Suhayl ibn 'Amr, na makafiri aliowawakilisha wakati huo: "Muhammad ﷺ ni Mtume wa Mwenyezi Mungu." Kisha aya inaendelea kuchora picha yake nzuri kwa mtindo wa kipekee wa Kur'ani.