Kila kilicho mbinguni na ardhini kinamtakasa Mwenyezi Mungu, utukufu wake hauna mipaka. Yeye ndiye Mwenye nguvu, Mwenye hekima. Ufalme wa mbingu na ardhi ni wake. Yeye huleta uhai na huleta mauti; naye ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu. Yeye ndiye wa Mwanzo na wa Mwisho, wa Dhahiri na wa Siri. Ana ujuzi kamili wa kila kitu. Yeye ndiye aliyeziumba mbingu na ardhi katika siku sita, kisha akajitengenezea kiti cha enzi. Anajua kila kinachoingia ardhini na kila kinachotoka humo; kila kinachoshuka kutoka mbinguni na kila kinachopanda kwenda huko. Yuko pamoja nanyi popote mlipo; na Mwenyezi Mungu anaona kila mnachotenda. Ufalme wa mbingu na ardhi ni wake. Kila kitu kinarudi kwa Mwenyezi Mungu. Yeye huufanya usiku kuingia mchana, na mchana kuingia usiku; naye ana ujuzi kamili wa yaliyomo katika kila moyo. (Aya 1-6)

Everything in the heavens and earth extols God's limitless glory. He is the Almighty, the Wise. His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. He grants life and causes death; and He has power over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Outer and the Inner. He has full knowledge of all things. It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days and established Himself on the throne. He knows all that goes into the earth and all that comes out of it; all that descends from the skies and all that ascends to them. He is with you wherever you may be; and God sees all that you do. His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. Everything goes back to God. He causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night; and He has full knowledge of what is in every heart. (Verses 1-6)

Ufunguzi huu unakusanya baadhi ya sifa za Uungu kama zinavyojidhihirisha katika vitendo. Tunaona wazi kwamba ni Mungu anayeanzisha yote, anayezunguka yote, anayesimamia yote na anayejua yote. Tunaona mkono wa Mungu unavyofanya kazi kote mbinguni na ardhini, unavyogusa hisia za ndani kabisa, unavyofichua siri zilizofichwa kwa kina, na unavyotazama kutoka juu ulimwengu na wote wanaoishi humo. Ufunguzi huu wenye nguvu unatikisa nyoyo zetu kwa nguvu unapotupeleka katika safari kupitia ulimwengu, ambako tunapata, tunaona na tunasikia si mwingine ila Mungu. Tunatambua kwamba hatuwezi kuepuka mapenzi yake, kujificha na ujuzi wake, kutafuta kimbilio kwa mwingine yeyote isipokuwa yeye, wala kuomba msaada kwa mwingine yeyote isipokuwa yeye.

This opening brings together a number of the attributes of Godhead as they manifest themselves in action. We see clearly that it is God who originates all, encompasses all, controls all and knows all. We see the hand of God as it works throughout the heavens and earth, tackles innermost feelings, brings out deeply-buried secrets and looks from above on the universe and all who abide there. This powerful opening strongly shakes our hearts as it takes us on a round through the universe where we find, see and hear none other than God. We realize that we cannot escape His will, hide from His knowledge, seek refuge with, or appeal to anyone other than Him.

Hatuna muda wa kupumua baada ya aya hii ya kwanza kuonyesha sherehe hii kubwa ya ulimwengu wote ya kumtukuza Mungu. Sura mara moja inatupeleka katika safari nyingine ndani ya ulimwengu: "Ufalme ni Wake mbinguni na ardhini. Yeye huhuisha na huua; naye ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu." (Aya ya 2) Tumejifunza kwamba kila kitu mbinguni na ardhini kinamtukuza Mungu, kwa kuwa Yeye ndiye Mmiliki pekee wa ulimwengu, asiye na mshirika katika ufalme wake. Hivyo ni jambo la kumtukuza Mmiliki kwa mali yake. Ni Yeye anayeumba uhai na kifo, akimpa kila kiumbe hai uhai kisha akiamua kifo chake. Hakuna kinachotokea isipokuwa kile anachokitaka.

We hardly catch our breath after this first verse has portrayed this great universal festival of God’s glorification. The surah immediately takes us on another round in the universe: “His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. He grants life and causes death; and He has power overall things.” (Verse 2) We have learnt that everything in the heavens and earth extols God’s glory, as He is the sole owner of the universe who has no partner in His dominion. It is, thus, a case of glorifying the Owner by His property. It is He who creates life and death, granting life to every living thing and then determining its death. Nothing happens other than what He wills.

Uhai unaendelea kuwa siri katika asili yake na chanzo chake. Hakuna mtu anayeweza kusema umetoka wapi au kwa namna gani. Kwa hakika, hakuna anayejua uhai ni nini hasa.

Life continues to be a secret in its nature and source. No one can tell where it came from or how. Indeed, no one knows what life truly is.

Qur'ani inasema kwamba ni Mungu anayetoa uhai kwa kila kiumbe hai. Hakuna awezaye kukataa jambo hili wala kuthibitisha kinyume chake. Vivyo hivyo, kifo ni siri iliyofichika sana ambayo asili yake haijulikani kwa yeyote. Hakuna awezaye kukisababisha, kwa kuwa hakuna awezaye kuondoa uhai isipokuwa yule aliyeutoa mwanzoni. Uhai na kifo vyote viwili ni sehemu za utawala wake kamili juu ya mbingu na ardhi.

The Qur’an says that it is God who grants life to every living entity. No one can deny this or prove anything contrary to it. Likewise, death is a deeply hidden secret whose nature is unknown to all. No one can cause it because none can take life away other than the One who granted it in the first place. Both life and death are aspects of His absolute dominion over the heavens and the earth.

"Yeye ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu" (Aya ya 2) Uwezo wake ni kamili, usiozuiliwa na kitu chochote. Mapenzi ya Mungu yanafanya kazi bila kizuizi chochote kabisa. Kizuizi chochote, cha aina yoyote, umbo lolote au rangi yoyote, ambacho akili zetu zinajaribu kuyatumikisha mapenzi ya Mungu kwa mujibu wa mantiki yetu wenyewe, ni cha uongo kwa kuwa kinafikiriwa na akili ndogo ya mwanadamu. Ukweli kwamba mapenzi ya Mungu ndiyo yanayoamua na kuendesha sheria zinazofanya kazi katika ulimwengu ni sehemu ya picha kamili ya mapenzi yake huru yasiyozuiliwa. Uchaguzi wake hufanywa bila kizuizi, na utendaji wa sheria hizi hauweki kikomo chochote juu ya mapenzi ya Mungu kwa kumfanya afanye kazi ndani ya sheria hizi. Uchaguzi wa Mungu unabaki huru na usiozuiliwa.

Kisha tunafahamishwa kweli nyingine ambayo huenda ikawa kubwa na ya kina zaidi kuliko zile zilizotangulia: ni kweli kwamba huluki pekee ya kweli ni Mungu - Yeye ametakasika katika utukufu wake usio na mipaka. Kwa hiyo, Yeye huyazunguka yote na anajua yote: "Yeye ndiye wa Mwanzo na wa Mwisho, wa Dhahiri na wa Batini. Naye anajua kila kitu kwa ukamilifu." (Aya ya 3) Yeye ndiye wa Mwanzo, maana yake ni kwamba hakuna kitu kilichokuwepo kabla Yake; na Yeye ndiye wa Mwisho, maana yake ni kwamba hakuna kitu kitakachobaki baada Yake. Yeye ndiye wa Dhahiri, maana yake ni kwamba hakuna kitu kilicho juu Yake; na Yeye ndiye wa Batini, maana yake ni kwamba hakuna kitu kilicho nje ya Yeye. Sifa mbili za kwanza zinahusu asili ya wakati, na zile nyingine mbili zinahusu asili ya mahali. Akili ya binadamu inaweza kutazama kila mahali, lakini itakuta kwamba hakuna kitu chenye huluki isipokuwa Mungu.

We are then introduced to another truth that may be greater and more profound than the previous ones: it is the truth that the only true entity is God - limitless is He in His glory. Therefore, He encompasses everything and knows everything: “He is the First and the Last, the Outer and the Inner. He has full knowledge of all things. ” (Verse 3) He is the First, which means that nothing was before Him; and He is the Last, which means that nothing remains after Him. He is the Outer, which means that nothing is above Him; and He is the Inner, which means that nothing is beyond Him. The first two attributes encompass the nature of time, and the other two the nature of place. The human mind may look everywhere, but it will find that nothing has any entity except God.

Kwa hakika sifa zote za kuwepo ni za Yeye peke yake. Kuwepo kwa akili ya mwanadamu yenyewe kunadhihirika tu kupitia kuwepo kwa Mungu, ambaye ndiye kuwepo kweli pekee. Kila kitu kingine hupokea kuwepo kwake kutoka Kwake.

Indeed all qualities of existence apply to Him alone. The very existence of the human mind materializes only through Gods existence, which is the only true existence. Everything else receives its existence from Him.

Hii ndiyo kweli ya msingi inayoipa kila kitu asili yake. Hakuna kitu kinachokuwa na uwepo huru nje ya kweli hii.

This is the basic truth that gives everything its nature. Nothing has an independent existence beyond this truth.

“Yeye ana ujuzi kamili wa kila kitu” (Aya ya 3) Ujuzi wa ukweli kamili ni wake. Kwa kuwa kila kilichopo kimetokana na Mungu, kimo ndani ya ujuzi wake kamili, ambao ni wake yeye peke yake. Hakuna anayeshiriki ujuzi wa Mungu, ijapokuwa watu wanaweza kujua baadhi ya mambo ya asili ya dunia yao. Hata hivyo, wao watajua tu yale yanayowadhihirikia.

“He has full knowledge of all things” (Verse 3) His is the knowledge of the truth absolute. Since every existence is derived from God, it is included in His absolute knowledge, which belongs to Him alone. No one shares in Gods knowledge, much as people may get to know some aspects of the nature of their own world. Still, they will only know about what appears to them.

Sasa sura inatuambia jinsi ukweli mwingine ulivyoenea kutoka kwa ule mkuu.

Now the surah tells us how other truths branched out from that great one:

Yeye ndiye aliyeumba mbingu na ardhi katika siku sita, kisha akatawala juu ya Arshi. Anajua kila kinachoingia ardhini na kila kinachotoka humo; kila kinachoteremka kutoka mbinguni na kila kinachopanda kwenda huko. Yupo pamoja nanyi popote mlipo; na Mwenyezi Mungu anaona yote mnayoyatenda. Ufalme wa mbingu na ardhi ni wake. Kila kitu kinarudi kwa Mwenyezi Mungu. Anaufanya usiku uingie mchana, na mchana uingie usiku; na anajua kikamilifu yaliyomo katika nyoyo za watu. (Aya 4-6)

It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days and established Himself on the throne. He knows all that goes into the earth and all that comes out of it; all that descends from the skies and all that ascends to them. He is with you wherever you may be; and God sees all that you do. His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. Everything goes back to God. He causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night; and He has full knowledge of what is in peoples hearts. (Verses 4-6)

Aya hizi zinataja ukweli kadhaa: kuumbwa kwa Mwenyezi Mungu mbingu na ardhi; kutulia Kwake juu ya Arshi; ujuzi Wake wa mambo fulani kuhusu viumbe Vyake; uwepo Wake pamoja na kila mtu popote alipo; kurejea kwa kila kitu Kwake; usimamizi Wake wa mambo ya dunia hii; na ujuzi Wake wa yaliyomo katika nyoyo za watu. Yote haya yanatokana na ukweli mkuu wa kwanza, lakini kuwasilishwa kwake dhidi ya msingi huu mpana wa ulimwengu wote kunayapa athari ya pekee.

These verses mention several truths: God’s creation of the heavens and the earth; His establishing Himself on the throne; His knowledge of particular matters about His creation; His presence with everyone wherever they happen to be; the return of everything to Him; His conduct of the affairs of this world; and His knowledge of what is in people’s hearts. All these spring out of the first great truth, but their presentation against this universal background gives them special effect.

Mbingu na ardhi huamsha hofu ya heshima mioyoni mwetu kwa upana wake, uzuri wake, mpangilio wake, usahihi wa nafasi na mwendo wake, na kwa uthabiti wa matukio yake. Kama moyo wa mwanadamu, ni viumbe vya Mungu. Kwa hiyo, navyo vina uhusiano na moyo wa mwanadamu. Huupigia nyimbo za mbinguni mwanadamu anapotazama na kutafakari uumbaji wao. Huiambia nafsi ya mwanadamu kwamba vyote vimeumbwa na Mungu, na kwamba vinamtukuza Yeye kwa sifa.

The heavens and the earth strike awe in our hearts by their expanse, beauty, harmony, accuracy of position and movement and in the consistency of their phenomena. Like the human heart, they are God’s creatures. Thus, they too relate to man’s heart. They strike some heavenly tunes on it when man looks and reflects on their creation. They say to man that they are all created by God, and that they extol His praises.

Baada ya kuyalainisha mioyo yetu kwa utangulizi huu, sura hii inawataka watu wote waamini na wawe tayari kutoa mali na mali zao. Utangulizi huo umetufanya tuwe tayari kusikiliza na kuzingatia kikamilifu. Hata hivyo, hotuba hii pia ina miguso yake ya kuvutia na sauti za kutia moyo.

Having softened our hearts with this opening, the surah calls on all people to believe and be ready to sacrifice money and property. The opening has made us ready to listen and pay full attention. Yet the address also brings its own inspiring touches and encouraging tones:

Mwaminini Mwenyezi Mungu na Mtume wake, na mtoe sadaka katika kile alichokufanyieni wakili. Basi wale walioamini miongoni mwenu na kutoa sadaka watapata malipo makubwa. Na kwa nini hamumwamini Mwenyezi Mungu, na Mtume anawaita mumwamini Mola wenu, naye ameshachukua ahadi yenu, ikiwa ni waumini wa kweli? Yeye ndiye anayemteremshia mja wake aya zilizo wazi, ili awatoe kutoka gizani kwenda kwenye nuru. Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu ni Mpole mno kwenu, Mwenye kurehemu. Na kwa nini hamtoi katika njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu, ilhali Mwenyezi Mungu ndiye mrithi wa mbingu na ardhi? Wale waliotoa na kupigana vita kabla ya ushindi hawalingani na wengine: wao wana daraja la juu zaidi kuliko wale waliotoa na kupigana baadaye, ingawa Mwenyezi Mungu amewaahidi wote mema makubwa. Na Mwenyezi Mungu anajua vizuri yote mnayoyafanya. (Aya 7-10)

Believe in God and His Messenger, and give [in charity] of that of which He has made you trustees. Those of you who believe and give [in charity] will have a great reward. Why should you not believe in God when the Messenger calls upon you to believe in your Lord, and He has already taken a pledge from you, if you are true believers? It is He who bestows from on high clear revelations to His servant, to lead you out of the deep darkness into light. God is indeed most compassionate to you, ever merciful. Why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's alone is the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who gave and fought [for God's cause] before the victory are not like others: they are higher in rank than those who gave and fought afterwards, although God has promised the ultimate good to all of them. God is well aware of all that you do. (Verses 7-10)

Hapa, Mungu anazungumza na nyoyo alizoziumba. Yeye anazijua, anajua ni nini kinazishawishi, pamoja na hisia zinazozificha. Anajua kwamba imani kuwa safi na kuthibitika vizuri mioyoni mwetu, hadi ikazaa matokeo katika maisha ya kila siku, ni jambo gumu sana. Anajua jinsi mapambano yalivyo magumu na marefu kwa nyoyo kuwa tayari kujitolea kwa ajili ya Yeye peke yake.

Here, God is addressing the hearts He has created. He knows them, knows what influences them, as well as what feelings they harbour. He knows that for faith to be pure and well established in our hearts so that it gives results in practical life is very hard. He knows how hard and long the struggle is for hearts to be ready to sacrifice purely for His sake.

Sura hiyo kisha inaongeza msukumo wa kutoa sadaka, ikiliweka kwa namna ya msisitizo: “Na mna nini msitoe katika njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu, ilhali Mwenyezi Mungu ndiye mrithi wa mbingu na ardhi?” (Aya ya 10) Rejeo hili linatukumbusha ukweli ambao tayari umetajwa katika aya za mwanzo: “Kwake ni ufalme wa mbingu na ardhi.

The surah then adds the incentive to spend in charity, putting this in an emphatic way: “ Why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's alone is the heritage of the heavens and the earth?" (Verse 10) This reference takes us back to the fact already mentioned in the opening verses: “His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth.

"Kila kitu hurejea kwa Mungu" (Aya ya 5) Mbingu na ardhi ni mali yake Yeye peke yake, na vyote hurejea kwake. Kile ambacho kimekabidhiwa watu kama amana pia kitarejea kwake, kama sehemu ya urithi huu.

Everything goes back to God" (Verse 5) The heavens and the earth are His own property and they revert back to Him. What has been assigned to people on trust will also go back to Him as part of this inheritance.

Kwa nini basi wao wasitoe sadaka wakati Yeye anawaomba watoe sadaka? Hili likiwekwa katika mtazamo sahihi, hakuna haki yoyote ya kuwa bakhili.

Why should they, then, not be charitable when He is asking them to spend in charity? When this is put into perspective, there can be no justification for stinginess.

Jamii teule ya Waumini wa mwanzo, Muhajirina na Ansari, walijitokeza kwa kadiri ya uwezo wao kutoa dhabihu, kwa nafsi zao na mali zao, katika wakati mgumu sana, kabla ya ushindi mkubwa kupatikana.

The elite community of the early believers, the Muhajirin and the Ansar, came forward with what they could of sacrifice, in life and property, during a very hard time, before the great triumph was achieved.

Ushindi uliotajwa hapa unaweza kurejelea ama kuteka kwa Makka kwa Uislamu, au kutiwa saini kwa mkataba wa amani wa al-Hudaybiyah. Matukio yote mawili yaliimarisha sana nafasi ya Uislamu wakati ambapo bado ulikuwa umezingirwa na maadui pande zote. Watu hawa walitoa dhabihu zao kwa ajili ya Mungu, bila kufikiria faida ya kidunia wala kutafuta upendeleo wa dola yenye nguvu ya Kiislamu, kwani hakukuwepo na dola kama hiyo. Dhabihu yao ilikuwa matokeo ya uchaguzi walioufanya kwa ajili ya Mungu. Ilikuwa ni kwa kuunga mkono imani ambayo waliikubali na kuipenda kwa moyo wote, wakiithamini zaidi ya maisha yao na mali zao. Hata hivyo, kile walichokitoa kilikuwa, kwa kiasi, kidogo sana ikilinganishwa na kile ambacho wale waliomiminika kwenye Uislamu baada ya ushindi wake waliweza kutoa. Baadhi yao walitoa dhabihu, wakiishia kiasi walichosikia kwamba Waislamu wa mwanzo walitoa. Kwa hiyo, Qur'ani inatoa thamani halisi kwa sadaka hizi, ikifafanua wazi kwamba si kiasi kinachoamua thamani; bali ni nia inayoonyesha ukweli wa imani: “Wale miongoni mwenu waliotoa na kupigana [kwa ajili ya Mungu] kabla ya ushindi hawalingani na wengine: wao wana daraja la juu kuliko wale waliotoa na kupigana baadaye” (Aya ya 10).

Sura hii inachukua hatua zaidi katika kuwahimiza wasikilizaji kuwa waumini wa kweli na kutoa dhabihu za kifedha. Inatoa motisha na msukumo zaidi.

The surah goes a stage further in motivating addressees to be true believers and to make financial sacrifices. It provides further incentives and inspiration:

Nani atamkopesha Mwenyezi Mungu mkopo mzuri, ambao Yeye atamrudishia kwa mara nyingi zaidi na atamtunukia malipo mema? Siku utakapowaona waumini wanaume na wanaiume, nuru yao inakimbia mbele yao na upande wa kulia wao, [wataambiwa], "Habari njema kwenu leo ni kwamba mtadumu milele katika bustani zipitazo mito chini yake. Huo ndio ushindi mkubwa." Siku hiyo wanafiki wanaume na wanawake watawaambia waumini, "Tungojeeni! Tupate kuangaziwa kwa nuru yenu!" Wataambiwa: "Rudini nyuma mkatafute nuru nyingine." Ukuta wenye lango utawekwa kati yao: ndani yake kutakuwa na rehema, na nje yake kutakuwa na adhabu. [Wale walio nje] watawaita wale walio ndani, "Je, hatukuwa pamoja nanyi?" Watajibu, "Ndio, lakini mliijaribu nafsi zenu, mkasitasita, mkatilia shaka, na matumaini ya uongo yakakudanganyeni mpaka amri ya Mwenyezi Mungu ikafika, na huyo mdanganyifu akakudanganyeni kumhusu Mwenyezi Mungu. Leo hatakubaliwa fidia kutoka kwenu wala kutoka kwa wale waliokufuru. Moto ndio utakaokuwa makazi yenu; ndio mahali penu pa kustahili; na ni marudio mabaya kabisa."

Who will offer God a generous loan, which He will repay in multiples and will generously reward him? On the day when you see all believers, men and women, with their light spreading rapidly before them and to their right, [they will be told], ‘The good news for you today is that you shall for ever abide in gardens through which running waters flow. This is indeed the supreme triumph.’ On that day the hypocrites, men and women, will say to the believers, ‘Wait for us! Let us have a ray of your light!’ They will be told: ‘Turn back and seek some other light. ’A wall with a gate will be raised between them: within it will be mercy, and outside will be suffering. [Those without] will call out to those [within], ‘Were we not with you?’ They will reply, ‘Yes, but you allowed yourselves to be led into temptation, you wavered, you doubted, and you were deceived by false hopes until God’s command came to pass, and indeed you let your deceptive thoughts about God delude you. Today no ransom will be accepted from you or from the unbelievers. The fire shall be your home: it is where you belong; and how evil a destination!' (Verses 11-15)

Anwani hii si ya kuhamasisha tu; ni ya kuvutia sana. Inawaambia wale ambao daima wanahitaji msaada: "Ni nani atakayemkopesha Mungu mkopo wa ukarimu?"* Wazo tu kwamba yeye, kiumbe maskini na mdogo, anaweza kumkopesha Mungu linapaswa kumfanya Mwislamu aharakishe kufanya hivyo. Watu kwa kawaida hushindana kumkopesha mtu tajiri, ingawa wao wote, pamoja na matajiri, ni maskini, kwa sababu wanajua kwamba marejesho ni hakika. Wanajivunia kumkopesha fedha mtu tajiri kama huyo. Basi wangehisi vipi wanapomkopesha Yule aliye Mwenye kujitosheleza, anayestahili sifa zote?