Muhammad ni Mtume tu; Mitume wote wamekwisha pita kabla yake. Je, akifa au akiuawa, mtageuka nyuma? Na yeyote anayegeuka nyuma hatamdhuru Mungu kwa lolote. Mungu atawalipa wale wenye shukrani.
Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him. If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way. God will reward those who are grateful [to Him].
Aya hii inahusu tukio fulani lililotokea wakati wa Vita vya Uĥud. Mtume ﷺ alikuwa amewaweka kikosi cha askari juu ya mlima nyuma ya jeshi la Waislamu. Hao walikuwa kikosi cha nyuma, wakiwa na pinde na mishale ili kuzuia shambulio lolote lililoelekezwa kwa jeshi la Waislamu kutoka nyuma. Vita vilipoonekana kumalizika, wengi wao waliondoka kwenye nafasi zao, kinyume na amri ya wazi ya Mtume ﷺ. Kikosi cha jeshi la adui kikaweza hivyo kuzunguka mlima na kuwashambulia Waislamu kutoka nyuma. Mtume ﷺ mwenyewe alijeruhiwa: meno yake ya mbele yalivunjika, na uso wake ulikuwa ukitoka damu.
This verse refers to a particular incident which took place during the Battle of Uĥud. The Prophet had stationed a detachment of soldiers on top of the mountain behind the Muslim army. They were the rearguard, equipped with bows and arrows to repel any attack launched against the Muslim army from behind. When the battle appeared to be all over, most of them left their positions, against the express orders of the Prophet. A battalion of the enemy forces were thus able to go round the mountain and attack the Muslims from the rear. The Prophet himself was injured: his front teeth were broken, and his face was bleeding.
Hali ikawa ya machafuko na jeshi la Waislamu likavurugika. Wakati huo, mtu fulani alipiga kelele: "Muĥammad ameuawa!" Habari hiyo iliwashtua Waislamu kiasi kwamba wengi wao wakageuka kurudi Madina. Walipanda mlimani, wamevunjika moyo, wameshindwa, wamekata tamaa. Hata hivyo, Mtume ﷺ mwenyewe, pamoja na kundi dogo la Maswahaba wake, alisimama imara. Aliwaita Maswahaba wake walipoanza kurudi nyuma. Waliposikia sauti yake, wakaanza kukusanyika. Mungu aliwasaidia kurejesha nguvu zao za kiroho na kuwaruhusu wapate usingizi mfupi ili kuwapa nguvu, usalama na faraja, kama itakavyoelezwa baadaye.
The situation became chaotic and the Muslim army was in disarray. At this moment, someone cried out: “Muĥammad is killed!” Such a great shock was this to the Muslims, that many of them turned round to return to Madinah. They went up into the mountain, shattered, defeated, in despair. However, the Prophet himself, with a small group of his Companions, stood firm. He called to his Companions as they began to retreat. When they heard him, they began to rally. God helped them regain their moral strength and allowed them to be overtaken by a momentary slumber so as to give them strength, security and reassurance, as will be explained later.
Mfuatano huu wa matukio hutumika katika Qur'ani kuwasisitizia Waislamu kanuni fulani za msingi kuhusu maisha na kifo, na historia ya imani ya Kiungu:
This sequence of events is used in the Qur’ān to drive home to the Muslims certain fundamental principles about life and death and the history of Divine faith:
"Muhammad ni Mtume tu: kabla yake walipita Mitume wote. Basi je, akifa au akiuawa, mtarudi nyuma kwa visigino vyenu?" Muhammad ﷺ ni Mtume tu, aliyetangulizwa na Mitume wote wengine. Atakufa kama Mitume wengine walivyokufa kabla yake. Hii ni ukweli wa msingi. Basi inakuwaje Waislamu wanajionyesha kuwa wamesahau ukweli huu, wakati ulipokuwa mbele ya macho yao wakati wa vita?
“Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him. If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels?” Muĥammad (pbuh) is simply a messenger, having been preceded by all other messengers. He will die as other messengers have died before him. This is an elementary fact. How is it then that the Muslims show themselves to be oblivious of this fact when it stared them in the face during the battle?
Muhammad ﷺ ni mjumbe wa Mungu, aliyekabidhiwa jukumu la kufikisha ujumbe Wake. Mungu ni wa Milele, na neno Lake halikufi kamwe. Waumini hawapaswi kamwe kugeuka nyuma kwa visigino vyao iwapo mjumbe aliyekuja kuwafikishia neno la Mungu atakufa au kuuawa. Hili pia ni ukweli wa msingi ambao Waislamu, katika mkanganyiko wao mkubwa, waliliacha bila kulizingatia.
Muĥammad (pbuh) is a messenger of God, entrusted with the task of conveying His message. God is Eternal and His word never dies. Believers should never turn on their heels if the messenger who has come to convey God’s word to them dies or is killed. This is also an elementary fact which the Muslims, in their great confusion, overlooked.
Binadamu hufa na kuangamia, lakini imani hudumu. Njia ya maisha ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu ameiweka kwa wanadamu ina uhai wake yenyewe; haitegemei wale wanaoifikisha kwa watu, iwe ni Mitume au waumini. Kila Mwislamu anampenda Mtume wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ. Maswahaba wake walimpenda kama hakuna aliyewahi kupendwa kabla yake. Walikuwa tayari kutoa maisha yao ili kumwepusha hata na maumivu madogo kabisa. Mmoja wa Maswahaba wake, Abū Dujānah, alisimama kama ngao kumlinda Mtume ﷺ, akapigwa na mishale mingi mgongoni, lakini hakutikisika hata kidogo. Maswahaba tisa tu ndio walikuwa karibu naye alipolengwa na shambulio kali la makafiri, na hao tisa walimlinda kwa ujasiri mkubwa, hadi wote wakauawa. Wengi wengine katika kila kizazi na katika kila mahali wanaendelea kumpenda kwa moyo wao wote ﷺ.
Human beings die and perish, while the faith survives. The way of life God has designed for mankind has its own entity; it is independent of those who convey it to people, be they messengers or believers. Every Muslim loves God’s Messenger (pbuh). His Companions loved him as no one had ever been loved before. They were ready to sacrifice their lives in order to spare him the slightest pain. One of his Companions, Abū Dujānah, stood as a shield to protect the Prophet, was hit by numerous arrows in the back and yet he never stirred. Only nine of his Companions were close to him when he was targeted by a determined attack by the unbelievers, and those nine defended him most courageously, until they were all killed. Many others in every generation and in all places continue to love him with all their hearts.
Kila Muislamu anayempenda Muhammad ﷺ kwa namna hii analazimika kutofautisha kati ya Mtume kama mtu, na imani aliyoifikisha kwa wanadamu na kuiacha ikiwa salama ili watu wote wae na kuitekeleza. Imani hiyo hupata mwendelezo wake kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu, ambaye hafi kamwe.
Every Muslim who loves Muĥammad (pbuh) in such a way is required to distinguish between the Prophet as a person, and the faith he has conveyed to mankind and left intact for all people to accept and implement. It derives its continuity from God, Who never dies.
Ujumbe huu ni wa zamani zaidi kuliko wafuasi wake: "Muhammad ni Mtume tu; Mitume wote wamekwisha pita kabla yake." Wote walihubiri ujumbe mmoja, ambao mizizi yake inarudi nyuma hadi mwanzo wa historia. Unaanza na mwanzo wa maisha ya binadamu, ukimpa mwanadamu mwongozo na amani tangu siku ya kwanza ya kuwepo kwake.
The message is much older than its advocates: “Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him.” They all preached the same message, the roots of which go back to the beginning of history. It starts with the beginning of human life, providing mankind with guidance and peace from the very first day of its existence.
Ujumbe huu pia una thamani kubwa kuliko wafuasi wake, na unadumu kwa muda mrefu zaidi. Wengi wa wafuasi wake wamekuja na kuondoka, huku ukiendelea kuwa mwongozo kwa vizazi vinavyofuatana. Wafuasi wake wanadumisha uhusiano wao na Mwenyezi Mungu, Mwanzilishi wake, ambaye amewatuma Mitume kuufikisha kwa wanadamu. Yeye ni wa milele, na waumini huelekeza dua zao Kwake. Hakuna hata mmoja wao anayepaswa kugeuka nyuma au kuacha mwongozo wa Mungu. Hii ndiyo sababu ya onyo kali lililomo katika aya hii: {Basi, je, akifa au akiuawa, mtageuka nyuma kwa visigino vyenu? Na atakayegeuka nyuma kwa visigino vyake, hatamdhuru Mungu chochote. Na Mungu atawalipa wanaoshukuru.} (Aya ya 144)
The message is also greater than its advocates and lasts longer. Many of its advocates have come and gone, while it continues to serve as guidance to succeeding generations. Its followers maintain their link with God Almighty, its originator, Who has sent messengers to convey it to mankind. He is Everlasting and believers address their prayers to Him. None of them may turn about on their heels or turn their back on God’s guidance. This explains the stern warning implicit in this verse: “If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way. God will reward those who are grateful [to Him].” (Verse 144)
Sura hii inaonyesha kwa uwazi kitendo cha kugeuka nyuma: "Je, mtageuka visigino vyenu?" Mwendo huu wa kimwili unaleta hai maana ya kuiacha imani, kana kwamba tunauona kwa macho yetu wenyewe. Aya haizungumzii kugeuka kimwili kunakotokana na kushindwa vitani. Badala yake inahusika zaidi na kugeuka kiakili pale sauti ilipopaza kwamba Muhammad ﷺ ameuawa.
The vivid description of turning back is here to be noted: “Will you turn about on your heels?” The physical movement depicted here brings alive the meaning of abandoning faith as if we see it with our own eyes. The verse does not refer to the physical turning away as a result of defeat in battle. It is more concerned with the psychological turning about when a voice cried out that Muĥammad was killed.
Baadhi ya Waislamu walihisi kwamba hakuna maana ya kuendelea na vita dhidi ya washirikina, kwa kuwa kifo cha Muhammad ﷺ kilionyesha mwisho wa dini hii na mwisho wa mapambano dhidi ya ushirikina. Athari hii ya kisaikolojia imeelezwa kwa maneno ya kugeuka kisigino, jambo ambalo lilitokea kweli wakati wa vita. Ni mtazamo huu hasa ambao Anas ibn Al-Nađīr, mmoja wa Masahaba wa Mtume ﷺ, aliwaonya Waislamu wenzake alipoona wengi wao wameweka silaha chini. Jibu lake kwa udhuru wao kwamba Muhammad ﷺ amekufa lilikuwa:
Some Muslims felt that there was no point in continuing the fight against the idolaters, since the death of Muĥammad (pbuh) signalled the end of this faith and the end of combat against idolatry. This psychological effect is delineated in terms of turning about on one’s heels, which was a movement that actually took place during the battle. It is this very attitude which Al-Nađīr ibn Anas, a Companion of the Prophet, warned his fellow Muslims against when he saw that many of them had lain down their arms. His retort to their excuse that Muĥammad was dead, was:
"Maisha yako yana faida gani baada ya yeye kufa? Simama ufe kwa ajili ya lile ambalo Mjumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ﷺ alitoa uhai wake kwa ajili yake." "Na yeyote anayegeuka nyuma kwa visigino vyake hatamdhuru Mwenyezi Mungu kwa lolote." Hakika ni yeye aliye mpotevu. Yeye anayepotoka kutoka katika njia ya imani anajidhuru mwenyewe, na hamsababishii Mwenyezi Mungu madhara yoyote. Mwenyezi Mungu hana haja na wanadamu wala ibada yao. Ni kwa rehema yake ndipo amewapa waja wake katiba hii kwa manufaa yao wenyewe na furaha yao. Kila mtu anayeigeuzia mgongo hukumbwa na mkanganyiko na taabu. Hivyo kila kitu kinawekwa katika msingi usio sahihi. Maisha yenyewe yanakuwa yamepotoka. Watu huteseka kwa matokeo mabaya ya kuacha katiba pekee inayoleta upatanifu katika maisha, na inayoleta upatanifu kati ya binadamu, maumbile yake na ulimwengu unaomzunguka.
“What use is life to you after he has died? Get up and die for the cause God’s Messenger (pbuh) has sacrificed his life for.” “He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way.” It is indeed he who is the loser. He who deviates from the path of faith harms himself and causes God no harm. God is in no need of mankind or their worship. It is out of His grace that He has given His servants this constitution for their own good and happiness. Everyone who turns his back on it suffers from confusion and misery. Everything is thus set on the wrong footing. Life itself becomes deviant. People suffer the evil consequences of turning away from the only constitution which provides harmony in life and which achieves harmony between man, his nature and the universe around him.
"Mungu atawalipa wale wanaomshukuru Yeye." Wanajua neema kubwa ambayo Mungu amewapa waja Wake kwa kuwawekea kanuni hii ya maisha. Wanamshukuru Yeye kwa kufuata kanuni hii na kumsifu. Wanavuna manufaa ya njia hii ya maisha na kufikia furaha kamili. Hiki ndicho malipo mema kwa shukrani yao.
“God will reward those who are grateful to Him.” They know the great bounty God has given His servants by establishing for them this code of living. They show their gratitude to Him by following this code and praising Him. They reap the benefits of this way of life and achieve total happiness. This is good reward for their gratitude.
Lakini pia wana ongezeko la furaha kwa thawabu wanayopokea kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu Akhera. Hiyo ni thawabu kubwa zaidi, na tofauti na kila kitu kinachofurahiwa katika dunia hii, ni ya milele.
But they also have an increase of happiness with the reward they receive from God in the hereafter. That is a much greater reward and, unlike everything enjoyed in this world, it is everlasting.
"Mungu atawalipa wale wanaomshukuru." Wale wanaothamini neema za Mungu na kumshukuru kwa kufuata uongozi wake na kumtukuza, hupata furaha katika maisha yao. Hivyo ndivyo wanavyolipwa kwa shukrani zao, na watapokea malipo bora zaidi katika maisha ya Akhera.
“God will reward those who are grateful to Him.” Those who appreciate God’s bounty and show their gratitude to Him by following His guidance and by glorifying Him find happiness in their lives. Thus are they rewarded for their gratitude, and they will receive an even better reward in the life to come.
Ilionekana kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu alitaka kuwaachisha Maswahaba wa Mtume kutoka kwenye mapenzi yao makubwa kupita kiasi kwake yeye binafsi wakati alipokuwa hai miongoni mwao. Mapenzi yao yapaswe kuwa, kwanza kabisa, kwa Uislamu wenyewe. Maagano yao yafanywe moja kwa moja na Mwenyezi Mungu, na wahisi kwamba wanawajibika kwake moja kwa moja. Hivyo wangehisi kwamba wajibu wao unaendelea baada ya kifo cha Mtume ﷺ. Pengine Mwenyezi Mungu pia alitaka kuiandaa jumuiya ya Waislamu kwa mshtuko usioepukika ambao ungewapata kifo cha Mtume ﷺ kitakapotokea. Hakika alijua kwamba kifo chake kingekuwa pigo kubwa kwao. Kwa hiyo, iwapo wangehisi kwamba uhusiano wao wa moja kwa moja ni pamoja Naye na ujumbe Wake, basi wangeweza kuushinda mshtuko wao.
Apparently God wanted to wean the Companions of the Prophet from their over- enthusiastic attachment to him in person while he was alive among them. Their attachment should be, in the first place, with Islam itself. Their covenants should be made with God directly and they should be made to feel that they are responsible to Him directly. Thus they would feel that their responsibilities continue after the death of the Prophet. Perhaps God also wanted to prepare the Muslim community for the inevitable shock which they were bound to receive when the Prophet died. He certainly knew that his death would be a stunning blow to them. Hence, if they were made to feel that their direct relationship was with Him and His message then they would be able to overcome their shock.
Wakati Mtume alipofariki kwa kweli, Maswahaba zake walistaajabu sana, kiasi kwamba 'Umar alichomoa upanga wake na kumtishia yeyote aliyedai kwamba Muĥammad ﷺ amekufa. Ni Abū Bakr pekee, mfano bora wa muumini wa kweli wa Mungu, aliyeweza kuulewa tukio hilo kwa mtazamo sahihi. Aliwasomea Waislamu aya hii, na ilitosha kuwafanya watambue kwamba ilikuwa tukio la kawaida tu la kimaumbile. Kwa hilo waliweza kumgeukia Mungu. Qur'ani katika aya hii inagusia hofu ya binadamu juu ya kifo. Inaiondoa hofu hiyo kwa kuweka kanuni isiyobadilika ya uhai na kifo, na pia ya kinachofuata baada ya uhai.
When the Prophet actually died his Companions were stunned, so much so that `Umar drew his sword and threatened anyone who claimed that Muĥammad was dead. Only Abū Bakr, the best example of a true believer in God, was able to take the event in its proper perspective. He read out this verse to the Muslims and it was enough to make them realise that it was only a natural event. With this they were able to turn to God. The Qur’ān in this verse touches on man’s fear of death. It dispels that fear by stating the ever-correct principle of life and death and also of what comes after life.