Wangeweza hakika kuepuka moto na adhabu yote, lau wangeifungulia nyoyo zao Qur'ani na wasipinge haki ilioweka. Mwenyezi Mungu hakika aliwapa mifano ya aina mbalimbali, inayofunika kila hali na kila mazingira:
They could certainly have escaped the fire and all punishment, had they only opened their hearts to the Qur’ān and not opposed the truth it lays down. God certainly gave them all sorts of examples, covering all situations and circumstances:
"Kwa hakika tumeupa Qur'ani hii kila aina ya mifano kwa ajili ya wanadamu. Lakini mwanadamu, zaidi ya kitu kingine chochote, daima ni mwepesi wa kubishana." (Aya ya 54) Sura inamwelezea mwanadamu hapa kama 'kitu'. Tafsiri ya kiliteral ya sentensi hiyo hapo juu inasomeka: "Lakini kati ya vitu vyote, mwanadamu ndiye mwenye ubishi zaidi." Imechagua usemi huo ili kumhimiza mwanadamu awe mnyenyekevu kidogo na ajione kuwa ni mmoja wa viumbe wengi wa Mungu, ingawa yeye ndiye mbaya zaidi katika hoja na ubishani, baada ya Mungu kuwa ametoa hoja madhubuti, zisizopingika, zilizofafanuliwa wazi katika Qur'ani.
“We have indeed given in this Qur’ān many facets to every kind of lesson for mankind. But man is, above all else, always given to contention.” (Verse 54) The sūrah describes man here as ‘a thing’. The literal translation of the above sentence reads: “But of all things, man is the most contentious.” It chooses such expression in order to encourage man to be less arrogant and to feel that he is one of God’s countless creatures, although he is the worst in argument and contention, after God has given solid, irrefutable argument, clearly expounded in the Qur’ān.
Sūrah kisha inarekodi hoja za uongo ambazo makafiri, ambao ndio wengi wa wanadamu, wamejaribu kuzitoa.
The sūrah then documents the false arguments which the unbelievers, who represent the majority of mankind, have sought to provide:
Nini kinachowazuia watu kuamini baada ya kuwafikia uongofu, na kuomba msamaha kwa Mola wao, isipokuwa wanangoja hatima ya watu wa kale kuwafikia wao pia, au adhabu kuwajia mbele ya macho yao? (Aya ya 55)
What is there to keep people from accepting the faith now that guidance has come to them, and from seeking forgiveness from their Lord, unless it be that they are waiting for the fate of the [sinful] people of ancient times to befall them as well, or for the suffering to be brought before their eyes? (Verse 55)
Wamepewa mwongozo wa kutosha, ambao ungetosha kwao kuamini na kufuata amri za Mwenyezi Mungu. Lakini walijitakia wenyewe aina ya mateso yaliyowapata kaumu za zamani. Walidai hivyo wakidhani kwamba adhabu ya Mwenyezi Mungu haitawafikia kamwe, au walifanya hivyo kwa kejeli. Wakati mwingine walibadilisha madai yao, wakiomba adhabu hiyo ionyeshwe moja kwa moja kwao.
They have received guidance in plenty, which should have been sufficient for them to believe and follow God’s orders. But they demanded for themselves the sort of suffering that befell nations of old. They made such a demand thinking that God’s punishment would never overtake them, or they did so in mockery. Sometimes they modified their demands, asking for the punishment to be shown directly to them.
Hiyo, walisema, ingethibitisha walichohubiri Mitume, na ndipo wangewaamini.
That, they argued, would prove what the Prophets preached and then they would believe in them.
Kujibu madai kama haya si jambo ambalo wajumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu wanapaswa kuamua. Kanuni ya Mungu iliyotumika kwa jamii zilizopita ilikuwa kwamba pale miujiza ilipotolewa na watu bado wakakataa kuamini, waliangamizwa. Kuchukua hatua hiyo, au kusababisha adhabu kuwapata watu, ni mambo ambayo Mungu peke yake ndiye anayeyaamua. Wajumbe Wake wana wajibu tofauti, ambao ni kuleta habari njema na kuonya: “Hatuwatumi Mitume Wetu ila wawe wabashiriaji na waonyaji. Lakini wale waliokufuru hujadiliana kwa batili ili kuuondoa haki kwa hayo. Na wakazifanya Aya Zangu na yale yaliyonzishwa kwayo kuwa ni masihara.” (Aya ya 56)
Answering such demands is not a matter for God’s messengers to decide. God’s rule that applied to past communities meant that when miracles were given and people continued to disbelieve, they were destroyed. To do this or to cause a scourge to overwhelm people are matters which only God determines. His messengers have a different duty, which is to bring happy news and to warn: “We send Our messengers only as bearers of good news and as warners. But with false arguments the unbelievers seek to confute the truth. They make My revelations and warnings a target for their mockery.” (Verse 56)
Ukweli uko wazi, lakini makafiri walikimbilia hoja za uongo, wakijaribu kukanusha ukweli. Mwenendo wao ulikuwa potofu, kwa sababu hata walipodai miujiza au kuomba adhabu ya Mungu iharakishwe, bado hawakutaka kushawishika.
The truth is clear, but the unbelievers resorted to false arguments, trying to disprove the truth. Their attitude was perverted, because even when they demanded miracles or hastened God’s punishment, they still did not wish to be convinced.
Kimsingi walikuwa wanaidhihaki tu aya za Mungu na kuwafanyia dhihaka Mitume Wake.
Essentially they were only ridiculing God’s revelations and mocking His messengers.
Ni nani aliye dhalimu zaidi kuliko yule ambaye, anapokumbushwa ishara za Mola wake, hugeuka na kuzisahau yale mikono yake iliyotanguliza? Hakika Sisi tumeweka mapazia juu ya nyoyo zao yasiwaruhusu kuelewa, na masikioni mwao mna uziwi. Hata ukiwaita kwenye uongofu, kamwe hawatauongoka.
Who could be more wicked than one who, when reminded of his Lord’s revelations, turns away from them and forgets what his own hands have done? Over their hearts We have cast veils which prevent them from grasping the truth, and into their ears, deafness. Even if you call them to the right path, they shall never be guided. (Verse 57)
Watu hawa wanaoyafanyia dhihaka yale aliyoteremsha Mwenyezi Mungu kutoka juu, na wanayafanyia mzaha maonyo Yake, hawawezi kuelewa Qur'ani wala kufahamu ujumbe wake. Kwa hiyo, Mungu huweka juu ya nyoyo zao pazia zinazowazuia kuielewa. Masikioni mwao Yeye husababisha aina fulani ya uziwi, ili wasiweze kuisikia.
These people who treat what God has bestowed from on high with mockery and who ridicule His warnings cannot understand the Qur’ān or comprehend its message. Hence, God places over their hearts screens which prevent them from understanding it. In their ears He causes a sort of deafness so that they cannot hear it.
Pia amesema kuwa, kwa sababu ya kukataa kwao kwa makusudi na kugeuka kwao kwa hiari mbali na uongofu Wake, hawatawahi kuongozwa kamwe. Ili uongofu uingie katika nyoyo za watu, nyoyo hizo lazima kwanza ziwe wazi kupokea.
He has also willed that, because of their deliberate refusal and wilful turning away from His guidance, they will never be guided. For guidance to penetrate people’s hearts, such hearts must be open to receive it in the first place.
"Mola wako ndiye Mwenye kusamehe sana, Mwenye rehema isiyo na kikomo. Lau angewaadhibu sasa kwa yale wanayoyafanya, bila shaka angeharakisha adhabu yao." (Aya ya 58)
“Your Lord is Most Forgiving, limitless in His grace. Were He to take them now to task for whatever they do, He would indeed bring about their speedy punishment.” (Verse 58)
Bali Yeye huwapa muda na kuwaachia nafasi, kwa sababu Yeye ni Mwenye huruma na Mwenye rehema. Anataka kuwapa kila fursa ili waweze kuona mambo waziwazi. Hawaharakishi adhabu yao kama wanavyodai. Hata hivyo, Hatawaacha kabisa na kuwaacha bila adhabu: "Lakini wana muda maalum ambao hawawezi kuukwepa." (Aya ya 58) Wana muda katika maisha haya ambao watautimiza. Katika kipindi hiki, sehemu ya adhabu yao itawashukia. Na wana muda uliopangwa Akhera, ambapo kila walichostahiki kitatolewa kikamilifu.
Rather, He gives them respite and allows them time, because He is Kind and Merciful. He wishes to allow them every chance so that they can see the issues clearly. He does not hasten their punishment as they demand. However, He will not abandon them completely and leave them unpunished: “But they have an appointed time which they cannot evade.” (Verse 58) They have a term in this life which they will fulfil. During this time a portion of their punishment will be inflicted on them. And they have a time appointed in the hereafter when whatever they have deserved will be given in full.
Wamefanya makosa na wamedhulumu. Kwa hiyo wanastahili adhabu, hata uangamivu kama ule wa jamii za zamani. Hata hivyo, Mungu kwa rehema yake ameamua kuwapa nafasi kwa muda wote wa maisha yao duniani. Hiyo ni kwa ajili ya kutimiza kusudi ambalo Yeye, kwa hekima yake, anataka litimizwe. Kwa hiyo, anawashughulikia kwa namna tofauti na kuwapa muhula hadi wakati uliowekwa kwao, ambao hawawezi kuukwepa:
They have done wrong and they have been unjust. Hence they deserve punishment, or even destruction in the same way as communities of old. However, God in His mercy has determined to give them a chance for the full duration of their term on earth. That is to fulfil a purpose which He, in His wisdom, wishes to be accomplished. Therefore, He treats them differently and allows them respite until the time appointed for them, which they cannot evade:
Vivyo hivyo hivyo kwa jamii nyingine ambazo Tuliziangamiza zilipoendelea kufanya maovu. Kwani Tulikwisha weka muda wa maangamizi yao. (Aya ya 59)
The same applied to other communities which We destroyed when they persisted in wrongdoing. For We had set a time for their destruction. (Verse 59)
Wasiruhusu kudanganywa na muda wanaopewa. Wakati wao hakika utafika. Kanuni ambazo Mungu amezifanya zitumike kamwe hazitashindwa, na Yeye hakiachi ahadi yoyote bila kutimizwa.
They must not be deluded by the respite they are given. Their time will inevitably come. The rules God has made applicable will never fail, and He does not leave any promise unfulfilled.