Waumini walizipokea maneno ya Mwenyezi Mungu kwa namna ya kukubali inayostahiki mtu anayemtegemea Mola wake, na walionyesha adabu ambazo mja anapaswa kuwa nazo. Hawakutilia shaka habari hii wala kuihoji.
The believers received Gods words with the sort of acceptance worthy of one who trusts his Lord and shows the sort of manners a servant should have. They neither doubted this piece of news nor questioned it.
Lakini makafiri, kwa upande mwingine, waliipokea yote hiyo wakiwa na mioyo isiyo na imani wala uzito. Hawakuwa na heshima kwa Mwenyezi Mungu. Kwa hiyo, walitoa kauli za kejeli, wakifanya hesabu, yaani 19, kuwa mada ya utani usio na mwisho. Mmoja wao alisema: ‘Je, kila kumi miongoni mwenu hawatoshi kuwashinda mmoja wao?’ Mwingine alisema: ‘Nyinyi shughulikieni wawili kati ya hawa, nami nitashughulikia wengine. Hamtakuwa na wasiwasi wowote kutoka kwao.’ Ndipo aya iliyofuata ilipoteremshwa, ikieleza kusudi la Mwenyezi Mungu nyuma ya kutoa taarifa hii juu ya jambo lililo katika ulimwengu usioonekana kwa mtazamo wa binadamu, na kutaja namba hii mahsusi.
The unbelievers, on the other hand, received it all with hearts devoid of faith or seriousness. They had no reverence of God. Hence, they made sarcastic comments, making the number, i.e. the 19, the subject of endless jokes. One of them said: ‘Will not each 10 of you be sufficient to overcome one of them?’ Another said: ‘You take care of two of these and I will take care of the rest. You will have nothing to worry about from them.’ It was then that the next verse was revealed, explaining God s purpose behind giving this piece of information on something that belongs to the realm beyond human perception and mentioning this particular figure.
Inaonyesha wazi kwamba ulimwengu huo na elimu ya kila kinachohusiana nao ni ya Mwenyezi Mungu peke yake. Pia inataja mwisho wa mwisho unaotokana na kutajwa kwa moto unaounguza na walinzi wake.
It makes clear that that realm and the knowledge of all that relates to it belongs to God alone. It also mentions the ultimate end that results from the mention of the scorching fire and its guard:
Hatukuweka walinzi wa Moto isipokuwa Malaika, na tumeifanya idadi yao kuwa mtihani kwa wale waliokufuru. Hivyo wale waliopewa Kitabu wapate yakini, na walioamini wazidi kuwa na imani, na wale waliopewa Kitabu na Waumini wasiwe na shaka; na wale ambao nyoyoni mwao mna maradhi na Makafiri watasema, "Mwenyezi Mungu amekusudia nini kwa mfano huu?" Hivyo ndivyo Mungu humpoteza amtakaye, na humwongoza amtakaye. Wala hakuna ajuaye majeshi ya Mola wako isipokuwa Yeye. Hii si chochote ila ni ukumbusho kwa wanadamu. (Aya ya 31)
We have appointed none other than angels to guard the fire, and We have made their number a test for the unbelievers. Thus those who have been granted revelations in the past may be convinced and the believers may grow yet more firm in their faith; and so those who have been granted revelations and the believers will entertain no doubt; but the sick at heart and the unbelievers will ask, "What could God mean by this image?* Thus God lets go astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. No one knows your Lord’s forces except Him. This is all but a reminder for mankind. (Verse 31)
Aya hii inaanza kwa kutaja asili ya walinzi 19 ambao washirikina walifanya masihara kuhusu idadi yao: "Hatukuweka walinzi wa Moto ila ni Malaika." (Aya 31) Hao ni katika aina ya viumbe ambao maumbile yao na nguvu zao zinajulikana kwa Mwenyezi Mungu Subhanahu wa Ta'ala pekee. Yeye anataja mahali pengine katika Qur'ani kwamba Malaika "hawamuasi Mungu katika anayowaamuru, na hufanya wanayoamrishwa." (66:6) Kauli hii inaweka wazi kwamba daima wanatii amri za Mungu, na kwamba wana uwezo wa kufanya chochote anachowaamuru. Kwa kuwa Yeye amewakabidhi kazi ya kulinda Jahannamu, basi wamepewa uwezo wa kuitekeleza kazi hiyo na kuikamilisha inavyopaswa. Hivyo, hakuna njia ambayo binadamu wanaweza kupigana nao au kuwashinda.
The verse begins by mentioning the nature of the 19 guards whose number the unbelievers joked about: “ We have appointed none other than angels to guard the fire.” (Verse 31) They belong to that species of creature the nature and strength of which are known only to God Almighty. He mentions elsewhere in the Qur’an that the angels “never disobey God in whatever He commands them and always do what they are bidden to do” (66: 6) This statement makes it clear that they always obey God’s orders and that they have the power to do whatever He bids them. Since He has assigned to them the task of guarding hell, then they have been given the power to undertake this task and fulfil it as it should be done. Thus, there is no way that human beings can fight with them or subdue them.
Mazungumzo ya namna hii yanaonyesha tu ujinga mkubwa wa wasiomwamini kuhusu asili ya uumbaji wa Mwenyezi Mungu na jinsi anavyoendesha mambo.
Such talk only betrays the unbelievers’ crude ignorance of the nature of Gods creation and how He conducts affairs.
"Tumeifanya idadi yao kuwa mtihani kwa wale waliokufuru." (Aya ya 31) Ni wale wasioamini ndio wanaoanza mabishano pale idadi inapotajwa, kwa sababu hawawezi kutofautisha wakati hoja inapokuwa haifai mahali pake.
“We have made their number a test for the unbelievers.” (Verse 31) It is the unbelievers that start arguing when the number is mentioned, because they cannot distinguish when an argument is out of place.
Kwa kuwa swali hili liko katika ulimwengu wa ghaibu, na wanadamu hawana elimu nalo, basi chochote Mungu anachosema kuhusu jambo hilo kinapaswa kukubaliwa bila mabishano. Pia inapaswa kueleweka kwamba kutaja ukweli huu peke yake, bila kuongeza maelezo zaidi, ndiyo njia inayofaa na yenye manufaa. Kubishana juu yake ni bure, kwa kuwa hoja inaweza kujengwa tu juu ya elimu isiyoendana na taarifa zilizopo. Idadi yao kamili, ina maana yoyote iwayo, imeamuliwa na Yule anayepanga kila kitu katika ulimwengu na kuumba kila kitu kwa kipimo maalum. Idadi hii ni kama nyingine yoyote, na mtu anayetaka kubishana atatoa pingamizi lile lile kwa namba nyingine yoyote. Kwa nini mbingu ni saba? Kwa nini mwanadamu aliumbwa kutokana na udongo mkavu, kama vyungu, wakati majini waliumbwa kutokana na moto unaowaka sana, kama inavyotajwa katika Sura ya 55? Kwa nini mimba hudumu miezi tisa? Kwa nini kasa huishi kwa karne nyingi?
Since this question belongs to the realm beyond, and mankind have no knowledge of it, then whatever God says about it should be accepted without argument. It should also be understood that mentioning this fact only, without adding further details, is the appropriate and beneficial way. To argue about it is futile, because argument can only be based on knowledge that does not fit with the information to hand. Their exact number, whatever it signifies, is determined by the One who coordinates everything in the universe and creates everything according to a specific measure. This number is like any other, and a person who wants to argue will make the same objection to any other number. Why are the heavens seven? Why was man created from dried clay, like pottery while the jinn were created from raging flames of fire, as mentioned in Surah 55? Why does pregnancy last nine months? Why do tortoises live for centuries?
Kwa nini hivi, na kwa nini vile! Jibu ni kwamba kwa sababu Muumba anayetawala mambo yote ameyapenda hivyo, na mapenzi Yake daima hutimia! Hili ndilo jibu la mwisho katika mambo kama haya.
Why this, and why that! The answer is that because the Creator who holds sway over all things has willed it so, and His will is always done! This is the final answer in such matters.
“Hivyo ili wale waliopewa vitabu vya wahyi wapate kuthibitika, na waumini wazidi kuwa imara katika imani yao; na ili wale waliopewa vitabu vya wahyi na waumini wasiwe na shaka yoyote.” (Aya ya 31) Makundi yote mawili yatapata katika idadi ya walinzi wa jahannamu kitu kitakachowapa baadhi yao yakini zaidi na wengine kuwapa imani imara zaidi. Watu waliopewa vitabu vya wahyi huko nyuma lazima walikuwa wanajua kitu fulani kuhusu jambo hili, hivyo walipousikia Qur’ani ikilithibitisha, walikuwa na yakini nalo. Kwa upande wa waumini, chochote Mwenyezi Mungu anachosema huongeza imani yao na kuifanya kuwa imara zaidi, kwa sababu nyoyo zao ziko wazi kupokea ukweli moja kwa moja, zikifurahia kila taarifa mpya kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu. Wanatambua kwamba idadi kama hiyo inatumika kwa kusudi maalum katika mpango sahihi na makini wa Mwenyezi Mungu wa uumbaji. Hivyo imani yao inazidi kuwa imara. Ukweli huu basi unakuwa umethibitika zaidi katika nyoyo za makundi yote mawili, na hakuna hata mmoja atakayeshuku chochote kinachotoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu.
“ Thus those who have been granted revelations in the past may be convinced and the believers may grow yet more firm in their faith; and so those who have been granted revelations and the believers will entertain no doubt” (Verse 31) Both groups will find in the number of the guards of hell what will give some of them more certainty and give others firmer faith. The people given revelations in the past must have known something of this fact so that when they heard the Qur’an confirming it, they were certain about it. As for the believers, whatever God says will add to their faith and make it firmer, because their hearts are open to receive facts directly, happy with every new piece of information from God. They realize that such a number serves a particular purpose in God’s accurate and fine scheme of creation. Their faith thus grows firmer. This fact thus becomes more firmly established in the hearts of both groups and neither will then doubt anything that comes from God.
“Lakini wale walio na maradhi moyoni na makafiri watauliza, ‘Mwenyezi Mungu alikusudia nini kwa mfano huu?’” (Aya ya 31) Jambo hilo hilo moja lina athari zinazopingana katika nyoyo tofauti. Wakati watu wa vitabu vya mbinguni na waumini watazidi kuwa na imani kutokana na kutajwa idadi ya walinzi wa Jahannam, kutajwa tu kwa jambo hili kunawafanya makafiri na wanafiki washangae sababu ya kutolewa mfano kama huo. Hawathamini hekima iliyo nyuma ya jambo hili la ajabu, wala hawakubali hekima kamili ya Mungu katika uumbaji. Zaidi ya hayo, wanatilia shaka taarifa iliyotolewa na manufaa mema yaliyokusudiwa nayo.
“But the sick at heart and the unbelievers will ask, ‘What could God mean by this image?”' (Verse 31) The same fact leaves opposite effects on different hearts. While the people of the scriptures and the believers will have more faith as a result of mentioning the number of hells guards, the very mention of this makes the unbelievers and hypocrites wonder about the reason for giving such an image. They neither appreciate the wisdom behind this strange matter, nor acknowledge Gods absolute wisdom of creation. Besides, they are in doubt about the information given and the good purpose served by it.
Hivyo ndivyo Mungu anavyowapoteza wale anaowataka, na anawaongoza wale anaowataka. (Aya ya 31) Mungu anataja mambo ya kweli na kuweka alama na dalili.
“ Thus God lets go astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills.” (Verse 31) God mentions facts and puts up signs and indicators.
Mioyo tofauti huipokea kwa namna tofauti. Kundi moja litaongozwa kwenye ukweli kwa ukweli wa mambo kama hayo, kwa mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu, wakati jingine litapotea, pia kwa mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu. Kila kitu hatimaye kinaamuliwa na mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu, ambayo ni huru kabisa. Binadamu waliumbwa kwa mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu wakiwa na mwelekeo wa pande mbili: kufuata uongofu wake au upotevu. Hivyo, kila mtu anatenda ndani ya mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu, iwe anafuata uongofu au anapotea.
Different hearts receive it differently. A group will be guided to the truth by such facts, as God wills, while another will go astray, also as God wills. Everything is ultimately determined by Gods will which is absolutely free. Human beings were created by Gods will with a dual tendency to follow either His guidance or error. Thus, every person acts within Gods will whether he follows guidance or goes astray.
Tunapofahamu kikamilifu kwamba mapenzi ya Mungu ni huru kabisa, bila kizuizi wala kikwazo, na kwamba kila kinachotokea katika ulimwengu hatimaye hurejea kwenye mapenzi yake, na tunapoliweka jambo hili katika mtazamo unaofaa, tunaiepusha akili yetu na mjadala mwembamba usiokoma kuhusu kile watu wanachokiita kuamuliwa kabla (predestination). Mjadala wa namna hii hauna faida, kwa sababu unalitazama swali hili, linalohusu Mungu Asiye na Mwisho, kutoka pembe finyu, ukilifungia ndani ya mantiki na uzoefu wa kibinadamu.
When we fully appreciate the fact that God’s will is absolutely free, without restriction or impediment, and that everything that occurs in the universe ultimately reverts to His will, and when we put this in the proper perspective, we spare our minds the narrow and endless argument on what people call predestination. Such argument is futile, because it looks at this question, which relates to God the Infinite, from a narrow angle, limiting it to human logic and experience.
Mungu ametuwekea wazi njia mbili: moja ni ya kufuata mwongozo wake, na nyingine inaongoza kwenye upotevu. Ametuwekea mwenendo wa kutenda ambao, tukiutekeleza, utahakikisha kwamba tuna mwongozo wote tunaohitaji, tunaishi kwa furaha na kupata thawabu yake. Pia ametuonyesha njia nyingine zinazotupeleka kwenye upotevu, dhiki na maangamizi. Hajatutaka kujua chochote zaidi ya hapa, wala hajatupa uwezo wa kujua zaidi. Anatuambia kwamba mapenzi yake ni huru kabisa na ni lazima yatimie. Kwa hiyo, tunapaswa kushughulika na kuelewa jambo hili ndani ya uwezo wetu na mipaka yetu, tukifuata njia ya uongofu na kuepuka njia mbalimbali zinazoelekea upotevu. Hatupaswi kuingia katika mjadala usio na maana juu ya jambo ambalo hatutaweza kulifahamu kamwe, kwa sababu linahusu ulimwengu wa baadaye. Tukifanya hivyo, tunafikia hitimisho kwamba juhudi zote ambazo wanatheolojia na wanafalsafa wameweka katika suala la kadari (utabiri wa mapema wa Mungu), kwa jinsi walivyolijadili, hazikuwa na faida, kwa sababu zilikuwa juhudi zisizo sahihi zilizowekwa katika uwanja usio sahihi.
God clearly put before us two ways: one follows His guidance and the other leads to error. He has laid down for us a method of action which will, if we implement it, ensure that we have all the guidance we need, live happily and earn His reward. He has also pointed out to us other methods which lead us into error, misery and ruin. He has not required us to know anything beyond this, and has not given us the power to know more. He tells us that His will is absolutely free and inevitable. We should, therefore, deal with understanding this within our abilities and limitations, following the way of guidance and avoiding the different ways leading into error. We must not enter into any futile argument about something that we will never be able to fathom, because it pertains to the world beyond. When we do so, we arrive at the conclusion that all the efforts theologists and philosophers put into the question of predestination, in the way they argued it, were useless, because they were the wrong efforts put into the wrong field.
Hatujui mapenzi yaliyofichika ya Mungu kuhusu sisi, lakini tunajua kile Mungu anachotaka kwetu: yaani, kustahili neema yake ambayo ameijiwekea ahadi ya kutujaalia. Njia yetu sahihi, basi, ni kuelekeza juhudi zetu katika kutekeleza kile alichotuamuru kufanya, na kuviachia mapenzi yake yaliyofichika kwake yeye peke yake. Kitakachotupata ni kwa mapenzi yake, nasi tutakijua kitakapotokea, na si kabla. Kitakachotokea kitatimiza kusudi lake, na kitakuwa kwa hekima yake.
We do not know what Gods hidden will is concerning us, but we do know what God wants of us: namely to deserve His grace which He has committed Himself to bestow upon us. Our proper course, then, is to devote our efforts to the fulfilment of what He has required us to do, leaving His hidden will to Him alone. What will happen to us is according to His will, and we will know it when it happens, and not before. What happens will fulfil His purpose and will be according to His wisdom.
"Hakuna awezaye kujua majeshi ya Mola wako isipokuwa Yeye" (Aya ya 31). Asili, kazi na athari zake zote ni mambo yaliyo nje ya uwezo wa ufahamu wetu.
“No one knows your Lords forces except Him” (Verse 31) The nature, function and effect of these forces are all matters beyond our perception.
Miongoni mwa haya, Yeye hutufunulia anachotaka. Uamuzi Wake ni wa mwisho. Hakuna haja ya mtu yeyote kubishana kuhusu jambo lolote ambalo Mungu hakuchagua kutufahamisha.
Of these, He reveals to us what He wishes. His decision is final. No one need argue about anything God has chosen not to inform us about.
Hoja ya namna hii haina maana.
Such argument is futile.
"Hii si chochote zaidi ya ukumbusho kwa wanadamu" (Aya ya 31). "Hii" inaweza kurejea nguvu za Mwenyezi Mungu, au Jahannamu na walinzi wake, kwa kuwa nao pia ni sehemu ya nguvu za Mwenyezi Mungu. Kuzitaja mambo haya kunakusudiwa kuwatahadharisha na kuwaonya watu, si kufungua njia ya kubashiri. Nyoyo zenye imani bila shaka zitanufaika kwa ukumbusho kama huu, lakini zile zilizopotoka zitaendelea kubishana bila kikomo.
“This is all but a reminder for mankind” (Verse 31) ‘This’ may be a reference to Gods forces, or to hell and those guarding it as these are also part of Gods forces. Mentioning these is meant to alert and warn people, not to open a way for conjecture. Believing hearts will certainly benefit by such reminders, but erring ones will continue to argue endlessly.