Baada ya kuweka msingi huu wa kimsingi wa imani ya Kiislamu kuhusu ukweli wa imani na ukafiri, pamoja na mitume wa Mungu na ujumbe wao, sura sasa inarejea mitazamo waliyoichukua Mayahudi katika matukio kadhaa na jinsi walivyosema maneno maovu waziwazi. Inalaani mtazamo wao kwa Mtume ﷺ na ujumbe wake, hasa madai yao ya kiburi ya kumtaka awapatie ishara na ushahidi wa kuthibitisha ujumbe wake. Inalinganisha mtazamo huu na ule waliouchukua kwa mtume wao, Musa (amani iwe juu yake), na mtazamo wao kwa Isa (amani iwe juu yake) na mama yake, Maryamu. Msimamo wao unaonyesha kwamba Mayahudi daima wamekuwa na tabia hiyo hiyo kwa vizazi vingi. Qur'ani inazungumzia kizazi cha Kiyahudi kilichompinga Mtume ﷺ, kile kilichompinga Isa, na kile kilichompinga Musa zamani, kama kundi moja, na hivyo kusisitiza ukweli kwamba wote walishiriki tabia hiyo hiyo.
Having established this basic principle of Islamic faith with regard to the truth of faith and unfaith, God’s messengers and their messages, the sūrah now refers to the attitudes adopted by the Jews on a number of occasions and how they openly spoke evil. It denounces their attitude towards the Prophet and his message, particularly their pigheaded demands asking him to provide them with signs and evidence proving his message. It compares this attitude to the one they adopted towards their own messenger, Moses (peace be upon him), and to their attitude towards Jesus (peace be upon him) and his mother, Mary. Their stance reveals that the Jews have always had the same nature over many generations. The Qur’ān speaks of the Jewish generation which opposed the Prophet and that which opposed Jesus and the one which opposed Moses in the past as one group, in this way emphasising the fact that they all shared the same nature.
Watu wa wahyi zilizotangulia wanakuomba ukuteremshie kitabu kutoka mbinguni. Walimuomba Musa kitu kikubwa zaidi kuliko hicho, walipoasema:
The people of earlier revelations ask you to have a book sent down to them from heaven. They asked Moses for something even greater than that, when they said:
"Tuonyeshe Mungu kwa macho yetu wenyewe." Radi ikawapiga kwa dhulma yao hii. Baada ya hapo, wakaanza kuabudu ndama hata baada ya ushahidi wa wazi wa ukweli kuwafikia. Lakini Sisi tuliwasamehe hayo, na tukampa Musa mamlaka ya wazi. Tukauinua Mlima Sinai juu yao kama ushahidi wa ahadi yao nzito.
`Make us see God with our own eyes.” The thunderbolt smote them for this their wrongdoing. After that, they took to worshipping the calf even after clear evidence of the truth had come to them. Yet We pardoned them that, and We gave Moses clear authority. We raised Mount Sinai high above them in witness of their solemn pledge.
Na tukawaambia: “Ingieni mlangoni mkisujudu”; na pia tukawaambia:
And We said to them: `Enter the gate, prostrating yourselves”; and We also told them:
"Msivunje sheria ya Sabato"; na Tukachukua kutoka kwao ahadi nzito kabisa.
`Do not break the Sabbath-law”; and We received from them a most solemn pledge.
(Aya 153-154)
(Verses 153-154)
Mayahudi waliokuwa wakiishi katika Rasi ya Arabia walichukua msimamo wa wazi wa uadui na ukaidi dhidi ya Uislamu na Mtume ﷺ. Walikuwa wakipanga njama kila mara dhidi ya Uislamu ili kujaribu kuuangamiza. Msimamo wao na njama zao zimeelezwa kwa kina katika Qur’ān. Pia tumejadili baadhi ya vipengele vyake katika Juzuu ya I na ya II, na vilevile mapema katika juzuu hii. Sasa tuna maelezo ya vipengele vingine vya msimamo huu.
The Jews living in the Arabian Peninsula took an openly hostile and rigid attitude towards Islam and the Prophet. They continuously schemed against Islam to try to bring about its downfall. Their attitude and scheming have been described in detail in the Qur’ān. We have also discussed certain aspects of it in Volumes I and II as also earlier in this volume. Now we have an explanation of other aspects of this attitude.
Wakitumia mamlaka kwa kiburi, walimtaka Mtume ﷺ awalete kitabu kilichoandikwa kilichoshushwa kutoka mbinguni ambacho wangeweza kukigusa kwa mikono yao wenyewe: “Watu wa wahyi wa zamani wanakuomba ushushiwe kitabu kutoka mbinguni.” (Aya ya 153)
Adopting an overbearing manner, they demanded of the Prophet that he should bring them a written book sent down from heaven which they could touch with their own hands: “The people of earlier revelations ask you to have a book sent down to them from heaven.” (Verse 153)
Mungu anatoa jibu kwa niaba ya Mtume wake, akimsimulia yeye na jumuiya ya Waislamu sura ya historia ya Kiyahudi pamoja na Nabii wao, kiongozi wao na mkombozi wao, Musa, ambaye walidai kumwamini huku wakizikataa risala za Isa na Muhammad ﷺ (amani iwe juu yao wote). Kiburi hiki, basi, si jambo geni. Hakikuwa tabia ya kizazi kile cha Wayahudi pekee. Tangu wakati wa Musa, wameonyesha kutojali kwao, ambako kumepunguza ufahamu wao katika ulimwengu wa mali pekee, na ukaidi wao ambao umeonyesha kwamba hawakubali ukweli isipokuwa kwa shinikizo. Daima wamekuwa wasaliti, wakivunja maagano yao si tu na watu bali pia na Mola wao. Ni wakorofi na wasio na adabu: hawathibitishi kile kinachosemwa. Wala hawajizuii kutumia maneno maovu. Daima ni wenye tamaa, wakijaribu kunyakua mali ya watu wengine ingawa huenda hawana haki yoyote juu yake. Wanageuka migongo yao kwa Mungu na malipo Yake aliyowaandalia waumini.
God gives the answer on behalf of His Messenger, relating to him and to the Muslim community a chapter of Jewish history with their own Prophet, leader, and saviour, Moses, in whom they claimed to believe while denying the messages of Jesus and Muĥammad (peace be upon them all). This arrogance, then is not new. It was not characteristic only of that generation of Jews. Ever since the time of Moses, they have demonstrated their insensitivity, which has restricted their understanding to the material world only, and their stubbornness which has shown that they do not yield to the truth except under pressure. They have always been treacherous, breaking their covenants not only with people but also with their Lord. They are rude and impudent: they do not verify what is being said. Nor do they refrain from using evil words. They are always greedy, trying to lay their hands on other people’s property though they may have no rightful claim to it. They turn their backs on God and the reward He has in store for believers.
Hapa tuna kampeni inayodhihirisha hali halisi ya Mayahudi na mitazamo yao. Ukweli kwamba inashughulikia kwa nguvu kubwa vipengele vingi tofauti unatuonyesha hasa hali ilivyokuwa Madina wakati wa Nabii ﷺ. Mipango hiyo hiyo ya uovu bado inaendelea dhidi ya Uislamu na Waislamu hadi leo.
What we have here, then, is a campaign revealing the true nature of the Jews and their attitudes. The fact that it tackles in such a powerful way so many different aspects shows us just what the situation in Madinah at the time of the Prophet really was like. The same sort of wicked scheming is still going on against Islam and the Muslims to this day.
"Watu wa maandiko ya awali wanakuomba uwateremshie kitabu kutoka mbinguni." Usijali kuhusu ukakamavu huu ambao hauna jipya ndani yake: "Waliomwomba Musa jambo kubwa zaidi kuliko hilo, walipasema: 'Tuonyeshe Mungu waziwazi.'" Ushahidi wa wazi na ishara zilizo bayana ambazo Mungu aliwapa kupitia Musa, Nabii wao, haukutosha kuyagusa mioyo yao, kufungua akili zao, au kuwaongoza kwenye imani na unyenyekevu. Walitaka kumwona Mungu moja kwa moja kwa macho yao. Hii ilikuwa ni ombi lenye jeuri, ambalo halingeweza kutoka kwa mtu anayejua au kuhisi maana ya imani. Kwa hiyo, "radi iliwapiga kwa sababu ya dhulma yao." (Aya ya 153) Hata hivyo, Mungu aliwasamehe, hili likiwa ni kwa kujibu dua za Musa, aliyemwomba Mungu awasamehe. Hili limefafanuliwa katika sura nyingine:
“The people of earlier revelations ask you to have a book sent down to them from heaven.” You need not worry about this rigidity in which there is nothing new: “They asked Moses for something even greater than that, when they said: Make us see God with our own eyes.’” The clear evidence and clear signs God has given them through Moses, their Prophet, were not enough to touch their hearts and open their minds or to lead them to belief and submission. They wanted to see God directly, with their own eyes. This was a demand characterised by rudeness which could not have come from a person who knows or feels what faith means. Therefore, “the thunderbolt smote them for their wrongdoing”. (Verse 153) God, however, pardoned them, this in answer to the prayers of Moses who appealed to God to forgive them. This is explained in another sūrah:
“Mtetemeko mkali ulipowashika, (Musa) aliomba: Mola wangu, kama Ungetaka, ungewaangamiza kabla ya hapo, na mimi pamoja nao. Je, utatuangamiza kwa yale ambayo wapumbavu miongoni mwetu wamefanya? Haya yote si chochote ila ni mtihani kutoka Kwako, ambao kwao Unawaacha wapotee wale Unaowataka, na Unawaongoza kwenye njia iliyonyooka wale Unaowataka. Wewe ndiwe Bwana wetu: basi, tusamehe na utuhurumie. Wewe ndiye mbora wa wote wanaosamehe.” (7: 155)
“When violent trembling seized them, he (Moses) prayed: My Lord, had You so willed, You would have destroyed them before this, and me with them. Will You destroy us for what the weak-minded among us have done? All this is but a trial from You, whereby You allow to go astray whom You will and guide aright whom You will. You are Our Master: grant us then, forgiveness and have mercy on us. You are the best of all forgivers.” (7: 155)
"Baada ya hapo, walianza kuabudu ndama hata baada ya ushahidi wazi wa haki kuwajia." Marejeo hapa ni kwa ndama wa dhahabu, aliyetengenezwa kwa ajili yao na Sāmirī kwa kutumia vito vya dhahabu vilivyochukuliwa kwa hila kutoka kwa wanawake wa Misri walipokuwa wakiondoka Misri. Walianza mara moja kuabudu ndama huyo pale Musa alipoitwa mbali nao, akabaki mahali alipopangiwa na Mola wake, ambapo Yeye alimpa mbao zenye mwongozo kwa watu wake.
“After that, they took to worshipping the calf even after clear evidence of the truth had come to them.” The reference here is to the golden calf, made for them by the Sāmirī using the jewellery taken by trickery from Egyptian women as they left Egypt. They immediately took to worshipping that calf when Moses was called away from them, staying at a place appointed to him by His Lord where He gave him the tablets containing guidance for his people.
"Lakini Tuliwasamehe kwa hilo." Lakini Wayahudi daima ni wale wale. Wao hunyenyekea kwa nguvu tu. "Na Tukampa Musa mamlaka yaliyo wazi." (Aya ya 153) Mamlaka hayo huenda kwa kiasi kikubwa ni sheria zilizomo katika mbao za mawe. Sheria iliyotolewa na Mungu huleta mamlaka ya moja kwa moja kutoka Kwake. Mungu haidhinishi sheria nyingine yoyote isipokuwa hiyo. Haina athari halisi juu ya mioyo ya watu. Kwa sababu hiyo, watu hawaonyeshi heshima stahiki kwa sheria na kanuni wanazozitoa au kuzitangaza wenyewe. Hizi huzingatiwa tu pale watu wanapoogopa kukamatwa wanapozivunja. Sheria za Mungu, kwa upande mwingine, zinafurahia heshima ya kweli, na watu huzitii kwa hiari.
“Yet We pardoned them that.” But the Jews are always the same. They succumb by force only. “And We gave Moses clear authority.” (Verse 153) That authority is most probably the laws contained in the tablets. A law given by God provides direct authority from Him. God does not sanction any law other than that. It has no real effect on people’s hearts. Consequently, people do not show proper respect to laws and regulations that they themselves issue or promulgate. These are only heeded when people fear being caught when they break them. God’s laws, on the other hand, enjoy genuine respect and people observe them willingly.
Tuliinua Mlima Sinai juu yao kama ushahidi wa ahadi yao ya dhati. Tukawaambia: "Ingieni langoni huku mkisujudu"; pia tukawaambia: "Msivunje sheria ya Sabato"; nasi tukapokea kwao ahadi nzito kabisa. (Aya ya 154)
Kwa kuwa nyoyo zao hazikuwa zimeguswa kikweli na imani, Mayahudi walikataa kujisalimisha kwa yale yaliyoandikwa kwenye mbao. Kwa hiyo, walilazimishwa kutii kwa aina ya nguvu za kimwili zinazolingana na asili yao isiyojali. Waliona mlima ukiinuliwa juu ya vichwa vyao, ukitishia kuanguka wakati wowote na kuwaangamiza wote, isipokuwa wajisalimishe na kuahidi kulishika agano ambalo Mungu alifanya nao na kutekeleza wajibu wao kama ulivyofafanuliwa kwenye mbao hizi. Ndipo tu, walipolazimishwa kujisalimisha, walitoa ahadi zao za kutimiza agano lile lenye nguvu na uzito mkubwa. Agano limeelezwa hapa kwa maneno yanayolingana na taswira ya kutisha ya mlima ulioinuliwa juu ya vichwa vyao na ndani ya nyoyo zao ngumu. Kulieleza agano hivyo pia kunatoa picha ya nguvu zake na athari yake.
We raised Mount Sinai high above them in witness of their solemn pledge. And We said to them: `Enter the gate, prostrating yourselves”; and We also told them: “Do not break the Sabbath-law”; and We received Pam them a most solemn pledge. (Verse 154) Because their hearts had not been truly influenced by faith, the Jews refused to submit to what was written on the tablets. Hence, they were brought into submission by the sort of physical force suited to their insensitive nature. They beheld the mountain raised above their heads, threatening to fall down any moment and destroy them all unless they surrendered and pledged to observe the covenant God made with them and to carry out their duties as explained on these tablets. Only then, when they were forced into submission did they give their pledges to fulfil the binding, most emphatic covenant. The covenant is described here in terms fitting the horrific image of a mountain raised over their heads and within their hardened hearts. Describing the covenant thus also provides an image of its power and effect.
Agano hilo liliweka sharti kwamba wao wasujudu watakapoingia lango la Yerusalemu, na kwamba wazingatie sheria ya Sabato, baada ya kuomba kwamba Sabato iwe siku yao ya mapumziko na furaha. Lakini baadaye yalitokea nini? Hisia zao za hofu na za kushindwa zilipopungua, walianza kujitenga na ahadi zao. Walizikataa ufunuo wa Mungu, na waliwaua manabii wao bila kuwa na sababu yoyote ya kufanya hivyo. Zaidi ya hayo, walijivuna kwa kiburi, wakisema kwamba mioyo yao imefungwa dhidi ya maneno yoyote ya mawaidha.
The covenant stipulated that they should prostrate themselves when they entered the gate of Jerusalem, and that they should observe the Sabbath law, after having requested that the Sabbath be their day of rest and enjoyment. But what happened thereafter? Once their feelings of fear and of being overpowered had weakened, they began to disassociate themselves from their pledges. They denied God’s revelations and killed their prophets without having any cause to do so. Moreover, they boasted arrogantly, saying that their hearts were closed to all words of admonition.
Zaidi ya hayo, walifanya mambo yote ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu anamsimulia Mjumbe Wake na Waislamu katika Qur’ani: “Basi kwa sababu ya kuvunja ahadi yao, na kukufuru kwao ishara za Mwenyezi Mungu, na kuwaua manabii kwa haki isiyokuwa ya haki, na kwa kusema kwao, ‘Nyoyo zetu zimefungwa.’ Naam, Mwenyezi Mungu amezifunga nyoyo zao kwa sababu ya ukafiri wao. Kwa hiyo hawaamini isipokuwa wachache miongoni mwao.” (Aya ya 155)
Furthermore, they did all the things God relates to His Messenger and to the Muslims in the Qur’ān: “And so, [We punished them] for the breaking of their pledge, their disbelief in God’s revelations, their killing of prophets against all right, and for their boast, “Our hearts are closed.” Indeed God sealed their hearts on account of their disbelief. As a result they have no faith except for a few of them.” (Verse 155)
Katika hatua hii, simulizi la tabia zao zisizokubalika sana linakatizwa.
At this point the account of their highly objectionable behaviour is interrupted.
Wangesema: “Mioyo yetu imefungwa”, ama ili kumkatisha tamaa Mtume ya kupata jibu lenye kuridhisha kutoka kwao, au kudhihaki ukweli kwamba wenyewe walikuwa wanaitwa kuamini Uislamu. Jibu linatolewa mara moja ili kuwanyamazisha: “Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu ameifunga mioyo yao kwa sababu ya kufuru yao. Kwa hiyo hawaamini, isipokuwa wachache miongoni mwao.” (Aya ya 155) Mioyo yao haikufungwa kwa asili. Ni kufuru yao na kukataa kwao ujumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu ndiko kulikosababisha wao kutiwa muhuri na kufungwa na Mwenyezi Mungu. Hivyo, wao ni wakaidi wa mioyo, wamepotoka, hawawezi kuthamini maana ya imani. Kwa hiyo, idadi kubwa mno yao ilibaki kuwa makafiri. Ni wachache tu waliweka mioyo yao wazi, wakadumisha hukumu isiyopendelea upande wowote, na kufuatilia ukweli popote ulipowapeleka. Mwenyezi Mungu aliwaongoza watu hawa kwenye njia iliyo sawa, nao wakaikubali imani. Lakini hawa walikuwa wachache sana. Miongoni mwao walikuwamo `Abdullāh ibn Sallām, Tha`labah ibn Sa`yah, Asad ibn Sa`yah na Asad ibn `Ubaydillāh.
They would say: “Our hearts are closed”, either to make the Prophet despair of a favourable response from them or to deride the fact that they, themselves, were being called upon to believe in Islam. An answer is given straight away to silence them: “Indeed God sealed their hearts on account of their disbelief As a result they have no faith, except for a few of them.” (Verse 155) Their hearts were not sealed by nature. It is their disbelief and their rejection of God’s messages which caused them to be stamped over and sealed by God. Thus, they are hard-hearted, misguided, incapable of appreciating what faith means. Therefore, the overwhelming majority of them remained unbelievers. Only a few kept their hearts open, maintained an objective judgement and pursued the truth wherever it led them. God has guided these people aright and they accepted the faith. But these were very few indeed. Among them were `Abdullāh ibn Sallām, Tha`labah ibn Sa`yah, Asad ibn Sa`yah and Asad ibn `Ubaydillāh.