Sura hii kisha inaonyesha tukio jingine ambalo watu hupita karibu nalo bila kulipa umakini. Ni tukio lenye kupendeza sana machoni, linalobeba ujumbe moyoni na kuwaalika akili kutafakari uumbaji wa Mwenyezi Mungu pamoja na dalili za imani zinazopatikana kila mahali katika ulimwengu. Linatoa nafasi ya kutafakari chanzo pekee cha nuru halisi, uongofu sahihi na imani ya kweli.
Next the sūrah portrays yet another scene which people pass by paying little attention to it. It is very pleasant to the eye, carrying a message to the heart and inviting the mind to reflect on God’s creation as well as the pointers to faith available everywhere in the universe. It provides an area to contemplate the only source of real light, right guidance and true faith.
Je, hujui kwamba ni Mungu anayezisukuma mawingu, kisha kuyaunganisha, kisha kuyarundika juu ya kingine, hadi uone mvua ikitoka katikati yake? Yeye ndiye anayeshusha kutoka mbinguni milima ya mawe ya barafu, akampiga nayo amtakaye na kuiepusha na amtakaye. Mwangaza wa umeme wake karibu unanyang'anya macho ya watu.
Are you not aware that it is God who causes the clouds to move onwards, then joins them together, then piles them up in masses, until you can see rain come forth from their midst. He it is who sends down from the skies mountainous masses charged with hail, striking with it whom He wills and averting it from whom He wills. The flash of His lightning well-nigh deprives people of their sight. (Verse 43)
Tukio hili limeelezwa kwa utulivu na polepole, huku sehemu zake zikiinuliwa moja baada ya nyingine kwa ajili ya kutafakari kabla hazijaunganika kwa pamoja kama picha pana. Yote haya hufanyika kwa makusudi, ili kuona kwa undani sehemu hizi kuguse nyoyo za watu na kuamsha akili zao kutafakari muundo kamili wa Mwenyezi Mungu.
The scene is portrayed at leisure, slowly, with its component parts being raised up for reflection before they combine panoramically. All this is done deliberately, so that the very sight of these details touches people’s hearts and awakens their minds to reflection on God’s perfect design.
Ni mpango wa Mungu unaoyasukuma mawingu kutoka sehemu moja hadi nyingine, kisha kuyaruhusu mawingu haya kukusanyika pamoja na kurundikana kuwa wingu kubwa. Linapokuwa zito, hubeba maji yanayoanza kutoka polepole na kisha kumwagika chini kama mvua kubwa.
It is God’s design that drives the clouds from one place to another, before allowing these clouds to come together and pile up into a great mass. When this becomes heavy, it bears water that begins to ooze out and then pour down in heavy rain.
Mawingu yanapokusanyika, yanafanana na milima mikubwa, na kutoa vipande vidogo vya mvua ya mawe.
When piled up, the clouds look like great mountains, producing small pieces of hail.
Hakuna anayeona mawingu yakifanana na milima vizuri zaidi kuliko abiria wa ndege inayoruka juu kuliko mawingu, au inayopita katikati yake. Mandhari ya mwinuko huu yanaonyesha mawingu kama milima hasa, yenye ukubwa wake mkubwa, miteremko mikali, pamoja na vilele vya juu na vya chini. Ni mandhari inayoonyesha uhalisia ambao watu hawakuweza kuuona kabla ya kuweza kuruka angani.
No one sees the clouds look like mountains better than a passenger in a plane that flies higher than the clouds, or moves through them. The scene at this elevation shows the clouds just like mountains, their huge sizes, steep cliffs, as well as high and low peaks. It is a scene that shows a reality people could not have seen before they were able to fly.
Milima hii inatii amri za Mungu, ikifanya kazi kulingana na sheria yake inayotawala ulimwengu. Ni kwa mujibu wa sheria hii ndipo Mungu huiteremsha mvua juu ya jamii yoyote Anayotaka, na huielekeza mbali na nyingine kama Apendavyo. Picha hii inakamilishwa kwa kauli hii ya mwisho: "Mwangaza wa umeme wake unakaribia kunyang'anya watu macho yao." (Aya ya 43) Hivyo, unatoa mshikamano fulani na nuru kubwa inayojaza ulimwengu wote.
These mountains are subservient to God’s orders, functioning in accordance with His law that governs the universe. It is in accordance with this law that God lets rain drop over any community He wants and diverts it from others as He wills. The scene is completed with this final statement: “The flash of His lightning well-nigh deprives people of their sight.” (Verse 43) It thus provides an element of harmony with the great light that fills the whole universe.
Na bado kuna tukio jingine la ulimwengu wote, linaloonyesha usiku na mchana: "Ni Mwenyezi Mungu anayefanya usiku na mchana vibadilike. Hakika katika hilo pia kuna funzo kwa wenye macho ya kuona." (Aya ya 44)
And yet there is another universal scene, showing the night and day: “It is God who causes night and day to alternate. In this too there is surely a lesson for all who have eyes to see.” (Verse 44)
Tunapotafakari juu ya kubadilishana kwa usiku na mchana, katika mfumo kamili usioshindwa wala kulegea, hisia zetu huamka na tunaweza kuthamini vizuri ukamilifu wa kazi ya Mwenyezi Mungu na sheria yake inayoongoza ulimwengu. Qur'ani inautahadharisha moyo wetu kuhusu mandhari kama hizi ambazo kwa kawaida tunazipuuza kwa sababu ya kuzoeleka kwake.
When we reflect on the alternation of the night and day, in a perfect system that never fails or slackens, our senses are sharpened and we can better appreciate the perfection of God’s work and His law that governs the universe. The Qur’ān alerts our hearts to such scenes which we normally overlook because of their familiarity.
Hata hivyo, zina ujumbe ulio wazi. Hivyo basi, Qur’ani husaidia nyoyo zetu daima kukabiliana na ulimwengu kwa hisia kali na mwitikio mpya. Nyoyo nyingi zimestaajabia mabadiliko ya usiku na mchana. Hata hivyo, mambo hayo daima ni yale yale, bila kupoteza uzuri wake wa kuvutia. Ni nyoyo zetu tu ndizo zilizopoteza mwingiliano wao na jambo hili kubwa. Kwa hakika, tunapoteza mengi ya uzuri wa ulimwengu huu tunapoangalia matukio kama hayo kwa kuyapa uangalifu mdogo, kwa sababu tu yamekuwa ya kawaida.
Yet they contain a clear message. Hence the Qur’ān helps our hearts to always Face the universe with sharpened sensitivity and fresh reaction. Many a heart has wondered at the alternation of night and day. Yet it is always the same, losing nothing of its striking beauty. It is only our hearts that have lost their interaction with this great phenomenon. Much indeed do we lose of the beauty of this universe when we look at such phenomena paying little attention to them only because they have become familiar.
Qur'ani inaamsha hisia zetu zilizofifia, inagusa mioyo yetu baridi na kuamsha akili zetu zilizochoka, ili tuweze kuutazama ulimwengu kana kwamba tunauona kwa mara ya kwanza. Hivyo, tunasimama kwa kila jambo la kimaumbile tukitafakari jinsi linavyofanya kazi na kuuliza kuhusu siri zake. Tunaona mkono wa Mungu ukifanya kazi yake katika kila kitu kilicho karibu nasi, na tunatafakari hekima Yake na dalili zinazomwelekeza Yeye.
The Qur’ān reinvigorates our blunted sensitivity, touches our cold hearts and awakens our tired minds so that we can look at the universe as though we see it for the first time. We thus stop at every phenomenon reflecting on how it works and enquiring about its secrets. We see God’s hand doing its work in everything around us, and we reflect on His wisdom and the signs pointing to Him.
Mwenye kutokuwa na mipaka ni Mwenyezi Mungu katika utukufu Wake. Anataka kutupa zaidi ya neema Zake. Anataka kutupa ulimwengu wote kila tunapotafakari moja ya matukio yake kwa namna ambayo tunaulinganisha kama vile tunauona kwa mara ya kwanza. Hivyo, tunakuwa macho kwa ulimwengu na ujumbe wake mara zisizohesabika. Kisha tunauonja upya kila tunapouangalia.
Limitless is God in His glory. He wants to give us more of His favours. He wants to gift us the whole universe every time we contemplate one of its phenomena in a way that we appreciate it as though we are seeing it for the first time. Thus, we are alert to the universe and its message a countless number of times. We then enjoy it anew every time we look at it.
Ulimwengu huu ni mzuri, wa ajabu, na una maumbile yanayopatana na maumbile yetu wenyewe. Yote mawili yanatokana na chanzo kimoja, na yanatawaliwa na sheria hiyo hiyo. Kwa hiyo tunapoushirikisha ulimwengu tunajisikia kuwa na faraja zaidi, na tunapata aina ya furaha tunayoihisi pale tunapokutana na mpendwa aliyekuwa mbali kwa muda mrefu. Zaidi ya hayo, katika ulimwengu tunaiona nuru ya Mwenyezi Mungu, kwani "Mwenyezi Mungu ni nuru ya mbingu na ardhi." (Aya ya 35) Tunaipata nuru hii katika upana mkubwa wa ulimwengu, na pia ndani ya nafsi zetu, wakati huo huo tunapouangalia ulimwengu kwa moyo ulio wazi, unaotaka kuelewa siri ya mpango wa Mwenyezi Mungu wa kina.
This universe is beautiful, awesome and has a nature that is harmonious with our own nature. Both are derived from the same source, subject to the same law. Thus when we relate to the universe we feel greater reassurance, and we experience the sort of happiness that we feel when we meet someone dear who has been absent for a long time. Besides, in the universe we see God’s light, for “God is the light of the heavens and the earth.” (Verse 35) We experience this light in the great expanse of the universe, as well as within ourselves, at the same moment at which we look at the universe with an open heart that wants to understand the secret of God’s elaborate planning.
Kwa hiyo, Qur'ani inatuamsha mara kwa mara, ikivuta mioyo na roho zetu kuelekea katika mandhari mbalimbali kuu za ulimwengu, ili tusipite karibu nazo tukiwa na macho yaliyofumba na mioyo iliyofungwa. Tukifanya hivyo, tutamaliza safari ya maisha yetu tukiwa na faida ndogo sana ya kuonyesha kwa juhudi zetu.
Therefore, the Qur’ān reawakens us time and again, drawing our hearts and souls to a variety of great universal scenes, so that we do not pass by them with closed eyes and sealed hearts. If we do, we end our life journey with very little gain to show for our efforts.
Sura inaendelea kuonyesha matukio ya ulimwengu yanayoamsha hamu yetu ya kuyatazama. Inaonyesha jinsi uhai wote, pamoja na aina zake nyingi, unavyotokana na chanzo kimoja, na una tabia ileile: "Na Mwenyezi Mungu amemuumba kila kiumbe hai kutokana na maji; miongoni mwao wapo wanaotambaa kwa matumbo yao, na wapo wanaotembea kwa miguu miwili, na wengine wanatembea kwa miguu minne. Mwenyezi Mungu huumba anachotaka. Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu." (Aya ya 45)
The sūrah continues to portray scenes of the universe arousing our interest in them. It shows how all life, with its rich variety, originates from the same source, and has the same nature: “God has created every animal from water; and among them are such as creep on their bellies, and such as walk on two legs, and others yet on four. God creates what He wills. Surely God has power over all things.” (Verse 45)
Hapa Qur'ani inaeleza kwa namna rahisi sana ukweli mkubwa unaothibitisha kwamba asili ya viumbe vyote ni maji. Hii inaweza kumaanisha kwamba maji ndiyo kiungo cha msingi cha viumbe hai wote. Pia inaweza kumaanisha kile ambacho wanasayansi wa zama hizi wamekuwa wakijaribu kuthibitisha, yaani kwamba uhai ulianzia baharini, hivyo maji ndiyo chanzo chake cha kwanza. Baadaye, spishi nyingi zilizaliwa.
Here the Qur’ān states in a very simple way a great fact that confirms that the origin of all creatures is water. This could mean that water is the basic component of all living species. It could also mean what contemporary scientists have been trying to prove, namely that life started in the sea, making water its first origin. Later, numerous species came into existence.
Hata hivyo, sisi hatupendi kuunganisha ukweli wowote uliotajwa katika Qur'ani na nadharia za kisayansi, kwa sababu nadharia kama hizo hukubali mabadiliko, marekebisho, au kufutwa. Kwa hiyo, tunachukua kauli hii kama ilivyo, tukithibitisha ukweli wake, ambao unadhihirisha kwamba Mungu ameumba viumbe vyote hai kutokana na maji. Hii ina maana kwamba, kwa kuwa vina asili moja, vinajionyesha, kama tunavyoona waziwazi kwa macho yetu, aina mbalimbali na tajiri: wanaotambaa hutambaa kwa matumbo yao, ilhali binadamu na ndege hutembea kwa miguu miwili, lakini wanyama wengi hutumia viungo vyao vyote vinne wanapotembea. Yote haya hutokea kulingana na sheria za maumbile ambazo Mungu ameziweka kufanya kazi. Hakuna chochote kinachotokea kwa bahati nasibu au kwa mkataa. "Mungu huumba anachotaka," bila kuzuiliwa na umbo au sura. Sheria zinazofanya kazi katika ulimwengu zimeanzishwa kwa mapenzi ya Mungu: "Hakika Mungu anaweza kila kitu." (Aya ya 45)
We, however, do not like to link any fact stated in the Qur’ān with scientific theory, because such theories admit change, modification, or abrogation. Hence, we take this statement at its face value, confirming its truth which makes clear that God has created all living things from water. This means that having the same origin, they present, as we clearly see with our eyes, a wide and rich variety: crawlers creep on their bellies, while man and birds walk on two legs, but most animals use all four limbs when they walk. All this takes place in accordance with the laws of nature God has set in operation. Nothing occurs by chance or coincidence. “God creates what He wills,” unrestricted by form or shape. The laws that operate in the universe have been established by God’s will: “Surely God has power over all things.” (Verse 45)
Pamoja na utofauti mkubwa tunaouona katika viumbe vyote, tunaonyeshwa safu isiyo na kikomo ya maumbo, ukubwa, rangi na sifa mbalimbali. Hata hivyo, vyote vinatokana na chanzo kimoja. Hili linadokeza kwamba yote haya yamekusudiwa hivyo, yakionyesha mpangilio wa kina uliopo katika ulimwengu kwa ujumla.
With the great variety that we see in all creatures, an almost endless range of shapes, sizes, colours and characteristics is set before us. Yet they all originate from the same source. This suggests that it is all intended as such, reflecting the elaborate planning in the universe at large.
Inaonyesha kuwa ni uongo dhana kwamba uhai ulianza kwa bahati tu. Ni bahati gani inayoweza kuzaa mipango kama hii au utofauti mkubwa kama huu? Yote ni kazi ya Mungu ambaye, kwa hekima yake, amempa kila kiumbe hai umbo lake na sura yake, na kukiongoza kwa yale yanayomfaa zaidi katika maisha haya.
It portrays as false the notion that life started by mere coincidence. What coincidence could give birth to such planning or such great variety? It is all the work of God who, in His wisdom, has given every living soul its shape and form and guided it to what suits it best in this life.