Sehemu hii ya sura inafuata mwelekeo wake mkuu, ikiangalia upeo mpana wa ulimwengu ambao maisha na matukio ya watu yanahusiana nao. Ni katika upeo huu mkubwa ndipo tunapoona jinsi sheria zinazotawala maisha na ulimwengu zinavyofanya kazi kwa upatano na sheria za dini ya kweli, bila mgongano wala kupingana.

This section of the sūrah follows its main line, looking at the universal expanse to which people’s lives and events are related. It is in this great expanse that we see how the laws governing life and the universe operate in harmony with the laws of the true faith, suffering no conflict or contradiction.

Sehemu hii inaonyesha jinsi matamanio ya binadamu mara nyingi yanavyobadilika, huku sheria na kanuni za Mwenyezi Mungu zikibaki thabiti. Inaonyesha jinsi imani potofu za kuabudu masanamu zilivyo dhaifu ikilinganishwa na nguvu ya imani ya kweli. Inaeleza mitazamo ya watu wakati wa neema na wakati wa shida, wakati riziki ni nyingi na wakati ni chache. Isipokuwa watu wakitegemea kipimo cha Mwenyezi Mungu, ambacho hakibadiliki kamwe, na isipokuwa wakikubali mapenzi ya Mwenyezi Mungu anayetoa anavyotaka, kwa wingi au kwa uchache, maadili na viwango vyao vitabaki visivyo imara. Kwa kuwa sura inataja utoaji wa riziki, inawaelekeza kwenye njia inayosafisha mali na kuifanya izidi, ambayo inaendana na imani ya kweli. Kwa njia hii, inawafafanulia ni nani Muumba anayetoa riziki, anayeanzisha uhai na kusababisha kifo. Miungu ya uongo wanayodai kuwa washirika wa Mwenyezi Mungu haifanyi chochote cha namna hiyo. Inawatahadharisha juu ya uharibifu ambao kuabudu masanamu na imani potofu zinaueneza kila mahali.

This section draws an image of how human desires frequently change while God’s rules and laws remain constant. It shows how flimsy idolatrous beliefs are compared with the power of true faith. It describes people’s attitudes in times of ease and hardship, when provisions are plentiful and stinted. Unless people rely on God’s measure, which never fluctuates, and unless they accept God’s will who gives as He pleases, in plenty or in small measure, their values and standards will remain unstable. Since it mentions the provision of sustenance, the sūrah directs them to the means that purifies money and makes it grow, which is in line with true faith. In this way, it makes clear to them who the Creator that gives sustenance, initiates life and causes death is. The false deities they allege to be God’s partners do nothing of the kind. It alerts them to the corruption that idolatry and false beliefs spread everywhere.

Sura hii inawaelekeza Mtume na Waislamu wabaki thabiti katika kufuata dini ya kweli kabla ya kufika siku ambapo hakuna tendo lolote litakalokuwa na manufaa. Ni siku ambayo kila kitu ambacho watu wamekifanya kitahesabiwa, na ambayo watapokea malipo yao ya haki kwa yote hayo. Ndani ya muktadha wa kile ambacho Mungu hutoa, sura hii inaelekeza fikira zao kwenye baadhi ya vipengele vya riziki kama hizo, baadhi yake vikihusiana na uhai wao, kama vile mvua inayoteremka kutoka mbinguni, ikiipa uhai ardhi baada ya kuwa imekufa. Vivyo hivyo, ufunuo wa Mungu unashushwa kwa Mtume ﷺ ili kuhuisha nyoyo na roho. Hata hivyo, wao hawasikilizi wala hawafuati uongofu. Sura hii pia inatupeleka katika safari ya kuzunguka ambamo tunatazama hatua za uumbaji wa binadamu na maisha yao hadi wanaporejea kwa Mola wao.

Wanadamu wanapopatwa na madhara huwaomba Mola wao msaada, wakimgeukia kwa toba. Lakini Anapowaonjesha rehema Yake, baadhi yao humshirikisha Mola wao, kana kwamba wanaonyesha kutokushukuru kwa yale Tuliyowapa. Basi furahieni maisha yenu; hivi karibuni mtajua [ukweli]. {Je, Tumewahi kuwateremshia hoja yoyote inayothibitisha yale wanayomshirikisha nayo Mungu?} Wanadamu wanapowaonjesha rehema, hufurahi kwayo; lakini ikiwapata balaa kutokana na yale mikono yao wenyewe iliyoyatenda, hukata tamaa kabisa.

When harm touches people they call out to their Lord for help, turning to Him in repentance. But when He gives them a taste of His grace, some of them associate partners with their Lord, [as if] to show their ingratitude for what We have given them. Enjoy, then, your life [as you may]; before long you will come to know [the truth]. Have We ever sent down to them a warrant to confirm what they associate as partners with God? When We give people a taste of grace, they rejoice in it; but if evil befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, they lose all hope.

Je, hawajui kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu humpa riziki kwa wingi au kwa kiasi kidogo amtakaye? Hakika katika hilo mna dalili wazi kwa watu wenye kuamini.

Are they not aware that God gives in abundance, or in scant measure, to whom He wills? In this there are clear signs indeed for people who believe. (Verses 33-37)

Aya hizi zinachora picha ya nafsi ya mwanadamu isiyotegemea misingi thabiti, wala kufuata mistari iliyo wazi. Hivyo nafsi hiyo huyumbishwa kati ya mwitikio wa ghafla, kulingana na athari na matukio yanayopingana. Kwa hiyo, dhara linapowagusa watu hao, huelekea kwa Mungu, wakitambua kwamba Yeye pekee ndiye anayeweza kuwaokoa. Lakini dhiki inapomalizika, na mambo yakawa shwari tena, Mungu akiwaneemesha kwa fadhila Yake, "baadhi yao humshirikisha Mola wao." (Aya ya 33) Hawa ndio ambao hawafuati imani ya kweli, wala hawanufaiki na nuru inayoitoa kwa Waumini. Raha na starehe huondoa dharura iliyowafanya wamgeukie Mungu kwa msaada na ulinzi. Wanasahau dhiki waliyoipitia awali. Hivyo, badala ya kushikamana na njia ya kumgeukia Mungu na kumshukuru, wanaikataa mwongozo Wake na neema aliyowapa.

These verses draw a picture of the human soul that does not rely on solid concepts, or follow clear lines. It thus vacillates between sudden reactions, in response to conflicting influences or events. Thus, when harm touches such people, they turn to God, realizing that only He can save them. Yet when the affliction is over, and things are comfortable again, with God bestowing His grace on them, “some of them associate partners with their Lord.” (Verse 33) These are they who do not follow true faith and who do not benefit from the light it gives to the faithful. Ease and comfort remove the emergency that made them turn to God for support and protection. They forget their earlier hardship. Thus, rather than maintain the path of turning to God and of being grateful to Him, they disbelieve in His guidance and the grace He has bestowed on them.

Sura hiyo kisha inajadili suala la ushirikina kwa mtazamo wa kutoa riziki na kutafuta maisha, na jinsi hili linavyoathiri maisha yao kama lilivyoathiri maisha ya vizazi vilivyotangulia. Pia inaonyesha mwisho wa jamii za zamani na magofu yanayosimama kama ushahidi wa miisho hiyo:

The sūrah then discusses the issue of polytheism from the viewpoint of providing sustenance and earning a living, and how this affects their lives as it affected the lives of generations before them. It also shows the end of earlier communities and the ruins standing witness to such ends:

Ni Mungu aliyekuumba, kisha akakupa riziki, kisha atakufisha, kisha atakufufua tena. Je, kuna yeyote miongoni mwa wale mnaowashirikisha naye anayeweza kufanya chochote katika haya? Utukufu ni wake Mungu, na yuko mbali sana kutokana na kile wanachomsingizia kuwa washirika wake. Ufisadi umeenea katika nchi kavu na baharini kutokana na yale mikono ya watu iliyoyatenda; hivyo basi Yeye huwaonjesha baadhi ya matokeo ya matendo yao, ili wapate kurejea. Sema: 'Zungukeni duniani mtazame mwisho wa wale waliokuwa kabla yenu. Wengi wao walikuwa wakimshirikisha Mungu.' (Aya 40-42)

It is God who has created you, and then has provided you with sustenance, and then will cause you to die, and then will bring you to life again. Can any of those whom you associate as partners with Him do any of these things? Limitless is God in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything which people may allege to be partners with Him. Corruption has become rife on land and sea in consequence of what people’s hands have wrought; and so He will let them taste the consequences of some of their doings, so that they might mend their ways. Say: ‘Travel around the world and see what was the fate of those who lived before you. Most of them did associate partners with God.’ (Verses 40-42)

Sūra hiyo inawaweka mbele yao hali halisi za maisha yao ambazo hawawezi kuzipinga, kwamba ni kazi ya Mungu mwenyewe, na ambazo hawawezi kudai sehemu yoyote kwa miungu yao wanayodai. Inawaambia kwamba ni Mungu aliyewaumba, anayewapa riziki, anayewasababishia kufa, kisha anawarudisha uhai. Wao wanakiri ukweli kwamba ni Mungu anayewaumba. Kuhusu riziki, hawawezi kudai kwamba miungu yao inayodaiwa ndiyo inawapa chochote katika hayo. Hawana hoja dhidi ya yale ambayo Qur’ān inasema kuhusu kusababisha kufa. Ni swali la ufufuo ndilo wanalolipinga. Sūra inalijumuisha hili pamoja na ukweli mwingine wanaouafiki, ili ufufuo uthibitike katika dhamiri zao. Mbinu inayotumika katika mwito huu wa Qur’ān ni yenye athari ya kipekee. Inasema moja kwa moja na maumbile yao, ikipita kando ya mawazo yote potofu. Maumbile ya binadamu hayawezi kukanusha ukweli wa ufufuo.

The sūrah puts before them the realities of their lives which they cannot dispute to be of God’s own making and in which they cannot claim a share for their alleged deities. It tells them that it is God who has brought them into existence, provides them with sustenance, causes them to die, and then brings them back to life. They acknowledge the fact that it is God who creates them. As for sustenance, they cannot claim that their alleged deities provide them with any of it. They have no argument against what the Qur’ān states about causing death. It is the question of resurrection that they dispute. The sūrah includes this with other acknowledged realities so that resurrection becomes established in their consciences. The method employed in this Qur’ānic address is uniquely effective. It speaks directly to their nature, sidestepping all deviant thinking. Human nature cannot deny the fact of resurrection.

Sura hii inaanza mzunguko mpya unaoonyesha baadhi ya ishara za Mungu na jinsi zinavyoakisi neema Yake Yeye anapowapa riziki na uongofu. Wao wanatambua sehemu tu za haya, wakikataa nyingine. Hata hivyo, hawamshukuru wala kufuata uongofu Wake:

The sūrah begins a new round showing some of God’s signs and how they reflect His grace as He provides them with sustenance and guidance. They recognize only parts of this, denying others. Nevertheless, they do not give thanks or follow His guidance:

Na miongoni mwa ishara Zake ni kwamba Yeye huzipeleka pepo zinazobeba habari njema, ili akuonjesheni rehema Zake, na ili merikebu zipite kwa amri Yake; na ili mtafute fadhila Zake, na ili mpate kushukuru. {Hakika tulikwisha wapelekea Mitume kabla yako kwa kaumu zao, nao wakawaletea hoja zilizo wazi. Basi tuliwalipiza kisasi wale waliofanya uovu. Na ni haki juu Yetu kuwasaidia Waumini.} Ni Mwenyezi Mungu anayezipeleka pepo ili ziinue mawingu, kisha Yeye huyaeneza angani apendavyo, na huyavunja vipande vipande ili uone mvua ikitoka ndani yake. Mvua inapomfikia yeyote amtakaye miongoni mwa waja Wake, mara wao hufurahi, ingawa kabla ya kuteremshiwa mvua hiyo, walikuwa wamekata tamaa kabisa. Basi angalieni athari za rehema ya Mwenyezi Mungu.

And among His signs is that He sends forth the winds bearing good news, so that He might give you a taste of His grace, and that ships might sail at His bidding; so that you might go about in quest of some of His bounty, and that you might have cause to be grateful. We have certainly sent before you messengers to their own peoples, and they brought them clear evidence of the truth. Therefore, We inflicted punishment upon those who deliberately did evil. It is incumbent upon Us to give support to the believers. It is God who sends forth the winds so that they raise clouds, whereupon He spreads them as He wills across the skies, and causes them to break up so that you can see the rain issuing from within it. As soon as He causes it to fall upon whomever He wills of His servants, they rejoice, even though a short while ago, before it was sent down upon them, they had abandoned all hope. Behold, then, the effects of God’s grace:

Jinsi Yeye anavyoufufua ardhi baada ya kuwa imekufa! Hakika ni Yeye anayeweza kuwafufua wafu; kwa kuwa Yeye ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu. (Aya 46-50)

how He gives life to the earth after it had been lifeless! It is indeed He, the One who can bring the dead back to life; for He has power over all things. (Verses 46-50)

Ishara za Mungu hapa ni pamoja na upepo kama wabebaji wa habari njema, kutuma wajumbe wenye dalili wazi, kuwapa msaada waumini, kuteremsha mvua inayohuisha ardhi iliyokufa na kuwarudisha wafu uhai. Mchanganyiko huu una umuhimu mkubwa. Haya yote ni sehemu za rehema na neema ya Mungu, na yote ni sehemu ya sheria alizoziweka Mungu zifanye kazi. Hakika kuna uhusiano wa karibu kati ya mfumo wa ulimwengu, ujumbe wa uongofu wa kimungu unaohubiriwa na wajumbe wa Mungu, na ushindi unaotolewa kwa waumini. Yote haya ni miongoni mwa ishara za Mungu, na sehemu za neema yake. Ni muhimu kwa maisha ya binadamu, na yanahusiana kwa karibu na mfumo wa ulimwengu.

Hivyo ndivyo sura hii inavyoeleza kubadilika-badilika kwa matamanio ya watu, kutoweza kwao kunufaika na ishara za Mwenyezi Mungu wanazoziona katika ulimwengu unaowazunguka, na kushindwa kwao kutambua hekima ya Mwenyezi Mungu nyuma ya matukio ya maisha. Kisha inamgeukia Mtume ﷺ kumfariji kwa kutoweza kuwashawishi wengi wao wafuate uongozi wa Mungu. Inamwambia kwamba hili linatokana na asili yao na upofu wao, ambao yeye hawezi kamwe kuutibu.

Thus the sūrah describes the fluctuation of people’s desires, their inability to benefit by God’s signs that they see in the universe around them, and their failure to recognize God’s wisdom behind life’s events. It then addresses the Prophet consoling him for not being able to persuade many of them to follow divine guidance. It tells him that this is due to their nature and blindness, which he can never cure.

Hakika wewe huwezi kuwafanya wafu wasikie; wala huwezi kuwafanya viziwi wasikie mwito wako wanapogeuka migongo na kuondoka. Wala huwezi kuwaongoza vipofu watoke katika upotevu wao.

Indeed you cannot make the dead hear; and you cannot make the deaf hear your call when they turn their backs and go away. Nor can you lead the blind out of their error.

Unaweza tu kuwafanya wasikie wale wanaoziamini ishara Zetu; nao ndio watakaojisalimisha [kwa Mwenyezi Mungu].

You can only get those who believe in Our signs to listen; and they will then submit themselves [to God]. (Verses 52-53)

Sura hiyo inaonyesha kwamba wao ni wasio na uhai, viziwi na vipofu, wasio na mwendo, usikivu wala uoni. Wamejitenga na ulimwengu unaowazunguka, na kwa sababu hiyo hawawezi kuelewa sheria za ulimwengu zinazouathiri. Kwa hiyo, wana maisha ya mnyama tu, au hata pungufu zaidi. Mnyama huongozwa na maumbile yake, nayo mara chache huyakosa. Kinyume chake, mtu asiyeitikia ufunuo wa Mungu licha ya athari yake kubwa juu ya nyoyo na akili, ni kiziwi ingawa anaweza kuwa na masikio yanayosikia.

The sūrah shows them to be lifeless, deaf and blind, devoid of motion, hearing and sight. They have isolated themselves from the world around them and thus they are unable to understand the universal laws affecting it. Hence, they have no more than an animal life, or even less. An animal is guided by its nature, which rarely lets it down. By contrast, a person who does not respond to God’s revelations despite its powerful effect on hearts and minds is deaf even though he may have ears that hear.

Vile vile, yule ambaye haoni ishara za Mungu zilizowekwa kila mahali duniani kote karibu naye ni kipofu, ingawa anaweza kuwa na macho yanayofanya kazi.

Similarly, the one who does not see God’s signs placed everywhere in the world around him is blind, even though he may have functioning eyes.

Sūrah hiyo kisha inaeleza jinsi makafiri wanavyoendelea katika njia zao, baada ya kueleza hatima ya kutokuamini kwa ukaidi huo.

The sūrah then describes how the unbelievers persist in their ways, after having explained the fate of such persistent unbelief:

Tumewapigia watu katika Qur'ani hii kila aina ya mifano. Lakini mkiwaletea ishara yoyote, wale waliokufuru watasema: "Nyinyi si chochote isipokuwa mnazusha uongo tu." Hivyo ndivyo Mwenyezi Mungu anavyotia muhuri juu ya nyoyo za wale wasiotaka kujua [ukweli]. (Aya 58-59)

We have set for people in this Qur’ān all sorts of illustrations. Yet if you present them with any sign, the unbelievers will say: you are but making false claims.’ Thus does God seal the hearts of those who do not want to know [the truth]. (Verses 58-59)

Kuna pengo kubwa la wakati na mahali hapa, lakini katika sura inasikika kana kwamba iko karibu sana; kwa hakika wakati na mahali vimerudishwa nyuma. Watu wanakumbushwa tena yale ambayo Qur’āni inatoa kwa njia ya mifano, namna za kuzungumza, miguso ya hila iliyokusudiwa kuamsha akili na nyoyo, na picha zenye kutia moyo. Wanaisikiliza inapozungumza na kila akili na kila moyo katika kila mazingira ya kijamii, na inaizungumzia nafsi ya binadamu katika hali zake zote. Hata hivyo, wanaendelea kukataa kila ishara. Wala hawaishii hapo, bali huwatukana wenye elimu ya kweli kwa kuwaeleza kuwa wanatoa madai ya uongo: “Lakini mkiwaletea ishara yoyote, wale wasioamini watasema:

There is a wide gap here in time and place, but it sounds in the sūrah as if it is ever so near; indeed both time and place have been rolled back. People are again reminded of what the Qur’ān provides by way of illustrations, modes of address, fine touches meant to alert minds and hearts, and inspiring images. They listen to it as it addresses every mind and heart in every social environment and speaks to the human soul in all its moods. Yet they continue to deny every sign. Nor do they stop at this, but rather insult those endowed with true knowledge describing them as making false assertions: “Yet if you present them with any sign, the unbelievers will say:

...ni wa kusema uongo." (Aya ya 58) Sura inatoa maoni juu ya ukafiri wao, ikisema: "Hivyo ndivyo Mwenyezi Mungu anavyozifunga nyoyo za wale wasiotaka kujua [ukweli]." (Aya ya 59) Ni kwa njia hii na kwa sababu hii ndipo Mwenyezi Mungu anazifunga nyoyo zao. Kwa hakika ni vipofu, wasioweza kuona ishara za Mwenyezi Mungu, wenye kiburi katika ukafiri wao, wasiotaka kutafakari. Kwa hiyo, wanastahili Mwenyezi Mungu kuzifunga macho yao na nyoyo zao.

you are but making false claims.” (Verse 58) The sūrah comments on their disbelief, saying: “Thus does God seal the hearts of those who do not want to know [the truth].” (Verse 59) It is in this way and for this reason that God seals their hearts. They are indeed blind, unable to see God’s signs, arrogant in their disbelief, unwilling to reflect. Hence, they deserve that God should seal their sight and their hearts.