Sura hii inalenga kuthibitisha mada mbili kuu ambazo zinaenea katika maandishi yake yote. Pia inajumuisha marejeo kadhaa ya pili yanayohusiana na mada hizo kuu.

This surah seeks to establish two major themes which permeate its entire text. It also includes a number of secondary references which relate to those major themes.

Lengo la kwanza la sura hii ni kuthibitisha katika dhamiri ya kila Muislamu ukweli kwamba dini yake ni toleo la mwisho la mfumo wa kimungu ambao Mwenyezi Mungu ameuweka kwa ajili ya wanadamu. Zilikuwepo toleo za awali, kila moja likifaa kwa kipindi fulani cha historia ya binadamu. Pia zilikuwepo tajriba katika maisha ya mitume waliotangulia na jamii zilizopita ambazo zilitoa mengi ya kutafakari. Yote haya yameandaa njia kwa toleo hili la mwisho la dini moja ya kimungu. Linajumuisha ujumbe wa mwisho wa Mwenyezi Mungu kwa wanadamu, ambao Yeye ameamua kwamba utashinda dini nyingine zote.

The first aim of the surah is to establish in the conscience of every Muslim the fact that his religion is the final version of the divine system God has laid down for mankind. There were earlier versions, each suited for a particular period of human history. There were also experiences in the lives of earlier messengers and past communities that afforded much to reflect upon. All these have paved the way for this final version of the one divine faith. It incorporates Gods final message for mankind, which He has willed to prevail over all other religions.

Kwa hiyo, sura inataja ujumbe wa Musa, ikionyesha wazi kwamba watu wake walimsababishia huzuni kubwa na wakaacha ujumbe wake. Walikuwa wamepotea na hawakuwa tena wa kuwa wadhamini wa imani ya Mungu: "Musa alipowaambia watu wake, alisema: 'Enyi watu wangu! Mbona mnanisumbua, na hali mnajua kwamba mimi ni Mtume wa Mungu aliyekutumieni?' Basi walipoyapotoka mapito ya haki, Mungu aliyageuza mioyo yao mbali na ukweli."

Hence, the surah mentions Moses’ message, making it clear that his people caused him much grief and deviated from his message. They had gone astray and were no longer to be trustees of the divine faith: “Now when Moses spoke to his people, he said: ‘My people! Why do you cause me grief, when you know that I am a messenger God has sent to you? So, when they swerved from the right way, God let their hearts swerve from the truth.

Mungu hawaongoi watu madhalimu.” (Aya 5)

God does not bestow His guidance upon evildoers.” (Verse 5)

Sura hiyo kisha inataja ujumbe wa Isa ili kuthibitisha kwamba Isa alitumwa kuendeleza ujumbe wa Musa uliotangulia, akithibitisha yale yaliyoteremshwa kabla yake katika Taurati. Pia alipewa jukumu la kutayarisha njia kwa ujumbe wa mwisho, akitoa habari za Mtume ambaye angeubeba, na kuwa kiungo kati ya dini ya kwanza na dini ya mwisho za Mwenyezi Mungu. "Na pia Isa, mwana wa Maryam, alisema: Enyi Wana wa Israili! Mimi ni Mtume wa Mwenyezi Mungu kwenu, [nimetumwa] kuthibitisha Taurati iliyoteremshwa kabla yangu, na kutoa habari za Mtume atakayekuja baada yangu, ambaye jina lake litakuwa Ahmad" (Aya ya 6). Kwa hiyo, jukumu lake lilikuwa kubeba amana ya imani ya kimungu baada ya Musa, kisha kuikabidhi kwa Mtume ambaye ujio wake alitangaza.

The surah then mentions Jesus’ message to establish that Jesus was sent to carry on Moses’ earlier message, confirming what was revealed before him of the Torah. He was also given the task of paving the way for the final message, giving news of the Messenger who was to carry it, and serving as a link between the first and the last divine religions. “And also Jesus, the son of Mary, said: Children of Israel! I am God's messenger to you, [sent] to confirm the Torah revealed before me, and to give news of a messenger that will come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad " (Verse 6) Hence, his task was to carry the trust of the divine faith after Moses and then to give it to the Messenger whose coming he announced.

Daima ilikuwa imethibitishwa, kwa mujibu wa ujuzi wa Mungu na kwa mapenzi yake, kwamba hatua hizi hatimaye zingeelekea kwenye toleo la mwisho na la kudumu la kuimarisha imani ya Mungu katika maisha ya binadamu, na hili kupitia Mjumbe wa mwisho: "Yeye ndiye aliyemtuma Mjumbe wake kwa mwongozo na dini ya haki, ili aifanye ishinde dini zote nyingine, ingawa hilo litawachukiza washirikina." (Aya ya 9)

It was always confirmed, according to God’s knowledge and by His will, that these steps would eventually lead to a final and permanent version to establish God’s faith in human life, and this by the final Messenger: “Zr is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, so that He may cause it to prevail over all other religions, however hateful this may be to the idolaters." (Verse 9)

Lengo hili la kwanza lililo wazi la sura linazaa lengo lake la pili.

This first clear purpose of the surah gives rise to its second purpose.

Wakati Mwislamu anapofahamu kikamilifu ukweli huu, anapojua historia ya dini ya Mungu na anapofahamu sehemu yake katika dini hiyo, anatambua majukumu ambayo amana hii inahusisha. Kwa hiyo, anakuwa na nia wazi na ya dhati ya kujitahidi ili dini hii itawale juu ya dini nyingine zote, kama Mungu anavyotaka ifanye hivyo. Hakuna tena kusitasita katika kutekeleza kwa vitendo kile ambacho mtu ameahidi kwa maneno kwamba atakifanya. Haifai kwa muumini kutangaza nia ya kujitahidi kwa ajili ya sababu ya Mungu, kisha akajizuia kufanya hivyo. Kwa mujibu wa baadhi ya riwaya, inaonekana kwamba kulikuwa na visa vya aina hii. Ndiyo maana sura inaanza kwa tangazo kwamba ulimwengu wote na kila kilichomo ndani yake wanamtakasa Mungu bila kukoma.

When a Muslim is fully aware of this fact, knows the history of the divine faith and is aware of his share of it, he realizes the duties that this trust involves. Hence, he has a clear and sincere motive for striving to ensure that this faith prevails over all other religions, just as God wants it to do. There is no longer any vacillation in practically carrying out what one verbally has proposed to do. It is inappropriate for a believer to declare his intention to strive for God’s cause but then to refrain from doing so. According to some reports, it appears that there were some cases of this sort. Hence, the surah starts with a proclamation that the entire universe and all that is in it unceasingly glorify God.

"Enyi mlioamini! Kwa nini mnasema yale msiyoyatenda? Ni chukizo kubwa mbele ya Mwenyezi Mungu kwamba mseme yale msiyoyatenda! Hakika Mwenyezi Mungu huwapenda wale wanaopigana katika njia yake kwa safu imara, kana kwamba ni jengo lililoshikamana vizuri" (Aya 2—4)

“Believers! Why do you say what you do not do? Most loathsome is it in the sight of God that you say what you do not do! God loves indeed those who fight in His cause in solid ranks, as though they were a firm and compact building" (Verses 2—4)

Katikati ya sura, waumini wanaitwa kushiriki katika biashara yenye faida kubwa zaidi wanayoweza kuwa nayo katika maisha haya na maisha ya Akhera: "Enyi mlioamini! Je, niwaonyesheni biashara itakayowaokoa na adhabu iliyo chungu? Mtamwamini Mwenyezi Mungu na Mtume Wake, na mpiganie dini ya Mwenyezi Mungu kwa mali zenu na nafsi zenu. Hilo ni bora kwenu, ikiwa mnajua. Atakusameheni dhambi zenu na atakuingizeni katika mabustani yanayopita mito chini yake, na katika makao mazuri katika mabustani ya Edeni. Huko ndiko kufuzu kukubwa! Na (Atakupeni) jambo jingine mnalolipenda: msaada kutoka kwa Mwenyezi Mungu na ushindi wa karibu. Wape habari njema waumini."

In the middle of the surah, the believers are called upon to take part in the most profitable transaction that they could have in this life and in the life to come: “ Believers! Shall i point out to you a bargain that will save you from grievous suffering? You are to believe in God and His Messenger, and to strive hard in God's cause with your possessions and your lives. This is for your own good, if you but knew it. He will forgive you your sins, and [in the life to come] will admit you into gardens through which running waters flow, and into goodly mansions in the gardens of Eden. That is the supreme triumph! And [He will grant you]yet another thing that you dearly love: help from God and a victory soon to come. Give you the good news to the believers.” (Verses 10-13)

Sura hii inamalizika kwa wito kwa waumini wawe wasaidizi katika kueneza dini ya Mungu, kama vile wanafunzi wa Yesu walivyomsaidia alipokataliwa na Wana wa Israeli waliendelea kukataa ujumbe wake na kumfanyia uadui: "Enyi mliomwamini! Kuweni wasaidizi wa Mungu; kama vile Yesu, mwana wa Mariamu, alivyowaambia wanafunzi: 'Ni nani watakaokuwa wasaidizi wangu katika njia ya Mungu?' Wanafunzi wakasema: 'Sisi ndio tutakuwa wasaidizi wa Mungu.' Basi baadhi ya Wana wa Israeli wakaamini, na wengine wakakataa ukweli. Lakini Sisi tuliwapa nguvu wale walioamini dhidi ya adui yao, nao wakawa ndio washindi." (Aya ya 14)

The surah ends with an appeal to the believers to be the helpers in furthering Gods cause, just like Jesus’ disciples who supported him when the Israelites continued to deny his message and were hostile towards him: “Believers! Be helpers [in the cause] of God; just as Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples: “Who will be my helpers in God's cause?" The disciples said: “We shall be [your] helpers in God's cause. "And so some of the Children of Israel came to believe whereas others denied the truth. But We have given those who believed strength over their enemy and they were the ones to prevail." (Verse 14)

Malengo haya mawili yako wazi sana katika sura yote, yakichukua karibu maandishi yake yote. Kinachobaki ni kukemea wale wanaokataa ujumbe wa mwisho, jambo ambalo limeunganishwa wazi na mada hizo mbili kuu. Tunaliona hili likielezwa waziwazi baada ya Isa kutoa habari ya kukaribia kwa kuja kwa Mjumbe wa mwisho, Nabii Muhammad ﷺ.

These two purposes are very clear throughout the surah, taking up nearly all of its text. There only remains a denunciation of those who reject the final message, which is clearly linked to the two main themes. We see this clearly stated after Jesus gave the news of the impending appearance of the final Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

"Lakini alipowajia na dalili zote za ukweli, walisema: 'Hii ni uchawi wa wazi.' Nani aliye dhalimu zaidi kuliko yule anayezua uongo juu ya Mwenyezi Mungu, wakati anaitwa ili asilimu kwake? Mwenyezi Mungu hawaongoi watu madhalimu. Wanataka kuzima nuru ya Mwenyezi Mungu kwa vinywa vyao, lakini Mwenyezi Mungu ataikamilisha nuru Yake, ijapokuwa wakafiri wanachukia."

“But when he came to them with all evidence of the truth, they said: 'This is plain sorcery.' Who could be more wicked than one who invents a falsehood about God, when he is only being called upon to submit to Him? God does not bestow His guidance upon the wrongdoers. They aim to extinguish God's light with their mouths, but God will spread His light in all its fullness, however hateful this may be to the unbelievers."(Verses 6-8)

Hivyo, kila Mwislamu anafahamu wazi moyoni mwake kwamba imani yake ndiyo toleo la mwisho la dini ambalo Mungu anataka lianzishwe duniani. Anatambua kwamba amana ya imani hii ya kiungu imekabidhiwa kwake, na anajua kwamba anatakiwa kujitahidi kwa ajili ya kazi ya Mungu kama Mungu anavyotaka. Njia yake iko wazi, bila nafasi ya utata, kusita au kuyumba. Lengo limebainishwa vizuri, na njia ya kulifikia imeelezwa wazi.

Thus, every Muslim is clear in his mind that his faith is the final version of the religion God wants to be established on earth. He realizes that the trust of this divine faith is given to him, and he knows that he is required to strive for God’s cause as God wants. His line is clear, leaving no room for ambiguity, hesitation or faltering. The goal is well defined and the way to achieve it is made clear.

Kwa mwongozo huu wa kubainisha lengo pia tunapata viashiria wazi kuhusu asili ya kanuni ya maadili ambayo Mwislamu lazima afuate. Mwislamu lazima aonyeshe uthabiti kati ya dhamiri yake na matendo yake. Hawezi kusema jambo moja kisha kufanya jingine. Mwonekano wake hauna budi kutofautiana kimsingi na kile anachokificha ndani yake. Lazima awe thabiti katika hali zote, mwenye kujitolea katika kumtumikia Mungu na kutetea dini yake, wazi katika nia yake na katika matendo yake, akitembea kwa hatua thabiti, akishirikiana na ndugu zake ili jamii ya Waislamu ionekane imara na thabiti kama jengo lenye msingi imara.

With this goal-defining directive we also have clear pointers to the nature of the moral code a Muslim must follow. A Muslim must demonstrate consistency between his conscience and his action. He cannot say one thing and then do another. His appearance must not fundamentally differ from what he conceals within himself. He must be consistent in all situations, dedicated in his service to Gods cause, clear in both his intention and action, moving with steady steps, collaborating with his brothers so that the Muslim community is seen to be solid and firm like a building with strong foundations.