Sura hii imetupa simulizi ya Musa na Firauni, na mwisho wa mwisho wa Firauni. Inawapa tumaini waumini wanaoteswa duniani, kama vile kundi dogo la Waislamu huko Makka wakati huo. Simulizi hii pia inaonyesha maangamizi ya madhalimu wenye kiburi ambao mwenendo wao kimsingi ulifanana na ule wa washirikina wa Makka.
The sūrah has given us an account of Moses and Pharaoh and the latter’s ultimate end. It gives hope to the believers suffering persecution in the world, as were the small group of Muslims in Makkah at the time. The story also portrays the destruction of arrogant tyrants whose attitude was basically similar to that of the idolaters in Makkah.
Sura sasa inaendelea kusimulia habari ya Ibrahimu na watu wake. Mtume ﷺ anaamrishwa kuwasimulia washirikina habari hii. Kwani walidai kuwa ni walinzi wa urithi wa Ibrahimu kwa kadiri walivyofuata imani yake ya zamani, ingawa walimwabudu miungu mingi. Zaidi ya hayo, walienda mbali zaidi kwa kuweka sanamu katika Msikiti Mtukufu uliojengwa na Ibrahimu, ambao ulikuwa kitovu cha wafuasi wa imani safi inayotegemea umoja wa Mungu. Mtume ﷺ anatakiwa kuwaambia habari ya Ibrahimu ili wajue kama madai yao ni ya kweli au si ya kweli.
The sūrah now moves on to tell us about Abraham and his people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) is ordered to relate this story to the unbelievers. For they claimed to be the custodians of Abraham’s heritage in so far as they followed his old faith, even though they addressed their worship to multiple deities. Indeed, they went even further, placing idols in the Sacred Mosque built by Abraham as a focus for the followers of the pure faith based on God’s oneness. The Prophet is required to tell them Abraham’s story so that they know whether their claims are right or not.
Katika Sura hii, simulizi za kihistoria hazitolewi kwa mpangilio wa matukio kwa kuwa lengo lake ni kuonyesha mafunzo yanayopatikana kutokana na simulizi hizi. Katika Sura ya 7, Al-A'raf, kinyume chake, mstari wa kihistoria wa jinsi mamlaka ilivyochukuliwa na watu tofauti, pamoja na mfululizo wa Mitume wa Mungu tangu Adam, ulikuwa mambo muhimu ya kusisitiza. Kwa hiyo, simulizi za Mitume waliotangulia zilifuata mpangilio mkali wa matukio, kuanzia kuanguka kwa mwanadamu kutoka mbinguni ili kuanza maisha ya binadamu duniani.
In this Sūrah, historical accounts are not given in their chronological order, because it is only concerned with the lessons to be derived from these accounts. In Sūrah 7, The Heights, conversely, the historical line of how power was assumed by different peoples and the succession of God’s messengers since Adam were important points to stress. Hence, the accounts of earlier prophets there followed a strict chronological order, starting with man’s fall from heaven to begin human life on earth.
Sehemu ya hadithi ya Ibrahimu katika sura hii inalenga zaidi ujumbe aliowafikishia watu wake, mjadala aliokuwa nao nao, kukemea kwake miungu yao inayodaiwa, kuelekeza ibada yote kwa Mungu peke yake, na kuwakumbusha Siku ya Hukumu. Hili linafuatiwa na tukio kamili kutoka Siku ya Hukumu, wakati washirikina watakapokataa miungu ile ile waliyokuwa wakiiabudu, na kujutia matendo yao ya zamani ambayo kwa hakika yatawapelekea kwenye mwisho mbaya. Yote haya yanaonyeshwa kana kwamba tayari yanatokea sasa. Funzo la hadithi hii hapa linawalenga zaidi washirikina. Kwa hiyo, sura inazungumzia kwa urefu misingi ya imani ya tauhidi, upotovu wa ushirikina, na hatima ya washirikina. Mambo mengine yote yanagusiwa kwa ufupi tu, ingawa yamefafanuliwa kwa kina katika sura nyingine.
The episode in Abraham’s story given in this sūrah concentrates on the message he delivered to his people, the debate he had with them, his denunciation of their alleged deities, addressing all worship to God alone and his reminder of the Day of Judgement. This is followed by a complete scene from the Day of Judgement when idolaters will deny those very deities they used to worship, and regret their past actions that are certain to land them with a terrible end. It is all shown as if it is already happening now. The lesson the story delivers here is aimed primarily at the idolaters. Hence, the sūrah speaks at length on the basics of the monotheistic faith, the fallacy of polytheism, and the destiny of idolaters. All other aspects are only briefly hinted at, while they are nonetheless detailed in other sūrahs.
Vipindi vingine katika maisha ya Ibrahimu vimetajwa katika Surah 2, 6, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21 na 22. Katika kila moja, kipindi kilichochaguliwa ni kile kinachofaa zaidi kwa mada kuu ya surah hiyo.
Other episodes in Abraham’s life were given in Sūrahs 2, 6, 11, 14, 15, 19, 21 and 22. In each, the episode chosen is the one most suited to the main theme of the sūrah.
Katika Sūrah 2, Al-Baqarah (Ng'ombe), kwa mfano, tunasoma kisa cha yeye kujenga Al-Ka`bah, pamoja na mwanawe, Ismail. Anaonyeshwa akimwomba Mungu auweke Makkah, Mji Mtakatifu, salama. Pia anaonyeshwa akitangaza kwamba Waislamu ndio warithi halisi wa Al-Ka`bah na mjenzi wake, kwa kuwa wao ndio watakaofuata imani yake inayotokana na umoja wa Mungu. Huu si urithi unaotegemea damu na ukoo. Ukweli huu unatolewa ndani ya muktadha wa uasi na ukanushaji wa Waisraeli na kufukuzwa kwao na Mungu, aliyempa Ibrahim urithi wake na Nyumba aliyoijenga Waislamu.
In Sūrah 2, The Cow, for example, we read the episode of his building the Ka`bah, together with his son, Ishmael. He is shown praying to God to make Makkah, the Sacred City, secure. He is also shown declaring that the Muslims will be the true heirs of the Ka`bah and its builder, as they will be the ones who will follow his faith based on God’s oneness. This is not an inheritance based on blood and ancestry. This fact is given within the context of the Israelites’ disobedience and denials and their expulsion by God who gave Abraham’s heritage and the House he built to the Muslims.
Katika sura hiyo hiyo tunapata mazungumzo ya Ibrahimu na mfalme kafiri, ambapo Ibrahimu alisisitiza uwezo wa Mwenyezi Mungu, akimwambia mfalme kwamba ni Mwenyezi Mungu peke yake anayetoa uhai na kifo, na kwamba ni Yeye anayeifanya jua lichomoze upande wa Mashariki. Akamtolea changamoto amfanye lichomoze upande wa Magharibi, na hivyo kumaliza mjadala wote. Pia katika sura hii Ibrahimu anaonekana akimwomba Mwenyezi Mungu amwonyeshe jinsi Anavyowafufua wafu. Mwenyezi Mungu akamwamuru achinje ndege wanne na kuweka sehemu za kila mmoja juu ya milima tofauti. Kisha Mwenyezi Mungu akawafufua, nao wakamrudia Ibrahimu wakiruka. Yote haya yametolewa katika muktadha unaolenga uwezo wa Mwenyezi Mungu, ishara alizoziweka katika ulimwengu, na uwezo Wake wa kuwafufua wafu.
In the same sūrah we have Abraham’s debate with the unbeliever king when Abraham stressed God’s power telling the king that God alone causes life and death, and that it is He who causes the sun to rise in the East. He challenged the king to make it rise in the West, thus ending all argument. Abraham is also shown in this sūrah praying to God to let him see how He brings the dead back to life. God ordered him to slay four birds and to place parts of each on different mountains. God then brought them back to life and they flew back to Abraham. All this is given in a context that concentrates on God’s power, the signs He has placed in the universe and His ability to bring the dead back to life.
Sūrah 6, Al-An'am (Wanyama wa Mifugo), inaeleza jinsi Ibrahim alivyomtafuta Mola wake, na jinsi alivyomtambua na kuitambua nguvu Yake baada ya kutazama kwa makini nyota, mwezi na jua, pamoja na kutafakari matukio mengine ya ulimwengu. Sūrah nzima inalenga imani na ishara za ulimwengu zinazoelekeza kwa Mungu, Muumbaji, ambaye hana mshirika kabisa.
Sūrah 6, Cattle, describes Abraham searching for his Lord and how he recognized Him and His power after looking carefully at the stars, the moon and the sun, and reflecting on other universal phenomena. The entire sūrah concentrates on faith and universal signs pointing to God, the Creator, who has no partner whatsoever.
Katika Sūrah 11, Hūd, Ibrahimu anapewa habari njema ya kuzaliwa kwa mwanawe, Isaka, lakini hili linatolewa wakati Sūrah inasimulia hadithi ya Lūṭi na jinsi malaika waliotumwa kuiangamiza Sodoma na Gomora walivyomtembelea Ibrahimu njiani mwao. Kisa hiki kinaonyesha jinsi Mungu anavyowajali watumishi wake aliowachagua, na jinsi anavyowashughulikia wakosaji wenye kiburi.
In Sūrah 11, Hūd, Abraham is given the happy news of the birth of his son, Isaac, but this is given as the Sūrah relates Lot’s story and how the angels sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah visited Abraham on their way. The episode shows the care God takes of His chosen servants and how He deals with arrogant transgressors.
Sura ya 14, inayoitwa Ibrahimu, inamwonyesha Ibrahimu akiomba karibu na Msikiti Mtakatifu, Al-Kaaba, kwa ajili ya kizazi chake ambacho aliwaweka katika bonde lisilo na mimea. Anamsifu na kumshukuru Mungu kwa kumpa wanawe, Ismaili na Isaka, katika uzee wake, na anamwomba amfanye yeye na wazao wake kuwa watu wanaodumu katika kusali. Zaidi ya hayo, anamwomba Mungu ajibu maombi yake, amsamehe yeye, wazazi wake na waumini siku ya Hesabu. Lengo lote la sura hii ni kuonyesha wafuasi wote wa mitume wa Mungu kama jamii moja, wanaoamini ujumbe mmoja, ule wa umoja wa Mungu. Wale wanaokataa mitume wa Mungu pia wanaonyeshwa kuwa wa kundi moja.
Sūrah 14, named Abraham, shows him praying by the Sacred Mosque, the Ka`bah, for his offspring whom he placed in a barren valley. He praises and thanks God for giving him his sons, Ishmael and Isaac, in his old age, and prays to Him to make him and his descendants people who attend regularly to their prayers. He further appeals to God to answer his supplications, forgive him, his parents and the believers on the Day of Reckoning. The whole context of this sūrah then is to show all followers of God’s messengers as one community, believing in one message, that of God’s oneness. Those who deny God’s messengers are also shown to belong to one camp.
Ujumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu unaelezwa kama mti mkubwa unaotoa kivuli katika hali ya ukame wa kutoamini.
The divine message is portrayed as a large tree providing shade in an arid climate of disbelief.
Sūrah 15, al-Ḥijr, inasimulia kisa kile kile kilichotajwa katika Sūrah 11, lakini kwa undani zaidi, ndani ya muktadha wa kuwaneemesha waumini kwa rehema na kuwaadhibu wasioamini.
Sūrah 15, al-Ĥijr, relates the same episode given in Sūrah 11, with more detail, within the context of bestowing mercy on believers and inflicting punishment on unbelievers.
Kisa katika Sura ya 19, Maryam, kinalenga upole wake kwa baba yake, jibu gumu la baba huyo, Ibrahim kuondoka kwa watu wake, na jinsi alivyobarikiwa kwa Ismail na Isaka. Haya yote yamo katika sura inayoonyesha utunzaji wa Mungu kwa watumishi wake aliowachagua, na kuleta hisia wazi ya upendo na huruma.
The episode given in Sūrah 19, Mary, concentrates on his gentle approach to his father, the latter’s stiff reply, Abraham’s moving away from his people, and how he was blessed with Ishmael and Isaac. All this comes in a sūrah that portrays God’s care for His chosen servants, generating a clearly felt ambience of love and compassion.
Katika Sūrah 21, Al-Anbiyā' (Manabii), tunaonyeshwa jinsi Ibrahimu alivyomwita baba yake na watu wake waamini Mungu, na jinsi alivyoyakataa masanamu yao na kuyaharibu kwa mikono yake. Tunaonyeshwa jinsi alivyotupwa motoni, na jinsi, kwa amri ya Mungu, moto ulivyogeuka kuwa baridi na wa kumfariji, kisha jinsi yeye na mpwa wake, Nabii Lūṭ, walivyookolewa na kupelekwa katika nchi ambayo Mungu aliibariki kwa ajili ya wanadamu. Haya yote yanakuja ndani ya muktadha wa kuonyesha umoja wa umma unaofuata mitume wa Mungu, na jinsi Mungu anavyoulinda umma huo unapoelekeza ibada yake yote kwake Yeye peke yake.
In Sūrah 21, The Prophets, we are shown how Abraham called on his father and his people to believe in God, and how he denounced their idols and physically destroyed them. We are shown how he was thrown onto a fire and how, by God’s command, it turned cool and comforting for him, and then how he and his nephew, the Prophet Lot, were saved and taken to the land God blessed for mankind. Again this comes within the context of showing the unity of the nation that follows God’s messengers and how God takes care of this community as it addresses all its worship to Him alone.
Sūrah 22, Al-Hajj (Hija), ina marejeo ya amri ya Mungu kwamba Ibrahimu asafishe na kuitakasa Al-Ka'bah kwa ajili ya wale wanaoabudu humo.
Sūrah 22, The Pilgrimage, contains a reference to God’s order that Abraham should cleanse and purify the Ka`bah for those who worship there.