Sehemu ya kwanza ya sura hii inalenga kuweka dhana sahihi ya ulimwengu kwa msingi wa imani, kuonyesha uhusiano wa kweli kati ya Muumba na ulimwengu aliouumba, na kutaja baadhi ya majina ya Mungu na sifa zake, pamoja na athari zake juu ya ulimwengu na juu ya maisha ya binadamu:

The first section of the surah aims to establish the proper concept of the universe based on faith, present the true bond between the Creator and the universe He has created, and mention some of God s names and attributes as well as their effect on the universe and on human life:

Kila kilichomo mbinguni na kila kilichomo ardhini kinamsabihi Mwenyezi Mungu, Mtakatifu wa utukufu usio na mipaka; ufalme wote ni Wake, na sifa zote ni Zake. Yeye ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu. Ndiye aliyekuumba, lakini baadhi yenu ni makafiri na baadhi yenu ni waumini. Mwenyezi Mungu anaona yote mnayoyafanya. Ameziumba mbingu na ardhi kwa haki, na amekutengeneza na kukupa umbo zuri. Kwake Yeye ndiko marejeo ya wote. Anajua yaliyomo mbinguni na ardhini; na anajua mnayoyaficha na mnayoyadhihirisha. Mwenyezi Mungu anayajua kikamilifu siri za nyoyo zote. (1—4)

All that is in the heavens and all that is on earth extol the limitless glory of God; all sovereignty belongs to Him and all praise is due to Him. He has power over all things. It is He who has created you, yet some of you are unbelievers and some do believe. God sees all that you do. He has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the truth, and fashioned you, giving you a comely appearance. To Him all shall return. He knows what is in the heavens and the earth; and He knows what you conceal and what you reveal. God has full knowledge of the secrets of all hearts. 1—4)

Dhana hii ni sahihi kwa asilimia mia moja: inaonyesha kile ambacho waumini daima wamekijua na kukifuata. Ujumbe wote wa kimungu umehubiri dhana ya upweke wa Mungu na uumbaji wake wa kila kitu katika ulimwengu. Yote yanaweka wazi kwamba Mungu anamtunza kila mtu na kila kitu katika ulimwengu. Hatuna shaka juu ya hili, kwa kuwa Qur'ani inathibitisha jambo hilo hilo kuhusu wajumbe wote wa Mungu na ujumbe waliouhubiri. Kwa hiyo, hatutilii maanani sana kile tunachokiona leo katika maandiko yaliyopotoshwa, wala kile kinachoandikwa kuhusu dini linganishi na watu wasioamini Qur'ani, kwa ukamilifu au kwa sehemu. Upotofu kutoka kwenye imani ya kweli ya kimungu unatokana na yale yaliyoingizwa na baadhi ya wafuasi wa ujumbe huu, yakitoa taswira kwamba hawakuhubiri dhana safi ya upweke wa Mungu, au kwamba Mungu hana udhibiti kamili wala mawasiliano ya moja kwa moja na kila kiumbe. Yote haya ni upotofu na hayamo katika umbo la asili la dini yoyote ya kimungu, ambalo linabaki vilevile kuanzia ujumbe wa kwanza hadi wa mwisho wa Mungu. Haiwezekani kwamba Mungu angeteremsha dini inayopingana na kanuni hizi za msingi, kama inavyodaiwa na maandiko yaliyopotoshwa.

Kila kilichomo mbinguni na kilichomo ardhini kinamtakasa Mwenyezi Mungu, utukufu Wake usio na kikomo; ufalme wote ni Wake, na sifa zote zinastahili Yeye. (Aya ya 1) Kila kitu kilichomo mbinguni na ardhini kinamwelekea Mola wao, kikimtukuza kwa utukufu Wake usio na kikomo na kumsifu. Moyo wa ulimwengu huu ni moyo wenye imani, na roho ya kila kilichopo ni muumini.

“All that is in the heavens and all that is on earth extol the limitless glory of God; all sovereignty belongs to Him and all praise is due to Him. ” (Verse 1) Everything in the heavens and the earth turns towards their Lord, extolling His limitless glory and praising Him. The heart of this universe is a believing heart, and the soul of everything that exists is a believer.

Mungu ndiye anayemiliki vyote, na wote wanaijua ukweli huu. Mungu anasifiwa katika Nafsi yake, na anatukuzwa na viumbe vyake vyote. Lakini mwanadamu peke yake anasimama katikati ya ulimwengu huu mkuu akiasi dhidi ya ukweli, akiwa mkavu wa moyo, asiye na roho, akimgeuzia kisogo Bwana wake na Mola wake, akikataa kumtukuza, basi yeye yuko kinyume na wote, na wote wanamtupilia mbali.

God owns all, and they all know this truth. God is praised in Himself, glorified by all His creation. When man alone stands in the midst of this great universe rebelling against the truth, cold-hearted, spiritless, turning away from his Lord and Master, refusing to glorify Him, he is at odds with all, discarded by all.

“Yeye ana uwezo juu ya kila kitu” (Aya ya 1) Uwezo wake ni kamili, usio na mipaka wala vizuizi. Qur'ani inaweka ukweli huu moyoni mwa kila muumini. Muumini anapoitambua maana yake, anajua kwamba kumtegemea Mungu peke yake kunamaanisha kutegemea nguvu inayoweza kufanya na kufikia kila kitu, bila kikomo wala kizuizi. Ufahamu huu wa uwezo wa Mungu, na utukufu na sifa anazopewa na kila kilichopo, ni sehemu ya dhana ya jumla ya imani ambayo Uislamu unaifafanua.

“ He has power over all things” (Verse 1) His is absolute, limitless and unrestricted power. The Qur’an impresses this truth on every believers heart. As the believer recognizes its significance, he knows that placing his trust in God alone means that he relies on the power that can do and achieve everything, without limit or restriction. This understanding of God’s power and His glorification and praise by all that exists is part of the universal concept of faith Islam formulates.

Hoja ya pili inaingia ndani kabisa ya moyo wa mwanadamu. Ni mwanadamu peke yake anayesimama katikati ya ulimwengu katika hali mbili za imani na kutokuamini, wakati ulimwengu wote unamwamini Muumba wake, na kutukuza utukufu na sifa zake zisizo na mipaka: “Yeye ndiye aliyekuumbeni, lakini baadhi yenu ni makafiri na baadhi yenu ni waumini” (Aya ya 2). Mwanadamu alianzishwa kwa mapenzi ya Mungu na kwa nguvu zake. Alimpa uwezo wa kugeukia imani au kuiacha. Hivyo mwanadamu anatofautishwa miongoni mwa viumbe vya Mungu kwa uwezo huu wa pande mbili. Kwa sababu hiyo, amepewa amana kubwa na wajibu mkubwa wa imani. Kwa hiyo, Mungu amemheshimu kiumbe huyu kwa kumpa uwezo wa kutofautisha kweli na uongo; zaidi ya hayo, uchaguzi uko mikononi mwake. Pia amempa kipimo ambacho kwacho anaweza kupima matendo yake mwenyewe na kuamua njia yake. Kipimo hiki ni dini ambayo Mungu aliiteremsha kwa wajumbe wa binadamu. Kwa njia hii, Mungu amemsaidia mwanadamu kubeba amana aliyopewa, bila kumnyima chochote anachohitaji. “Mungu huona yote mnayoyafanya.” (Aya ya 2) Yeye huangalia matendo ya mwanadamu, anajua nia zake za kweli na mwelekeo wake. Basi mwanadamu na aishi maisha yake akiwa macho, akijua kwamba anatazamwa na Yule ambaye huona yote. Dhana hii ya asili ya mwanadamu ni sehemu ya dhana ya wazi na nyepesi ya Kiislamu kuhusu nafasi ya mwanadamu katika ulimwengu, pamoja na uwezo wake na wajibu wake kwa Muumba wa ulimwengu.

Sehemu ya pili inatukumbusha hatima ya jamii zilizotangulia ambazo zilikanusha ujumbe wa Mungu na ishara alizowapa. Walipinga kitendo cha Mungu kukabidhi ujumbe Wake kwa wajumbe wa kibinadamu, kama vile washirikina wa Makkah walivyompinga Mtume Muhammad ﷺ na kukanusha ushahidi woteulio wazi aliowawekea mbele yao:

The second section reminds us of the fate of earlier communities that denied Gods messages and the signs He gave them. They objected to the fact that God assigned His messages to human messengers, in the same way as the idolaters in Makkah objected to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and denied all the clear proof he put before them:

Je, hujapata habari za wale waliokufuru kabla yenu? Wakaonja matokeo mabaya ya matendo yao wenyewe. Adhabu chungu inawangoja. Hiyo ni kwa sababu mitume wao waliwajia na ishara wazi, lakini wakasema, "Je, binadamu tu ndio watakaotuongoza?" Basi wakakanusha haki na kugeuka mbali. Mwenyezi Mungu hana haja na yeyote. Mwenyezi Mungu ni Mwenye kujitosheleza, anastahili sifa zote. (Aya 5-6)

Have you not heard of those who disbelieved in earlier times? They tasted the evil consequences of their own doings. Painful suffering still awaits them. That is because their messengers came to them with clear signs, but they said, "Shall mere mortals be our guides?" So, they denied the truth and turned away. God is free of all need. God is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise. (Verses 5-6)

Walengwa wa aya hizi kwa uwezekano mkubwa ni makafiri. Wanakumbushwa kuhusu hatima zilizowapata jamii zilizotangulia ambazo ziliikataa haki, na wanaonywa dhidi ya hatima kama hiyo. Umbo la swali limetumika either kama lawama kwa ukaidi wao baada ya kupewa taarifa kama hiyo, au limetumika kuvuta fikira zao kwenye historia hii hii inayowahusu wao. Walikuwa wakijua kikamilifu yaliyowapata baadhi ya jamii hizi, kama vile Ad, Thamud na miji ya Sodoma na Gomora. Kwa kweli, walipita karibu nazo katika safari zao kwenda kaskazini na kusini mwa Arabia.

The addressees here are, most probably, the unbelievers. They are reminded of the fates suffered by earlier communities who denied the truth, and warned against a similar fate. The interrogative form is adopted either as a denunciation of their stubbornness after they have been given such information or it is used to draw their attention to this same history that relates to them. They were fully aware of what happened to some of these communities, such as the 4 Ad, Thamud and the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. In fact, they passed by them in their trips to the north and south of Arabia.

Kisha Qur'ani inataja hatima yao katika maisha haya na kueleza kile kinachowangoja katika maisha ya Akhera: "Na bado mateso yenye uchungu yanawangojea." (Aya ya 5) Kisha inaeleza sababu ya wao kustahili yale yaliyowapata na yale ambayo bado watakabiliana nayo: "Hiyo ni kwa sababu Mitume wao waliwajia na ishara zilizo wazi, lakini wakasema: 'Je, binadamu wa kawaida tu ndio watakaotuongoza?'" (Aya ya 6) Hii ndiyo pingamizi ile ile iliyotolewa na washirikina wa Makka dhidi ya Mtume ﷺ. Ni pingamizi la kiburi linalodhihirisha ujinga kamili kuhusu asili ya ujumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu na ukweli kwamba ni kanuni ya kutekelezwa katika maisha ya binadamu. Kwa hiyo, ujumbe huo lazima uwakilishwe kwa vitendo na binadamu, yaani Mtume anayeishi kulingana nao na kuonyesha mfano wa jinsi ya kuutekeleza. Hivyo, wengine wataweza kuunda maisha yao kwa namna hiyo hiyo, kwa kadiri ya uwezo wao. Lau Mtume angekuwa wa kiumbe kingine tofauti na jamii ya binadamu, watu wasingekuwa na mfano wa vitendo wa kuiga hisia zao na maisha yao. Zaidi ya hayo, pingamizi hili linadhihirisha ujinga kuhusu hali halisi ya binadamu na hadhi yake ya juu, inayomwezesha kupokea na kufikisha ujumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu, badala ya Mwenyezi Mungu kuukabidhi kwa malaika, kama makafiri mara nyingi walivyopendekeza. Binadamu amebeba roho ya Mwenyezi Mungu aliyopulizwa ndani yake alipoumbwa Adamu kwa mara ya kwanza. Hii inamwandaa kupokea ujumbe wa Mwenyezi Mungu na kuufikisha kamili kama alivyoupokea kutoka juu. Huu ni heshima aliyopewa jamii ya binadamu, inayokataliwa tu na wale wasiojua hadhi kubwa ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu humpa binadamu anapoitekeleza kikamilifu, katika ulimwengu wake binafsi, pumzi hii ya roho ya Mwenyezi Mungu ndani yake. Aidha, pingamizi hili linaakisi kiburi na majivuno ya uongo ya wale wanaokataa kumfuata Mtume wa kibinadamu, kana kwamba kumfuata kungepunguza hadhi ya wale wajinga, wenye kiburi, makafiri. Kwao, ni sawa kumfuata Mtume wa kiumbe cha aina tofauti, lakini kumfuata mmoja kutoka miongoni mwao wenyewe ni jambo lisilofaa.

Sehemu ya tatu inaendeleza zaidi mada ya sehemu iliyotangulia, ikieleza hali ya wale makafiri wanaokanusha ufufuo. Ni wazi kwamba hawa walikuwa ni washirikina ambao Mtume ﷺ aliwahutubia, akiwataka waamini ujumbe wake. Sehemu hii inamwamuru Mtume ﷺ awathibitishie kwa msisitizo mkubwa kabisa kwamba ufufuo bila shaka utafanyika. Zaidi ya hayo, inaongeza tukio kutoka Siku ya Hukumu linaloonyesha hatima za makundi mawili yanayokanusha au kukubali jambo hilo. Inawataka waamini, watii, na wahusishe kila kinachotokea duniani kwa Mwenyezi Mungu Mtukufu.

The third section carries the theme of the previous one further, stating the situation of those unbelievers who deny the resurrection. It is clearly apparent that these were the idolaters whom the Prophet addressed, calling on them to believe in his message. This section instructs the Prophet to confirm, most emphatically, to them that the resurrection will certainly take place. Indeed, it adds a scene from the Day of Judgement that depicts the fates of the two groups who either deny or accept it. It calls on them to believe, obey and attribute everything that happens in the world to God Almighty:

Makafiri wanadai kwamba hawatafufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu. Sema: "Naam! Kwa Mola wangu Mlezi, hakika mtafufuliwa, kisha mtaambiwa yale mliyoyatenda. Hilo ni jepesi kwa Mungu." {Basi muamini Mungu na Mtume wake, na nuru tuliyoiteremsha. Mungu anajua kwa kina yale mnayoyatenda.} {Siku ambayo atakukusanyeni kwa Siku ya Kukusanywa, hiyo ni siku ya kupoteza na kupata kwa pamoja. Na atakayemwamini Mungu na kutenda mema, atamfutia maovu yake na atamtia katika mabustani yapitayo mito chini yake, watakaodumu humo milele. Huo ndio ushindi mkubwa.}

The unbelievers allege that they will not be raised from the dead. Say, 'Yes indeed! By my Lord, you will certainly be raised from the dead, and then you will certainly be told of all that you have done. This is easy for God. "Believe then in God and His Messenger, and in the light which We have bestowed from on high. God is fully aware of what you do. [Think of] the time when He will gather you all together for the Day of the Gathering, the day of mutual loss and gain. For anyone who shall have believed in God and done what is right, He will efface his bad deeds and will admit him into gardens through which running waters flow, where they will abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph.

Lakini wale waliokufuru na kukanusha ishara zetu ndio watakaoingia motoni, humo watadumu milele. Mwisho wao ni mbaya kabisa! Hakuna msiba wowote unaompata mtu isipokuwa kwa idhini ya Mwenyezi Mungu. Na yeyote anayemwamini Mungu, Yeye huuongoza moyo wake. Mwenyezi Mungu anajua kila kitu kwa ukamilifu.

But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations are destined for the fire where they will abide. How miserable an end! No calamity can ever befall anyone except by God's leave. He will guide the heart of anyone who believes in Him. God has full knowledge of all things.

Katika sehemu ya mwisho, sura inawaelekea waumini, ikiwaonya dhidi ya kushindwa katika mtihani unaowakilishwa na majaribu ya wake, watoto na mali. Wanatakiwa kubaki wenye kumcha Mungu, kumtii Yeye na kutoa kwa hiari kwa ajili ya njia Yake. Wanaonywa dhidi ya kuwa bahili. Zaidi ya hayo, wanaahidiwa kuongezewa riziki zao mara mbili, kusamehewa dhambi zao na kufanikiwa. Mwishowe, wanakumbushwa juu ya ujuzi wa Mungu unaoenea kila kitu, uwezo Wake na hekima Yake.

In the final section the surah addresses the believers, warning them against failure in the test represented in the temptation spouses, children and riches offer. They are required to remain God-fearing, be obedient to Him and give willingly for His cause. They are warned against being stingy. They are further promised the doubling of their provisions, forgiveness of their sins and success. They are finally reminded of God’s all-encompassing knowledge, power and wisdom:

Enyi mlioamini, baadhi ya wake zenu na watoto wenu ni maadui kwenu; basi jihadharini nao. Lakini mkisamehe, mkafumbia macho na kusamehe, basi Mwenyezi Mungu ni Mwingi wa maghufira, Mwenye rehema. {Hakika mali zenu na watoto wenu ni fitna tu, na kwa Mwenyezi Mungu ndiko kuna malipo makubwa.}

Believers, some of your spouses and children are enemies to you; so beware of them. Yet if you overlook their faults, pardon and forgive, God is much-forgiving, ever merciful. Your wealth and children are only a trial and a temptation, whereas with God there is a great reward.

Basi, mcheni Mungu kadiri ya uwezo wenu, sikilizeni, mtii na toeni sadaka. Hilo ndilo litakalokuwa bora kwenu. Wale wanaolindwa dhidi ya ubahili wa nafsi zao ndio watakaopata mafanikio. Mkimkopesha Mungu mkopo mwema, Yeye atakulipeni mara nyingi zaidi na atakusameheni dhambi zenu. Mungu ni Mwenye shukrani, Mvumilivu. Anajua yaliyo fiche na yanayoonekana; Yeye ndiye Mwenye enzi, Mwenye hekima. (Aya 14-18)

Therefore, remain God-fearing as best as you can, listen, obey and be charitable. That will be best for you. Those that are preserved from their own meanness are the ones who will achieve success. If you make a goodly loan to God, He will repay you in multiples, and will forgive you your sins. God is ever thankful, forbearing. He knows all that is beyond the reach of human perception and all that is witnessed; the Almighty, the Wise. (Verses 14-18)

Mtu mmoja alimuuliza Ibn ‘Abbas kuhusu aya ya kwanza katika sehemu hii, na imepokewa kwamba alimwambia kuwa kulikuwa na watu huko Makkah walioukubali Uislamu na walitaka kujiunga na Mtume ﷺ huko Madinah, lakini wake zao na watoto wao waliwazuia. Hatimaye walipojiunga naye, waligundua kwamba wale ambao tayari walikuwa pamoja na Mtume ﷺ walikuwa wamepata ufahamu wa kina katika dini yao. Kwa hiyo, walitaka kuwaadhibu wake zao na watoto wao kwa kuwazuia wasiende. Kisha Mungu akateremsha aya hii inayowaambia: “Na mkisamehe na kusahau na kusitiri, basi hakika Mungu ni Mwenye kusamehe, Mwenye rehema.” (Aya ya 14) Hadithi hii imepokewa na al-Tirmidhi ambaye ameieleza kuwa ni sahihi. Maoni hayo hayo yametolewa na ‘Ikrimah, mwanafunzi wa Ibn ‘Abbas.