Rehema yoyote Mungu anayomfungulia mwanadamu, hakuna awezaye kuizuia; na chochote anachokizuia, hakuna mwingine isipokuwa Yeye awezaye kukiachilia. Yeye peke yake ndiye Mwenye nguvu, Mwenye hekima. (Aya ya 2)
Whatever grace God opens up to man, none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds, none other than Him can release. He alone is Almighty, Wise. (Verse 2)
ما نجده في الآية الثانية من السورة هو جانبٌ من قدرة الله المذكورة في نهاية الآية الأولى. فعندما يترسخ هذا الجانب في قلب الإنسان وعقله، يحدث له تحوّلٌ كامل في تصوراته ومشاعره وقيمه ومعاييره، وفي حياته عمومًا. إنه يُبطل أي فكرة بأن قوةً أخرى لها سلطانٌ على السماوات والأرض، ويصله بقدرة الله نفسها. ويجعله يتخلى عن أي تفكيرٍ في أن ينال الفضل من أحدٍ سوى الله، ويربط كل شيءٍ بفضل الله. إنه يُغلق أمامه كل بابٍ وسبيلٍ في الكون، لكنه يفتح له الباب والسبيل المؤدي إلى الله.
What we have in this second verse of the sūrah is an aspect of God’s power mentioned at the end of the first verse. When this aspect is instilled in a person’s heart and mind, he undergoes a complete transformation in his concepts, feelings, values, standards and life generally. It invalidates any thought of any other power having any control over the heavens and earth, and puts him in touch with God’s own power. It makes him abandon any thought of receiving grace from anyone else and links all to God’s grace. It closes before him every door and way in the universe yet opens for him the door and the way leading to God.
Neema ya Mungu inaweza kuonekana katika mambo yasiyohesabika. Kwa hakika, mwanadamu hawezi hata kuanza kuyaandika haya. Yamo ndani yake na katika namna alivyoumbwa; katika nafasi ya heshima aliyopewa; na katika baraka zilizomzunguka pande zote, juu yake na chini yake. Pia yanapatikana katika fadhila alizomiminiwa.
God’s grace can be reflected in countless aspects. Indeed man cannot even begin to record these. They are within him and the way he is created; the position of honour he is given; the blessings that are all around him from every side and from above and beneath him. It is also to be found in the favours showered on him.
Neema ya Mungu inaonekana katika yale ambayo mwanadamu amenyimwa, kama vile inavyoonekana katika yale aliyopewa. Mungu akimfungulia mtu yeyote, mtu huyo huiona katika kila hali, kila kitu, kila mazingira na kila mahali. Huiona hata ndani yake mwenyewe, katika hisia zake, na kote anakozunguka, popote alipo na vyovyote alivyo, hata kama amenyimwa kila kitu ambacho watu wanakiona kuwa muhimu. Kinyume chake, Mungu akimzuilia mtu yeyote neema yake, mtu huyo ataikosa katika kila kitu, kila hali, kila mahali na kila mazingira, hata kama ana mikononi mwake kila kitu ambacho watu huhusisha na utajiri na furaha.
God’s grace is reflected in what man has been denied just as much as it is reflected in what he has been granted. When God opens it up to anyone, that person finds it in every situation, thing, condition and place. He even finds it within himself, his feelings, all around him, wherever and however he happens to be, even though he may be deprived of everything people consider to be important. Conversely, should God withhold His grace from anyone, that person will miss it in every thing, situation, place and condition, even though he may have at his disposal everything people associate with wealth and happiness.
Neema yoyote ambayo mtu hupewa huwa mzigo iwapo imeambatana na kunyimwa neema ya Mungu; na dhiki au mtihani wowote anaoupata huwa baraka pindi unapoambatana na neema Yake. Mtu anaweza kulala juu ya kitanda cha miiba, lakini kwa neema ya Mungu, anaona ni starehe sana; wakati magodoro ya hariri na mito huhisi kama misumari migumu iwapo neema hiyo itamnyima. Kwa neema ya Mungu, tatizo gumu zaidi huwa jepesi, na hatari huwa usalama; lakini bila hiyo, mambo yanayokuwa rahisi kwa kawaida huwa magumu yasiyoweza kutatuliwa, na njia salama huongoza kwenye maangamizi.
Whatever favour a person is granted becomes a hardship if it is associated with the withholding of God’s grace; and whatever hardship or trial he undergoes becomes a favour once it is coupled with His grace. A man may lie on a bed of thorns, but, with God’s grace, he finds it very comfortable; while silk mattresses and cushions feel like hard nails if that grace is denied him. With divine grace the most difficult problem becomes easy and danger becomes safety, but without it, what is normally easy becomes insoluble and safe roads and ways lead to ruin.
Ikiwa utapewa neema ya Mwenyezi Mungu, hutahisi huzuni hata kama uko kifungoni peke yako, unavumilia mateso au unakabiliwa na hatari; na huzuni itakuwa fungu lako ikiwa neema hiyo itazuiliwa, hata kama uko katika mazingira ya anasa na fahari zaidi. Ni kutoka ndani kabisa ya moyo ndipo furaha, kuridhika na utulivu hutiririka kwa neema ya Mwenyezi Mungu, na ndani kabisa ya moyo wako utahisi huzuni, wasiwasi na taabu pale inaponyimwa.
Should you be granted God’s grace, you will not feel miserable even though you may be in solitary confinement, enduring torture or facing danger; while misery will be your lot if it is withheld, even though you are in the most luxurious and splendid of surroundings. It is from deep inside that happiness, contentment and reassurance flow by God’s grace, and deep inside you feel misery, worry and affliction when it is denied.
Ikiwa mlango wa rehema ya Mungu uko wazi, hutajali ikiwa milango na madirisha yote yamefungwa: utapata faraja, starehe na furaha; na ikiwa umefungwa, hutanufaika na chochote hata kama milango na madirisha mengine yote yameachwa wazi.
If the door of God’s grace is open, you will not care if all doors and windows are locked: you will find ease, comfort and happiness; and if it is closed, you will benefit nothing if all other doors and windows are left wide open.
Mungu anaweza kumpa mtu yeyote mali nyingi, na mtu huyo ataiona kuwa chanzo cha furaha, faraja na njia ya kupata nafasi nzuri katika maisha ya Akhera, mradi tu iambatane na neema ya Mungu. Neema hiyo ikizuiwa, mali yake huwa chanzo cha wasiwasi, husda na chuki. Inaweza pia kuwa hasara, ikiwa mtu huyo tajiri ni bakhili au mgonjwa; na inaweza kuleta maangamizi ikiwa ni mwenye kupoteza mali kwa anasa na mzembe.
God may give anyone plentiful wealth, and that person will find it a source of enjoyment, comfort and a means to a good position in the life to come, provided that it is coupled with God’s grace. If that grace is withheld, his wealth becomes a source of worry, envy and hatred. It may also mean deprivation, if the wealthy person is stingy or ill; and it may bring ruin if he is wasteful and careless.
Vivyo hivyo hivyo kuhusu watoto, afya na cheo cha juu. Kwa neema ya Mungu, yoyote kati ya haya yanaweza kuwa chanzo cha wema, starehe, furaha, raha na faraja, na pia njia ya kuongeza thawabu yake katika maisha ya akhera. Ikiwa neema ya Mungu itanyimwa, yoyote kati ya haya yatamletea mtu huzuni, dhiki, usiku usio na usingizi, au kumweka mmiliki wake kwenye wivu, chuki na uadui wa watu wengine.
Vivyo hivyo, elimu, umri mrefu na faraja vinaweza kuhusishwa na hali ya furaha au ya taabu. Hata hivyo, elimu kidogo inaweza kuleta matokeo mema; maisha mafupi yanaweza kufurahia baraka nyingi; na faraja ndogo inaweza kumaanisha furaha na raha. Katika mambo haya yote, jamii ni kama watu binafsi, katika hali zote, mazingira na mazingira yote.
The same can be said about children, health and high position. With God’s grace, any of these can be a source of goodness, enjoyment, delight, happiness and joy, as also a means to increase one’s reward in the life to come. Should God’s grace be denied, any of these will bring misery, distress, sleepless nights, or expose their owner to other people’s envy, hatred and hostility. Likewise, knowledge, long life and comforts can be associated with either situation of happiness or misery. Yet little knowledge could bring about beneficial effects; a short period of life could enjoy much blessing; and little comfort may mean happiness and delight. In all these respects, communities are like individuals, in all conditions, situations and circumstances.
Sehemu moja ya neema ya Mwenyezi Mungu ni kuihisi. Neema ya Mwenyezi Mungu ni nyingi kwa kila mmoja wetu, lakini ni hisia yako kwamba inakujaalia, matarajio yako, matumaini yako na kuamini kwako kwamba inakuja ndiyo rehema na neema. Kwa upande mwingine, kuitilia shaka au kukata tamaa nayo ni taabu tupu, lakini hili ni jambo ambalo muumini hatalipata: "Hakuna wakataao tamaa ya rehema ya Mwenyezi Mungu isipokuwa watu makafiri." (12: 87)
One aspect of God’s grace is to feel it. God’s grace abounds for every one of us, but it is your feeling that it is bestowed on you, your expectation, hope and trust that it is coming that is mercy and grace. By contrast, to doubt or despair of it is pure misery, but this is something that a believer will not suffer: “None but unbelievers can ever despair of God’s mercy.” (12: 87)
Neema ya Mungu haitakataliwa mtu yeyote anayeitafuta mahali popote na katika hali yoyote. Ibrahimu aliipata alipotupwa motoni; Yusufu aliipata kisimani alikotupwa na ndugu zake, na baadaye gerezani; Yunus aliipata tumboni mwa nyangumi, chini ya tabaka tatu za giza; Musa aliipata mtoni alipokuwa mtoto mchanga asiye na msaada, pia katika jumba la Firauni wakati Firauni alipotaka kumuua. Vijana waliojificha pangoni, kama inavyosimuliwa katika Sura ya 18, waliipata humo pangoni ambako haikupatikana majumbani wala katika ikulu. Waliambiana: "Sasa mmejitenga nao na kila wanachokiabudu badala ya Mungu, basi kimbilieni pangoni. Huenda Mungu akawaeneza neema yake na kuwaandalia mambo yenu kwa njia inayofaa." (18: 16) Nabii Muhammad ﷺ na Sahaba wake Abū Bakr waliipata pangoni la Mlima Thawr, walikojificha kutoka kwa wanaowafuatia. Hakika hakuna aliyeitafuta kwa kuacha kila kitu kingine, akijua kwamba Mungu pekee ndiye mwenye kutoa nguvu, uwezo na rehema, ambaye ameachwa bila kupata.
God’s grace will not be denied anyone who seeks it at any place and in any condition. Abraham found it when he was thrown in the fire; Joseph found it in the well where his brothers threw him and later in prison; Jonah found it in the whale’s belly, under three covers of darkness; Moses found it in the river when he was a helpless infant, as also in Pharaoh’s palace when Pharaoh sought to kill him. The young men who retreated to a cave, as told in Sūrah 18, found it there in the cave when it was not to be found in homes and palaces. They said to one another: “Now that you have withdrawn from them and all that they worship instead of God, take refuge in the cave. God may well spread His grace over you and make fitting arrangements for you in your affairs.” (18: 16) The Prophet Muĥammad and his Companion, Abū Bakr found it in the cave of Mount Thawr, where they hid from their pursuers. Indeed no one who sought it to the exclusion of everything else, aware that only God grants strength, power and mercy, has been left lacking.
Ni muhimu pia kutambua kwamba Mwenyezi Mungu anapofungua milango ya rehema Yake kwa mtu yeyote, hakuna kitakachoweza kuizuia; na anapoizuia, hakuna kitakachoweza kuifungua.
It is also important to realize that when God opens the gates of His grace to anyone, nothing can withhold it; and when He withholds it, nothing can release it.
Kwa hiyo, hakuna mtu wala kitu kinachopaswa kuogopwa, na tumaini halipaswi kamwe kuwekwa kwa mtu yeyote au kitu chochote. Hatupaswi kamwe kuogopa kukosa kitu, na hatupaswi kamwe kumtegemea njia yoyote. Yote yanategemea Mungu na kile anachotaka. Chochote anachokiamua kitatendeka. Yeye ndiye Mwenye Nguvu, Mwenye Hekima. Hakuna anachokiamua ambacho hakina kusudi wazi.
Therefore, no one and nothing should be feared, while hope should never be pinned on anyone or anything. We should never fear to miss out on something, and never trust to any means. It all depends on God and what He wills. Whatever He determines will be done. It is He who is Almighty, Wise’. Nothing He determines is without clear purpose.
"Neema yoyote ambayo Mungu anamfungulia mtu, hakuna awezaye kuizuia." (Aya ya 2) Kila kitu ambacho watu wanahitaji ili kuhakikishiwa rehema ya Mungu ni kumwomba Yeye moja kwa moja, bila wapatanishi: "Na lolote analolizuia, hakuna mwingine awezaye kulifungua baada yake." (Aya ya 2)
“Whatever grace God opens up to man, none can withhold it.” (Verse 2) All that people need to be assured of God’s mercy is to request it from Him directly, without intermediaries: “And whatever He withholds, none other than Him can release.” (Verse 2)
Aya hii moja inachora picha tofauti kabisa ya maisha. Inatoa seti mpya ya maadili na viwango ambavyo havibadilishwi na mazingatio yoyote wala shinikizo, liwe jepesi au zito. Maono haya yanapokitwa imara moyoni mwa mtu, mtu huyo anaweza kusimama kwa uthabiti mbele ya matukio yote, watu, hali, mamlaka na mazingatio yote. Hata kama watu wote duniani pamoja na majini wangejipanga dhidi yake, angeweza kuwapinga wote, akijua kwamba hawawezi kudhibiti neema ya Mungu.
This single verse paints a totally different picture of life. It gives a new set of values and standards that are unaffected by any consideration or pressure, be it light or heavy. When this vision is firmly settled in a person’s heart, that person can stand firmly in the face of all events, people, situations, powers and considerations. Even if all people on earth as well as the jinn were to range themselves against him, he would be able to resist them all knowing that they cannot control God’s grace.
Ilikuwa kwa aya na picha kama hizi ndipo Qur’ani ilipozaa jumuiya ile ya kipekee ya waumini katika siku za mwanzo za Uislamu. Ilikuwa ni jumuiya iliyoundwa chini ya uangalizi wa Mungu mwenyewe, na kupitia Qur’ani, ili iwe chombo cha mapenzi ya Mungu na kuweka duniani imani, maadili na mifumo aliyotaka kuiweka. Katika jumuiya ile ya kwanza tunaona mfano wa kipekee wa maisha ya binadamu ambao leo unaonekana kwetu kuwa ni wa ulimwengu wa hadithi za kale na ndoto. Jumuiya ile haikuishughulikia Qur’ani kama maneno, sentensi na aya zenye maana bora, bali ilishughulikia ukweli ambao aya hizo ziliuwakilisha. Zaidi ya hayo, waliutekeleza katika maisha halisi. Hata leo, Qur’ani bado inaweza kuzaa, kwa njia ya aya zake, watu binafsi na jumuiya zinazoweza kutimiza, kwa idhini ya Mungu, kila kitu ambacho Mungu anapenda wakitimize.
It was with verses and images like this that the Qur’ān produced that unique community of believers in the early days of Islam. It was a community moulded under God’s own care, and through the Qur’ān, so as to function as a means of God’s will and establish on earth the faith, values and systems He wanted to establish. In that first community we have a unique example of human life that seems to us today to belong to the realm of legends and dreams. That community did not deal with the Qur’ān as words, sentences and verses with superb meanings, but dealt with the truth those verses represented. Furthermore, they practised it in real life. Yet, still today, the Qur’ān is able to produce, by means of its verses, individuals and communities that can achieve, by God’s leave, whatever God wills them to achieve.
Sote tunaweza kusoma Qur’ān kwa uzito, kuitekeleza kikamilifu, na kuishi maana zake kana kwamba ni uhalisia unaoonekana.
All of us can read the Qur’ān seriously, implement it fully and live its meanings as though they are a tangible reality.