"Alif. Lām. Rā. Hii ni Kitabu ambacho Sisi tumekiteremsha kwako kutoka juu."
“Alif. Lām. Rā. This is a book which We have bestowed on you from on high.” (Verse 1)
Kitabu hiki, kilichoundwa na herufi kama hizi, hakika wewe hukukiandika. Kimeteremshwa kwako kwa kusudi maalum, "ili uwatoe watu wote kutoka giza kwenda nuru, kwa idhini ya Mola wao Mlezi." (Aya 1) Kazi yako ni kuwatoa watu kutoka kwenye kina cha giza ambalo wamezama ndani yake, giza la ushirikina, mifumo na mila zinazokinzana; giza la kuamini miungu inayodaiwa, pamoja na dhana, thamani na viwango vya uongo.
This book which consists of words made up of letters like these is one which you certainly have not authored. It has been revealed to you for a definite purpose, “so that you might bring forth all mankind, by their Lord’s leave, from darkness into the light.” (Verse 1) Your role is to take mankind out of the depths of darkness into which they have sunk, the darkness of superstition, conflicting systems and traditions; the darkness of believing in alleged deities, and false concepts, values and standards.
Ni kuwatoa, yaani wanadamu wote, waingie kwenye nuru halisi inayoondoa giza lote. Nuru hii haiondoi tu giza kutoka katika dhamira na akili za watu, bali pia huathiri maisha yao kwa ujumla, ikiweka kwao thamani na mila mpya.
You are to bring them, i.e. all of mankind, into the real light which removes all darkness. Not only does this light dispel all darkness from people’s consciences and minds, it also affects their lives generally, setting for them new values and traditions.
Imani inayotegemea umoja wa Mungu ni nuru inayong'aa ndani ya moyo wa mwanadamu, ili mtu mzima pia aangaze. Mwanadamu ameumbwa kutokana na udongo baridi ambao Mungu amepulizia roho Yake ndani yake. Akiacha nuru ya pumzi hii ya roho, hurudi kuwa udongo mweusi, na kuwa donge la nyama na damu kama mnyama. Ni kweli kwamba nyama na damu peke yake ni vya udongo wa ardhi. Ni kwa pumzi hii ya roho ya Mungu ndipo nuru inaenea juu yake. Kisha imani inamfanya aonekane katika utukufu wake kamili. Kwa imani hiyo, donge la nyama na damu huchanua.
Faith based on God’s oneness is a light that shines within the human heart, to make the whole human being shine as well. Man is created out of cold clay in which God has blown of His spirit. Should he abandon the light of this breath of spirit, he turns back into dark clay, and becomes a mass of flesh and blood like an animal. It is indeed the flesh and blood alone that are made of the earth’s clay. It is with this breath from God’s spirit that light spreads over it. Then faith makes it appear in its full glory. With it the mass of flesh and blood blooms.
Imani ni nuru inayoangaza nafsi ili iweze kuona njia inayoelekea kwa Mungu, iliyo wazi bila mkanganyiko wowote unaosababishwa na ushirikina au matamanio, na bila udanganyifu wowote wa dhana potofu au tamaa. Nafsi ya binadamu inapoona njia kwa uwazi namna hiyo mbele yake, huendelea kwa hatua thabiti, bila kusita.
Faith is a light that illuminates the soul so that it can see the way leading to God, clear without any confusion caused by superstition or desires, and without any misleading fancy or greed. When the human soul sees the way so clearly ahead of it, it proceeds with steady steps, and without hesitation.
Nuru ya imani huangaza maisha yote, ikiwafanya wanadamu wote kuwa watumishi sawa wa Mungu, wameunganishwa pamoja kwa kifungo chao cha imani. Wao hujisalimisha kwa yeyote mwingine isipokuwa Mungu, jambo linalomaanisha kwamba hawagawanywi kamwe kuwa watumwa na madhalimu. Pamoja na ulimwengu unaowazunguka, wao huanzisha uhusiano unaotegemea elimu ya sheria kuu inayoweka ulimwengu wote na nguvu zake zote katika kazi. Hili huwaletea amani pamoja na ulimwengu na pamoja na viumbe vyote vinavyoishi ndani yake.
The light of faith illuminates the whole of life, making all mankind equal servants of God, united together by their bond of faith. They submit themselves to none other than God, which means that they are never divided into slaves and tyrants. With the universe around them they establish a bond based on knowledge of the great law that sets the whole universe and all its forces into operation. This brings them peace with the universe and with all creatures that live in it.
Imani ni nuru ya haki, uhuru na elimu. Ni nuru ya uhusiano na Mwenyezi Mungu unaojengwa juu ya huruma. Ni uhusiano unaotupa utulivu wa kuamini haki, neema na hekima ya Mungu katika hali za wepesi na za shida. Utulivu huo unatuhitaji kuwa na subira wakati wa dhiki na shukrani wakati wa hali za furaha.
Faith is the light of justice, freedom and knowledge. It is the light of a bond with God based on compassion. It is a bond that gives us reassurance of God’s justice, grace and wisdom in situations of ease and hardship. Such reassurance requires that we adopt an attitude of patience in adversity and gratitude in happier circumstances.
Pia huongeza mwanga wa ufahamu kwamba hali ngumu hutokea kwa kusudi maalum.
It also adds the light of understanding that adverse situations occur for a definite purpose.
Kuamini Mungu peke yake kama Bwana Mkuu si imani ya kibinafsi tu inayojaza dhamiri ya mtu na kueneza nuru juu ya roho yake. Ni mfumo kamili wa maisha uliojengwa juu ya dhana ya kujisalimisha kabisa kwa Mungu peke yake, kukataa madai yote ya utawala wa viumbe wengine, na kukataa jaribio lolote linalowapa viumbe hao aina yoyote ya mamlaka. Mfumo huu wa maisha unaendana kikamilifu na asili ya binadamu, hivyo kukidhi mahitaji yake yote na kuijaza furaha, nuru na kutulia moyo. Pia ni imara kiasi cha kuwalinda watu dhidi ya msukosuko unaozikumba jamii zinazojisalimisha kwa mamlaka wanayodai wengine, na kufuata mifumo waliyoibuni katika siasa, utawala, uchumi, muundo wa kijamii, maadili na tabia za kijamii, pamoja na desturi na mila. Zaidi ya hayo, mfumo huu wa maisha unahifadhi na kukuza uwezo wa binadamu. Unawazuia watu kuwatukuza na kuwaimbia sifa madhalimu.
Believing in God alone as the Supreme Lord is not merely a personal faith that fills one’s conscience and spreads light over one’s soul. It is a complete code of living based on the concept of total submission to God alone, discarding all claims of lordship by other creatures, and rejecting any attempt that gives such creatures any form of sovereignty. This code of living fits completely with human nature so as to satisfy all its needs and fill it with happiness, light and reassurance. It is also so stable that it protects people against the sort of upheaval experienced by societies that submit to the sovereignty claimed by others and who follow systems devised by them in politics, government, economics, social structure, morals and social behaviour, as well as in customs and traditions. Furthermore, this code of living preserves and promotes human potential. It prevents people from glorifying and singing the praises of despots.
Hakika kifungu hiki kifupi, “ili uwatoe watu wote, kwa idhini ya Mola wao, kutoka giza kuingia nuru,” kinabeba kweli za kina zinazohusu akili ya binadamu pamoja na maisha ya kila siku ya vitendo. Haiwezekani lugha ya kibinadamu kufanya zaidi ya kuelekeza kwenye upeo huu.
Indeed this short phrase, “so that you may bring forth all mankind, by their Lord’s leave, from darkness into the light,” covers profound truths relevant to the human mind, as also practical day to day living. It is impossible for human language to do more than point to these horizons.
“Ili uwatoe watu wote, kwa idhini ya Mola wao, kutoka gizani kwenda kwenye nuru.” Mjumbe wa Mungu hawezi kufanya zaidi ya kufikisha ujumbe wa kimungu, na jukumu lake ni kuufafanua tu. Kuhusu kuwatoa watu kutoka gizani kwenda kwenye nuru, hilo hufanyika kwa idhini ya Mungu, na kwa kufuata sheria Alizozikusudia kuziweka kufanya kazi.
“So that you might bring forth all mankind, by their Lord’s leave, from darkness into the light.” God’s Messenger cannot do more than deliver the divine message, and his role is merely to explain it. As for the bringing of mankind out of darkness into light, this is done by God’s leave, and according to the laws He has willed to set in operation.
Mtume ﷺ ni Mjumbe wake tu.
The Prophet is only His Messenger.
“Ili uwatoe watu wote, kwa idhini ya Mola wao, kutoka gizani kwenda nuruni, kwenye njia ya Mwenye enzi, Mwenye kustahiki kila sifa.” (Aya 1) Maneno ‘njia ya Mwenye enzi’ yanamaanisha njia Yake na sheria Yake inayotawala ulimwengu wote, pamoja na kanuni inayotawala maisha. Kwa mtazamo wa kiisimu, hapa yametumika badala ya ‘nuru’. Hii ina maana kwamba ‘nuru’ inaongoza kwenye ‘njia ya Mwenye enzi’, au kwamba nuru ndiyo njia Yake. Maana ya pili, hata hivyo, ina nguvu zaidi na ina utajiri zaidi. Nuru inayoangaza nafsi ya binadamu ndiyo nuru inayoangaza ulimwengu wote.
“So that you might bring forth all mankind, by their Lord’s leave, from darkness into the light, to the path of the Almighty, the One to whom all praise is due.” (Verse 1) The phrase, ‘the path of the Almighty,’ means His way and law which governs the whole universe, and the code which governs life. Linguistically speaking, it is used here as a substitute for ‘light’. This means that the ‘light’ guides to ‘the path of the Almighty’, or that the light is His path. The second meaning is however stronger and richer. The light that illuminates the human soul is the light that illuminates the whole universe.
Ni njia, sheria na kanuni ya maisha. Nafsi inayoishi katika mwanga huu kamwe haitapotoka, wala kuwa na dhana potofu, wala kuchagua tabia mbaya. Inafuata njia iliyo nyoofu, "njia ya Mwenye Enzi, Mwenye kustahiki sifa zote." Yeye ndiye mwenye uwezo kamili juu ya ulimwengu, na ndiye anayesifiwa na viumbe vyote.
It is the way, the law and the code of living. A soul which lives in this light will never be in error, or entertain misconceptions, or opt for wrong behaviour. It follows the straight path, “the path of the Almighty, the One to whom all praise is due.” He is the One who has absolute power in the universe, and who is praised by all creatures.
Uweza wake umeangaziwa hapa kama tishio kwa makafiri, huku ukweli kwamba Yeye anastahili kusifiwa ukitajwa kama ukumbusho kwa wale wanaomshukuru.
His might is highlighted here as a threat to the unbelievers, while the fact that He is worthy of praise is mentioned as a reminder to those who express gratitude to Him.
Kisha yafuatayo ni baadhi ya sifa za Mwenyezi Mungu. Hasa, Yeye ndiye anayetajwa kuwa ni Yule ambaye kila kilichomo mbinguni na ardhini ni Chake, Yule ambaye hahitaji mtu yeyote, na anayeyasimamia ulimwengu mzima na viumbe vyote vilivyomo ndani yake: "Mwenyezi Mungu, ambaye ni Wake kila kilichomo mbinguni na kila kilichomo ardhini." (Aya ya 2) Basi, yule anayetoka gizani na kuingia kwenye nuru na kufuata uongofu, anatenda vyema. Sura haitaji chochote kuhusu mtu wa namna hii hapa. Badala yake, inaendelea kuwaonya wasioamini dhidi ya adhabu ya kuhuzunisha. Adhabu hii inawapata kutokana na kukataa kwao neema kubwa kuliko zote ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu amewapa wanadamu, yaani, kutuma kwao Mtume ambaye kazi yake ni kuwatoa gizani na kuwaleta kwenye nuru. Hiyo ni fadhila ya Mwenyezi Mungu ambayo hatuwezi kumshukuru vya kutosha. Hata hivyo, baadhi ya watu wanaikataa kabisa.
Then follow some of God’s attributes. He is notably mentioned as the One to whom everything in the heavens and on earth belong, who is in need of no one, and who controls the universe and all creatures therein: “God, to whom all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth belongs.” (Verse 2) Whoever, then, comes out of darkness into light and follows guidance does well. The sūrah does not mention anything about such a person here. Instead, it goes on to warn the unbelievers against woeful suffering. This is inflicted on them as a result of their rejection of the greatest blessing God has bestowed on humanity, that is, sending them a Messenger whose task is to bring them out of darkness into light. That is an act of God’s grace for which we cannot show enough gratitude. Yet some people reject it outright.
Hivyo, "ole wao wale waliokufuru; kwani watapata adhabu kali." (Aya ya 2)
Hence, “woe to the unbelievers; for theirs will be a severe suffering.” (Verse 2)
Sura hii kisha inataja sifa inayoonyesha sababu ya kukataa kwao baraka ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu huwapa wanadamu kupitia Mtume wake mtukufu ﷺ: "Hawa ndio wale wanaopenda maisha ya dunia hii kuliko maisha ya Akhera, na ambao huwazuia wengine kwenye njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu na kujaribu kuifanya ionekane potofu. Wamepotea mbali sana." (Aya ya 3)
Kuipendelea maisha ya dunia hii humweka mtu katika mgongano na mahitaji ya imani, na katika njia ya kugongana na 'njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu'. Hali hubadilika kinyume pale mtu anapoipendelea maisha ya Akhera. Kwani maisha ya dunia hii basi huwekwa katika mkondo sahihi. Watu huyafurahia kwa kiasi, daima wakiwa na hamu ya kujipatia radhi za Mwenyezi Mungu.
The sūrah then mentions a quality that tells us the reason for their rejection of the blessing God bestows on mankind through His noble Messenger: “These are the ones who love the life of this world preferring it to the life to come, and who turn others away from God’s path and try to make it appear crooked. They have gone far astray.” (Verse 3) Giving preference to the life of this world puts a person in a position of conflict with the requirements of faith, and on a collision course with the ‘path of God’. The situation is reversed when preference is given to the life to come. For then, this life is set on the right course. People enjoy it with moderation, always keen to earn God’s pleasure.
Kwa hiyo, hakuna mgongano kati ya upendeleo wao wa maisha ya Akhera na furaha yao katika maisha haya na starehe zinazotolewa nayo.
Hence there is no conflict between their preference for the life to come and their enjoyment of this life and the pleasures it offers.
Wale wanaoelekeza akili na mioyo yao katika kuhakikisha matokeo mazuri katika akhera hawapotezi starehe za dunia hii, kama baadhi ya watu wenye dhana potofu wanavyofikiri. Katika Uislamu, maisha mema katika dunia hii ni utangulizi wa maisha mema ya baadaye. Kutimiza wajibu wa mwanadamu kama khalifa wa Mungu duniani kunahitaji kujenga maisha mema.
Those who turn their minds and hearts towards ensuring a happy outcome in the hereafter do not lose the pleasures of this world, as some people with faulty concepts imagine. In Islam, a happy life in this world is a prelude to a happy future life. The fulfilment of man’s task as God’s vicegerent on earth requires building a happy life.
Katika Uislamu, hakuna kukataa wala kuacha sehemu yoyote ya maisha haya kwa sababu watu wanasubiri akhera. Kinachotakiwa na Uislamu ni kwamba maisha yastawi kwa ukweli, haki na tabia njema, kwa watu wanaotafuta radhi za Mwenyezi Mungu na maisha yenye furaha katika akhera. Huu ndio mtazamo wa Kiislamu.
In Islam, there is no denunciation or renunciation of any aspect of this life as people wait for the hereafter. What Islam requires is that life should prosper with truth, justice and sound behaviour by people who seek God’s pleasure and a happy life in the hereafter. This is the Islamic outlook.
Wale wanaochagua maisha ya dunia hii badala ya Akhera hawawezi kuhodhi rasilimali za dunia hii, wakiwanyonya, kuwadanganya na kuwadhulumu watu ili kutumikia maslahi yao wenyewe, katika jamii ambayo nuru ya imani inang'aa na watu wanafuata uongofu wa Mwenyezi Mungu. Kwa hiyo wao hujigeuza wenyewe na wengine mbali na njia ya Mwenyezi Mungu, na kujaribu kuifanya ionekane potofu, isiyo na ukweli wala haki. Ni baada ya kufanya hivyo, na kufanikiwa kujiongoza wenyewe mbali na njia iliyo nyoofu ya Mwenyezi Mungu na haki, ndipo hutumia njia zao za kidhalimu, kuwadanganya watu na kuwashawishi washiriki katika ufisadi wao. Ni kwa njia hii tu wanaweza kupata wanachotaka cha kujikweza, wakijichukulia sehemu kubwa ya rasilimali ambazo Mwenyezi Mungu ameziweka duniani, na kuwatendea wengine kwa kiburi. Kisha watu hujisalimisha kwa mamlaka yao bila kupinga.
Those who choose the life of this world in preference to the hereafter cannot monopolize the resources of this world, exploiting, cheating and oppressing people to serve their own interests in a society where the light of faith shines and people follow God’s guidance. Hence they turn themselves and others away from God’s path and try to make it appear crooked, devoid of truth and justice. It is only when they have done this, and managed to lead themselves away from the straight path of God and justice that they resort to their oppressive ways, cheating people and persuading them to share in their corruption. It is only in this way that they can get what they want of self- aggrandisement, taking for themselves most of the resources God has placed on earth, and behaving arrogantly towards others. People then submit to their authority without resistance.
Mfumo wa maisha unaotetewa na imani unalinda maisha ya binadamu dhidi ya ubinafsi na tamaa ya wale wanaoshughulishwa na maisha ya dunia hii badala ya maisha ya Akhera. Chini ya mfumo huu wa maisha, hakuna mtu mmoja au kundi moja linaloweza kuimiliki utajiri na rasilimali za dunia peke yake.
The way of life advocated by faith protects human life against the selfishness and greed of those who are preoccupied with the life of this world in preference to the life to come. Under this way of life no one person or group can monopolize the earth’s wealth and resources.