Aya inayofuata inazungumzia msimamo thabiti wa kukataa uongofu wote wa Mwenyezi Mungu.
The next verse speaks about a determined attitude to reject all divine guidance:
“Wale wasioamini husema: Hatutaiamini kamwe Qur’ani hii, wala yale yaliyotangulia kabla yake.” (Aya ya 31) Wanaweka wazi kwamba hawatawahi kuamini, si Qur’ani wala kitabu chochote cha Mwenyezi Mungu kilichotangulia Qur’ani, ambacho kwa kweli kinathibitisha ukweli wake. Pia hawako tayari kuamini chochote kati ya haya wakati wowote ujao. Wamedhamiria kukataa, wakikataa kwa makusudi hata kuzingatia chochote kinachoelekeza kwenye imani. Msimamo wao, basi, ni wa kufikiri na uamuzi uliopangwa vizuri. Kwa hiyo, sura inaweka mbele ya macho yao yale yatakayowapata Siku ya Hukumu kutokana na kukataa kwao kwa ukaidi.
“The unbelievers say: We will never believe in this Qur’ān, nor in any earlier revelations.” (Verse 31) They make it clear that they will never believe, neither in the Qur’ān nor in any divine book that preceded the Qur’ān, which in fact confirms its truth. They are not prepared to believe in any of this at any time in the future either. They are determined to disbelieve, deliberately refusing even to consider anything that points to faith. It is all, then, a well considered stance. Therefore, the sūrah puts before their eyes what happens to them on the Day of Judgement as a result of their stubborn rejection:
Laiti ungeweza kuona jinsi wadhalimu watakavyosimamishwa mbele ya Mola wao, wakirushiana lawama. Wale waliokuwa wanyonge duniani watasema kwa wale waliojiona kuwa wenye nguvu: "Lau si nyinyi, hakika tungalikuwa waumini." Nao wale waliojiona kuwa wenye nguvu watasema kwa wale waliokuwa wanyonge: "Je, ni sisi tuliowazuia msifuate uongofu baada ya kukujieni? Hapana kabisa! Ni nyinyi wenyewe mlikuwa wakosaji." Wale waliokuwa wanyonge watajibu kwa wale waliojiona kuwa wenye nguvu: "Hapana! Ni hila zenu usiku na mchana, mlipotuamuru tukatae kumwamini Mungu na tumfanyie washirika." Watakapoiona adhabu inayowangojea, watajawa na majuto makubwa, lakini watayaficha. Tutawawekea minyororo shingoni mwa makafiri. Je, wanalipwa kitu kingine isipokuwa yale waliyokuwa wakiyafanya?
If only you could see how the wrongdoers shall be made to stand before their Lord, hurling reproaches at one another. Those of them who were weak on earth will say to those who had deemed themselves mighty: Had it not been for you, we would certainly have been believers.’ The ones who deemed themselves mighty will say to those who were weak: ‘Was it we who prevented you from following right guidance after it had been given you? Certainly not! It was you who were guilty.’ Those who were weak will reply to those who deemed themselves mighty: Not so! It was your scheming, night and day, ordering us to disbelieve in God and to set up equals to Him.’ When they see the punishment awaiting them, they will all harbour utter and unmitigated remorse. We shall put chains round the necks of the unbelievers. Are they to be requited for anything other than what they did? (Verses 31-33)
Kauli yao kwamba hawatamwamini kamwe kitabu chochote kilichoteremshwa ni kauli ya katika maisha haya. Basi, watasema nini katika hali tofauti kabisa? Laiti ungeweza kuwaona hawa madhalimu wakati wanaposimamishwa mbele ya Mola wao, yaani wakilazimishwa kusimama kinyume na matakwa yao au busara zao. Wana hatia, wamesimamishwa wakisubiri hukumu ya Mola wao, ambaye maneno yake na vitabu vyake wanadai kwamba hawataviamini kamwe. Sasa wamesimama mbele yake. Ungeweza kuwaona, ungeona jinsi wanavyolaumiana, wakirushiana tuhuma na kujaribu kutupiana lawama. Basi, wanasema nini?
Their assertion that they will never believe in any revealed book is made in this life. So, what will they say in a totally different situation? If only we could see these wrongdoers when they are ‘made to stand’, i.e. forced into it against their will or better judgement. They are guilty, made to stand and await a decision by their Lord, in whose words and scriptures they profess they will never believe. Yet now they stand before Him. If you could watch them, you would see how they reproach one another, exchanging accusations and trying to blame each other. So, what is it that they say?
"Wale waliokuwa wanyonge duniani watawaambia wale waliojiona kuwa wenye nguvu: Lau si nyinyi, sisi hakika tungekuwa waumini." (Aya 31) Wanawalaumu viongozi wao, wakiwashutumu kuwa ndio wenye kuwajibika kwa udhalili huu na kwa yale mateso makubwa yatakayofuata. Wanasema haya sasa, lakini walikuwa hawawezi kabisa kuwakabili kwa namna hii wakati wa maisha yao duniani, kwa kuzuiwa na udhaifu wao na unyenyekevu wao. Walikuwa wameuza uhuru na heshima ambayo Mwenyezi Mungu aliwapa, pamoja na akili ambayo Alikuwa amewabariki nayo. Sasa maadili yote ya uongo yametupiliwa mbali, nao wamekabiliwa uso kwa uso na adhabu ya kudumu, wanaweza kujieleza bila hofu: "Lau si nyinyi, sisi hakika tungekuwa waumini." (Aya 31)
“Those of them who were weak on earth will say to those who had deemed themselves mighty: Had it not been for you, we would certainly have been believers.” (Verse 31) They blame their leaders, accusing them of being responsible for this humiliation and what will come next of great suffering. They state this now but were totally unable to confront them in this way during their life on earth, prevented as they were by their weakness and submission. They had sold out the freedom and dignity God had granted them, as well as the reasoning He had blessed them with. Now that all false values have been discarded, and they are put face to face with a long-lasting suffering, they can express themselves without fear: “Had it not been for you, we would certainly have been believers.” (Verse 31)
Wale waliojiona kuwa na nguvu nyingi walikuwa wakiheshimika; sasa wamechoshwa na wale waliowadharau. Wote wawili wanakabiliwa na adhabu hiyo hiyo, lakini wale walio dhaifu wanataka wale wakubwa wabebe lawama kwa kuwapotosha, na ndiyo iliyowaleta kwenye mateso haya. Hivyo basi, jibu lao ni la kiburi, wakikataa kubeba lawama yoyote. Pia wanawaambia kwa dharau wanavyowaona: “Wale waliojiona kuwa wakuu watawaambia wale waliokuwa wanyonge: Je, sisi ndio tuliowazuia kufuata mwongozo wa haki baada ya kuufikia? Hasha! Mlikuwa ninyi wenyewe wakosefu.” (Aya ya 32)
Those who used to think much of their power base are fed up with those whom they treated with humiliation. Both face the same punishment, but the weaker elements want them to bear responsibility for leading them astray, which is what has brought them to this suffering. Therefore, their reply is haughty, disowning any responsibility. They also tell them rudely what they think of them: “The ones who deemed themselves mighty will say to those who were weak: Was it we who prevented you from following right guidance after it had been given you? Certainly not! It was you who were guilty.” (Verse 32)
Haisemi tu kwamba wao wanakataa kubeba jukumu kwa wengine, bali pia wanakiri kwamba ujumbe waliopokea ulikuwa ni wa uongofu. Katika maisha yao ya kwanza, hawakujali sana wanyonge au maoni yao. Kwa kweli, waliwachukulia kana kwamba hawapo, wasikubali hoja zao wala kupinga kwao. Sasa wanapokabiliwa na adhabu ya Akhera, wanawauliza kwa lawama: “Je, ni sisi ndio tuliokuzuieni kufuata uongofu wa haki baada ya kukufikieni?” (Aya ya 32) Kukataa huku kunakuja pamoja na tuhuma: “Bali ninyi ndio mlikuwa wakosefu.” (Aya ya 32) Mlikataa uongofu uliokufikieni kwa sababu ninyi wenyewe mlikuwa wakosefu.
It is not only that they deny responsibility for others, but they acknowledge that the message they received was one of guidance. In their first life, they paid little heed to the weak or their views. In fact, they treated them as if they did not exist, accepting neither argument nor opposition from them. Now that they are facing the punishment of the hereafter, they reproachfully ask them: “Was it we who prevented you from following right guidance after it had been given you?” (Verse 32) With this denial comes an accusation: “It was you who were guilty.” (Verse 32) You refused the guidance that was given you because you yourselves were guilty.
Hali hii ingetokea katika maisha haya, wanyonge wangekaa kimya, wasiweze kusema neno. Lakini siku ya Kiyama, wakati majivuno ya uongo yanapoonekana jinsi yalivyo, na mambo yaliyofichwa yanapofunuliwa wazi, wanyonge hawakubali shutuma hii. Badala yake, wanasema kwa sauti wakiwaambia wengine kwamba ni wao waliopanga njama kwa kuendelea kuwageuza mbali na mwongozo wa Mungu, ni wao walioanzisha imani potofu, walioleta mkanganyiko kuhusu ukweli, na waliotumia madaraka na ushawishi kuwaweka watu katika upotevu: "Wale waliokuwa wanyonge watawajibu wale waliojiona wenye nguvu: Sivyo kabisa! Ilikuwa ni hila zenu, usiku na mchana, mkituamuru tukatae kumwamini Mungu na kumwekea washirika."
(Aya ya 33)
Had this exchange taken place in this life, the weak would have sat quietly, unable to utter a word. But on the Day of Judgement, when false airs are seen for what they are, and when the facts that were hidden are brought into the open, the weak do not accept this accusation. Instead, they speak out telling the others that it was they who consistently schemed to turn them away from God’s guidance, it was they who established false beliefs, created confusion around the truth, and who used power and influence to keep people astray: “Those who were weak will reply to those who deemed themselves mighty: Not so! It was your scheming, night and day, ordering us to disbelieve in God and to set up equals to Him.” (Verse 33)
Kila kundi litatambua kwamba mazungumzo ya kuhuzunisha kama haya hayawanufaishi wowote. Hayatawaondolea adhabu wanayostahili. Kila upande una hatia ya dhambi zake: wale waliodai madaraka watapaswa kuwajibika kwa dhambi zao wenyewe, pamoja na kuwapotosha wengine; na vivyo hivyo wanyonge wanawajibika kwa dhambi zao wenyewe na kwa kuwafuata madhalimu. Hawawezi kusamehewa kwa sababu tu walikuwa wanyonge. Mwenyezi Mungu aliwapa akili na hiari, lakini wakachagua kutotumia akili zao na wakauza hiari yao, wakikubali udhalilifu na utumwa. Hivyo, wote wanastahili kuadhibiwa. Watakapoona mateso wanayopaswa kuyavumilia, watajawa na huzuni kubwa, wakijutia yote waliyoyafanya: “Watakapoiona adhabu, watajuta kwa siri,” (Aya ya 33). Hii ni maelezo ya hali ya majuto kamili yanayomfanya mtu kukosa uwezo wa kusema neno lolote.
Both groups will then realize that such a depressing dialogue benefits neither. It will not spare either the punishment they deserve. Each party is guilty of their own sins: the ones who claimed power have to account for their own sins, as well as for leading others astray; and similarly the weak are responsible for their own sins and for following tyrants. They cannot he exempt on account of the fact that they were weak. God favoured them with reason and freedom, but they chose not to use their reason and sold their freedom, accepting humiliation and servility. Thus, they all deserve to be punished. When they see the suffering they have to endure, they are in deep sorrow, regretting all that they have done: “When they see the punishment awaiting them, they will all harbour utter and unmitigated remorse.” (Verse 33) This is a description of a state of total regret that leaves the person unable to utter a word.
Mioyo imezikwa na midomo imefungwa.
Hearts are buried and lips are sealed.
Kisha wanapelekwa mahali ambapo adhabu yao, kali na chungu, itatekelezwa.
They are then taken to where their punishment, hard and painful, is meted out:
"Tutaweka minyororo shingoni mwa makafiri." (Aya ya 32) Wanapoburuzwa hivyo, sura inawaelekea watazamaji, ikisema: "Je, wanalipwa kwa jingine isipokuwa walichokuwa wakikitenda?" (Aya ya 33)
“We shall put chains round the necks of the unbelievers.” (Verse 32) As they are being so driven, the sūrah addresses the onlookers, saying: “Are they to be requited for anything other than what they did?” (Verse 33)
Pazia linavutwa, na kuwaacha nyuma wote waliofurahia madaraka na wale waliokuwa watumwa wa kunyenyekea. Wote wawili ni wakosaji. Kundi moja linakosea kwa kuwadhulumu, kupotosha haki na kuvuka mipaka yao, huku kundi jingine likikosea kwa kujisalimisha utu wao, akili yao na uhuru wao, na kukubali dhuluma. Makundi yote mawili yanaadhibiwa kwa usawa; wote wawili wanalipwa kwa yale tu waliyoyafanya.
The curtains are drawn leaving behind both those who enjoyed power and those who were servile. Both are wrongdoers. One group does wrong by tyrannizing, distorting the truth and exceeding their limits, while the other does wrong by surrendering their human dignity, reason and freedom, and accepting tyranny. Both groups are equally punished; both are requited only for what they did.
Onyesho hilo linawaonyesha wakosaji yale watakayokabiliana nayo, likiifanya hali hiyo kuwa hai mbele ya macho yao. Wanajiona katika Akhera wakiwa bado wako katika maisha haya. Sio hivyo tu, bali wengine pia wanaona mwisho wao. Yote haya yanafanyika wakati bado kuna muda kwa wote kurekebisha makosa yao na kubadilisha mienendo yao.
The scene shows the wrongdoers what they will face, bringing it alive before their very eyes. They see themselves in the hereafter while they are still in this life. Not only so, but others also see their end. All this is done when there is still time for all to make amends and correct their attitudes.