Sura hii, ambayo inazungumzia kwa kina washirikina waliomshirikisha Mungu wenzi, waliomkanusha Mtume Wake, waliotilia shaka Akhera na kuyakataa mambo ya ufufuo, inaanza kwa kumsifu Mungu. Sifa zote ni Zake kwa kuwa yeye ni Mungu, ingawa hakuna binadamu anayetamka neno la sifa likimwendea Yeye. Anasifiwa na ulimwengu na viumbe vyote, ingawa baadhi ya binadamu wanachukua msimamo tofauti.
This sūrah, which speaks at length about the idolaters who associated partners with God, denied His Messenger, doubted the hereafter and dismissed the idea of resurrection, begins with praising God. All praise is due to Him for being God, even though no human being utters a word of praise addressed to Him. He is praised by the universe and all creation, even though some human beings take a different attitude.
Sambamba na hili ni sifa ya Mungu ya kuwa Mfalme wa ulimwengu. Hakuna mtu yeyote aliye na sehemu yoyote ya mbingu au ardhi: Yeye peke yake ndiye anayemiliki kila kilichopo. Hili ndilo jambo kuu la imani: umoja wa Mungu.
Coupled with this is God’s attribute of being the Sovereign of the universe. No one has any portion of heaven or earth: He alone owns all there is. This is the central issue of faith: God’s oneness.
"Kwake yeye ndiyo sifa zote katika Akhera." (Aya 1) Sifa zote zitakazotolewa na waja Wake wote, pamoja na wale waliomkataa Yeye katika maisha haya au waliomshirikisha wengine pamoja Naye kwa sababu ya kupotoshwa, zitakusanyika katika maisha ya Akhera na kuelekezwa kwake Yeye peke yake, kikamilifu na kwa usafi. "Hakika Yeye ndiye Mwenye Hekima, Mjuzi wa kila kitu." (Aya 1)
“To Him will be due all praise in the life to come.” (Verse 1) All the praise offered by all His servants, including those who disbelieved in Him in this life or associated partners with Him as a result of being led astray, will converge in the life to come and be addressed totally and purely to Him. “He is truly Wise, All-Aware.” (Verse 1)
Chochote Anachokifanya kinatokana na hekima. Hakika Yeye anaendesha mambo ya maisha haya na ya Akhera, na mambo ya ulimwengu wote kwa hekima kamilifu. Zaidi ya hayo, Yeye anajua kila kinachotokea, na elimu yake ni kamili, sahihi na ya hakika kabisa.
Whatever He does is based on wisdom. Indeed, He conducts the affairs of this life and the Next, and the affairs of the entire universe in perfect wisdom. Moreover, He is aware of everything that takes place, and His knowledge is full, accurate and absolute.
Sūrah inatupa wazo la ujuzi wa Mungu, likiwekwa dhidi ya mandhari ya mbingu na ardhi: "Anajua kinachoingia ardhini na kinachotoka humo; kinachoshuka kutoka mbinguni na kinachopanda kwenda huko." (Aya ya 2) Hii ni picha pana iliyochorwa kwa maneno machache rahisi, ikionyesha wingi wa ajabu wa mambo, miendo, ukubwa, maumbo, namna na maana ambazo zinapita mawazo yoyote. Hata kama watu wote duniani wangetumia maisha yao yote kufuatilia na kurekodi kinachotokea katika wakati mmoja tu wa mambo yaliyotajwa katika aya hiyo, wasingeweza kufanya hivyo. Je, ni mambo mangapi huingia ardhini katika wakati kama huo? Na mangapi hutoka humo? Na mangapi hushuka kutoka angani au kupanda kuingia ndani yake?
The sūrah gives us a notion of God’s knowledge, portrayed against the background of heaven and earth: “He knows all that goes into the earth and all that comes out of it; all that descends from the skies and all that ascends to them.” (Verse 2) This is a vast image drawn in a few simple words, painting an amazing multitude of things, motions, sizes, shapes, forms and meanings that go beyond any imagination. Should all the people on earth spend their entire lives monitoring and recording what takes place in just one moment of the things mentioned in the verse, they would not be able to do so. How many things go into the earth in such a moment? How many leave it? And how many come down from the sky or go up into it?
Fikiria kile kinachoingia ardhini: mbegu zilizozikwa chini ya udongo, minyoo, wadudu, viumbe watambaao, matone ya mvua, gesi, miale ya umeme... vyote vikimiminwa katika kila kona ya dunia hii kubwa, lakini jicho la Mungu linavitazama vyote. Kisha tazama kile kinachotoka ndani yake: mimea inayochipuka, chemchemi zinazobubujika, volkano zinazolipuka, gesi zinazotoka, viumbe watambaao na wadudu wakitoka katika makazi yao ya chini ya ardhi. Ni mambo mangapi yasiyohesabika tunayoyaona na kuyajua yanayotoka ardhini, na ni mengine mangapi yasiyohesabika ambayo hatuyaoni wala hatuyajui?
Consider what goes into the earth: the seeds that are buried in the ground, the worms, insects, crawling creatures, drops of rain, gases, electrical rays... all poured into every corner of this vast earth, yet God’s eye watches them all. Then look at what comes out of it: plants shooting out, springs gushing forth, erupting volcanoes, emanating gases, crawlers and insects leaving their underground homes. How many countless things do we see and know about that come out of the earth and how many countless others we do not see or know about?
Fikiria pia kuhusu vitu vinavyoshuka kutoka angani: matone ya mvua, nyota mkia, vimondo, miale inayounguza au kutoa mwanga, amri za Mungu, neema zinazowapendelea baadhi ya viumbe huku zikinufaisha ulimwengu wote, pamoja na riziki ambazo Mungu huwapa waja Wake kwa wingi au kwa kiasi kilichopimwa. Kisha tafakari pia kile kinachopanda angani: pumzi za binadamu, wanyama na mimea, pamoja na viumbe vingine vinavyojulikana kwa Mungu pekee, na dua, zinazotamkwa kwa sauti au kwa siri, zinazosikiwa na Mungu pekee.
Reflect also on what comes down from the skies: drops of rain, comets, meteors, rays that burn or give light, divine orders, acts of grace that favour certain creatures while benefiting the whole universe, and also provisions God grants to His servants in plentiful or measured quantities. Then turn over in your mind what goes up into the sky: the breathing of humans, animals and plants, as well as other creatures only known to God, and supplications, uttered aloud or in secret, heard only by God.
Roho ngapi za viumbe, zinazojulikana kwetu au zisizojulikana, hukusanywa na kupanda kwa Mungu; malaika wangapi hupaa ili kutekeleza amri ya Mungu; matone mangapi ya maji ya bahari huyeyuka na kupanda hadi angani; na chembe ngapi za gesi hutoka kwa aina zote za viumbe?
How many a soul of creatures known or unknown to us is gathered and rises to God; how many an angel ascends to carry out God’s order; how many drops of seawater evaporate and rise into the atmosphere; how many molecules of gas emanate from all type of creatures?
Je, katika wakati mmoja, kuna mambo mangapi yanayotokea? Na elimu ya binadamu inaweza kurekodi kiasi gani cha yale yanayotokea, hata kama wangeweka maisha yao yote kufuatilia na kuyarekodi yote? Lakini ujuzi wa Mungu unahesabu yote haya, mahali pote na wakati wote, pamoja na mawazo yote ya binadamu, hisia zao, matendo yao na mienendo yao. Hata hivyo, Mungu anatupa faragha yetu na anatusamehe mapungufu yetu: "Yeye ndiye Mwenye huruma, Mwingi wa msamaha."(Aya ya 2)
Aya moja tu ya Qur'ani kama hii ya sasa inatosha kuthibitisha kwamba Qur'ani hii haikuweza kuandikwa na binadamu. Kwa asili yake, maelezo kama haya hayamjii mtu yeyote, wala asili ya binadamu haiwazi mambo kwa namna hii. Kwamba maono mapana kama haya yametolewa kwa mguso mmoja rahisi, yanaonyesha ubora wa mtindo wa Mungu.
How much of all this takes place in one moment? How much can human knowledge record of what happens of all this even should they devote all their lives to monitoring and recording it all? Yet God’s knowledge reckons all this up, in all places and at all times, as well as all human thoughts, feelings, actions and movements. But God nevertheless gives us our privacy and forgives us our shortcomings: “He is the Merciful, the truly Forgiving.” (Verse 2) Just one Qur’ānic verse like the present one is sufficient to prove that this Qur’ān could not have been written by a human being. By nature, such descriptions do not occur to any person, nor does human nature contemplate matters in this way. That such a comprehensive vision is provided in one simple touch reflects the superiority of God’s style.
Kisha sūrah inataja ukanushi wa makafiri wa kuwepo kwa Saa, ingawa wao hawajui kabisa kesho italeta nini. Kwamba itakuja ni jambo la hakika; ni jambo la lazima ili wale wanaotenda mema na wale wanaotenda maovu wapate malipo yao ya haki:
The sūrah then mentions the unbelievers’ denial of the inevitability of the Last Hour, even though they are totally unaware what tomorrow will bring. That it will come is certain; it is necessary so that both those who do good and those who do evil should receive their fair reward:
Makafiri husema: 'Saa ya Kiyama kamwe haitatujia!' Sema: 'Naam, kwa Mola wangu Mlezi, hakika itakujieni. Yeye ndiye anayejua yaliyo mbali ya uwezo wa kufahamu wa binadamu. Hakuna hata uzito wa chembe ndogo kabisa mbinguni wala ardhini usiofichika Kwake; wala hakuna kitu kidogo zaidi au kikubwa zaidi kuliko hicho isipokuwa kimeandikwa katika kitabu kilicho wazi, ili Yeye awalipe wale walioamini na kutenda mema. Hao ndio watakaopata msamaha na riziki tele.' Lakini wale wanaopambana na Aya Zetu, wakitaka kuzishinda malengo yake, hao watapata adhabu chungu kabisa. (Aya 3-5)
The unbelievers say: ‘Never shall the Last Hour come upon us!’ Say: ‘Yes, by my Lord, it shall most certainly come to you. It is He who knows all that lies beyond the reach of human perception. Not an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth escapes Him; nor is there anything smaller or larger but is recorded in a clear book, so that He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. It is they who shall have forgiveness and generous provisions.’ As for those who strive against Our revelations, seeking to defeat their purpose, these shall have a most painful suffering. (Verses 3-5)
Kafiri wanakataa maisha ya akhera kwa sababu hawaelewi hekima ya Mungu. Katika hekima yake isiyo na kikomo, Yeye hawaachi watu wafanye wanavyotaka, iwe ni mema au maovu, kisha wakaachwa hivyo tu, bila kuwapa thawabu watendao mema na kuwalipa wale wanaotenda vinginevyo. Ametujulisha, kupitia kwa Mitume wake, kwamba Yeye huacha malipo kamili au sehemu yake hadi Siku ya Hukumu. Kwa hiyo, wote wanaofahamu hekima yake kuhusu viumbe vyake wanatambua kwamba maisha ya akhera ni jambo la lazima kwa kutimizwa ahadi ya Mungu. Kafiri hao, hata hivyo, hawajui hekima ya kimungu. Kwa hiyo, wanasema kwa kiburi: "Saa ya Kiyama kamwe haitatujia." (Aya ya 3) Ndiyo maana jibu la msisitizo linakuja: "Naam, kwa Mola wangu, hakika itawajia kabisa." Hawana ujuzi wa yaliyo nje ya ulimwengu wao, lakini wanaharakisha kudai jambo ambalo hawana ujuzi nalo.
The unbelievers deny the life to come because they do not understand God’s wisdom. In His infinite wisdom, He does not let people do what they please, whether good or evil, and then leave them at that, without giving reward to the doers of good and requiting those who do otherwise. He has informed us, through His messengers, that He leaves the reward in full or in part to the Day of Judgement. Therefore, all those who understand His wisdom with regard to His creation realize that the life to come is essential for the fulfilment of God’s promise. The unbelievers, however, are oblivious of divine wisdom. Hence, they impolitely say: “Never shall the Last Hour come upon us.” (Verse 3) Hence the emphatic retort: “Yes, by my Lord, it shall most certainly come to you.” They have no knowledge of what is beyond their world, but they nevertheless are quick to assert something of which they have no knowledge.
Yule anayethibitisha hili ni Yule "anayejua yote yaliyo nje ya uwezo wa utambuzi wa binadamu." (Aya ya 3) Anachokisema ni ukweli. Zaidi ya hayo, ukweli huu ni rahisi, kamili, na umejengwa juu ya elimu sahihi na ya kweli.
Yet the one confirming this is the One “who knows all that lies beyond the reach of human perception.” (Verse 3) What He states is the truth. Furthermore, this truth is simple, complete and based on sound and true knowledge.
Mara nyingine tena ujuzi wa Mungu unaonyeshwa dhidi ya mandhari pana kama hiyo, ukishuhudia tena Mwanzilishi wa Qur'ani. Mawazo ya namna hii hayatokei tu katika akili za binadamu: "Hakuna chembe ya uzito wa atomu mbinguni wala ardhini inayomtoka; wala hakuna kilicho kidogo zaidi au kikubwa zaidi ya hicho, isipokuwa kimeandikwa katika kitabu kilicho wazi." (Aya ya 3)
Picha kama hizi hazipatikani katika nathari ya kawaida wala katika ushairi. Watu wanapoelezea ujuzi kuwa kamili, wa kina na sahihi, hawachori picha ya ulimwengu mzima yenye kuvutia namna hii, "Hakuna chembe ya uzito wa atomu mbinguni wala ardhini inayomtoka; wala hakuna kilicho kidogo zaidi au kikubwa zaidi..." Sijawahi kuona katika lugha ya binadamu jaribio lolote la kuchora picha kama hii. Hii ni maelezo ya Mungu kuhusu ujuzi Wake mwenyewe, kwa kutumia lugha ya binadamu kwa namna ambayo binadamu hawaitumii. Hivyo basi, dhana ya Waislamu kuhusu Mungu inawekwa katika kiwango cha juu zaidi na chenye heshima zaidi.
Maana iliyo karibu zaidi ya kifungu "kimeandikwa katika kitabu kilicho wazi" ni kwamba ujuzi wa Mungu unazingatia kila kitu, ikiwa ni pamoja na atomu ndogo kabisa na kilicho kidogo zaidi kuliko hiyo.
Once more God’s knowledge is portrayed against a similarly universal background testifying once more to the Originator of the Qur’ān. Such thoughts simply do not occur to human minds: “Not an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth escapes Him; nor is there anything smaller or larger but is recorded in a clear book.” (Verse 3) Such images do not occur in ordinary prose or poetry. When people describe knowledge as complete, comprehensive and accurate, they do not paint such a captivating universal image, ‘Not an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth escapes Him; nor- is there anything smaller or larger...’ I have never seen in human language any attempt to draw such a picture. This is a description by God of His own knowledge, using human language in a way humans do not use it. Thus the Muslims’ own concept of God is set on a nobler level. The nearest meaning of the phrase, recorded in a clear book,’ is that God’s knowledge takes note of everything, including the tiniest of atoms and what is even smaller.
Ni muhimu kutafakari kidogo juu ya hoja iliyotolewa kwa matumizi ya maneno: "Hata uzito wa chembe ya atomu... wala kilicho kidogo zaidi." Hadi hivi karibuni, ilikubaliwa kwa ujumla kwamba atomu ndiyo kitu kidogo kabisa. Sasa, baada ya kuwezekana kusababisha mgawanyiko wa atomu, mwanadamu amejifunza kwamba atomu inaundwa na vipengele vingine kadhaa. Utukufu wote ni wa Mungu, ambaye huwafundisha watumishi wake wa kibinadamu, kwa wakati wake aliouchagua, yale anayotaka wayajue kuhusu sifa zake za ndani na siri za uumbaji wake.
It is useful to reflect a little on the point raised by use of the wording: “Not an atom’s weight... nor is there anything smaller.” Until recently, it was universally accepted that the atom is the smallest thing. Now that it has been possible to cause atomic diffusion, man has learnt that the atom is comprised of a number of other elements. All glory to God who teaches His human servants, at a time of His choosing, what He wishes them to learn of His inner attributes and the secrets of His creation.