在本章的第一段经文中,真主提醒穆斯林他们与祂所立的盟约,并指示他们要时常记念祂在接受他们的盟约、使他们遵守盟约时所赐予他们的恩典。这一提醒进一步鼓励他们履行誓约,并警惕违背真主的盟约。这段新的经文阐述了曾经蒙受天启的各个群体对待他们与真主之间盟约的不同态度。经文说明了早先的民族因违背盟约而遭受了怎样的惩罚。这对穆斯林群体起到警示作用,指出真主的律法从不落空,也从不偏袒任何人。它还揭示了先前经典的信众的真实本性及他们对伊斯兰的态度。由此,穆斯林便能看清他们,并挫败他们假借遵循自身宗教教导之名、暗中策划的针对伊斯兰的险恶阴谋。事实上,他们已背弃了自己的信仰,并违背了他们对真主的誓约。

In the first passage of this sūrah, God reminds the Muslims of their covenant with Him and directs them to always remember the blessings He has bestowed on them when He accepted their covenant and bound them to it. The reminder serves as further encouragement to them to fulfil their pledges and to beware of breaking God’s covenant. This new passage outlines the attitudes different groups of those formerly given Divine revelations had taken towards their covenants with God. The passage explains what punishment befell earlier communities as a result of their violation of their covenants. This serves as a reminder to the Muslim community, pointing out that God’s law never fails and admits no favouritism. It also reveals the true nature of the people of earlier revelations and their attitude towards Islam. It, thus, enables the Muslims to see through them and to counter their wicked designs against Islam which they treacherously work out under the guise of following the teachings of their religions. In truth, they had turned their backs on their faith and violated their pledges to God.

本段首先论述了真主与穆萨（Moses）的追随者所立的盟约：真主将他们从埃及的奴役中拯救出来，而他们随后却违背了这一盟约。因此，他们遭到诅咒，被真主弃绝，也失去了真主的恩赐与引导。本段还提到真主与自称为基督徒者所立的盟约。由于他们背离了与真主所立的盟约，他们之间便播下了敌意的种子。他们各派之间的敌对将一直持续到末日审判之日。本段还提到犹太人的态度：尽管真主已应许他们可以拥有圣地，他们却怯懦地拒绝进入圣地。

This passage firstly discusses the covenant God made with the followers of Moses, when He saved them from subjugation in Egypt and their subsequent violations of this covenant. As a result, they were cursed and rejected by God. They were also denied His blessings and guidance. It also refers to the covenant God made with those who claimed to be Christians. As a result of their following a course contrary to their covenant with God, the seeds of enmity were sewn among them. Hostility among their different sects will continue until the Day of Judgement. The passage also refers to the attitude of the Jews when they cowardly refused to enter the Holy Land, although God had promised them that they would have it for themselves.

他们对穆萨说："你和你的主去吧，你们俩去作战，我们就留在这里。"（第24节）

They said to Moses: “Go forth, then you and your Lord, and fight, both of you. We shall stay here.” (Verse 24)

这种对这些盟约与誓约的阐释，以及先前蒙受启示者的态度，也揭示了犹太教和基督教信仰中已经渗入的歪曲。他们所立的盟约中包含一个条件：他们应继续信仰真主的独一，并全然顺服于祂。如此，他们便能履行自己的那一部分约定，赢得真主所赐予他们的一切恩典，以及祂给予他们的胜利保证。然而他们拒绝了这一切，因此招致了真主诅咒的惩罚，最终陷入分裂，并遭受他人的迫害。

This exposition of these pledges and covenants, and the attitudes of those who were previously given revelations, also reveals the distortion that had crept into the Jewish and Christian faiths. Included in their covenants was a condition that they would continue to believe in God’s oneness and fully submit to Him. By so doing, they would fulfil their part of the bargain and earn all the blessings God had bestowed on them and the guarantees of victory He had given them. They refused all this and, consequently, incurred the scourge of God’s curse and ended up in disunity, suffering persecution by others.

诚然,真主与以色列的后裔立约,我从他们中间设立了十二位首领。真主说:"我必与你们同在。如果你们谨守拜功,完纳天课,信奉我的使者并辅助他们,并向真主奉献慷慨的借贷,我必赦免你们的罪过,使你们进入下临诸河的乐园。但你们中在此之后仍然不信的人,必定已迷失了正道。"由于他们违背了盟约,我便弃绝了他们,使他们的心变得刚硬。他们曲解经文的原意,断章取义。而且,他们忘记了所被告诫应当牢记的许多内容。除了其中少数人之外,你总会发现他们在背信弃义。但你应当宽恕他们,容忍他们。真主喜爱行善的人。

Indeed, God made a covenant with the Children of Israel and We appointed among them twelve captains. God said: I shall be with you. If you attend to your prayers, practise regular charity, believe in My messengers and support them and offer up to God a generous loan, I shall forgive you your sins and admit you into gardens through which running waters flow. But any of you who, after this, rejects the faith will indeed have strayed from the right path. Then for having broken their covenant, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden. They now distort the meaning of [revealed] words, taking them out of their context. Moreover, they have forgotten much of what they have been told to bear in mind. From all but a few of them you will always experience treachery. But pardon them, and forbear. God loves those who do good.

同样，对于那些说“我们是基督徒”的人，我们也曾与他们立下坚定的盟约；但他们也忘记了所被嘱咐当铭记的许多内容。因此，我们使他们之间产生了敌意和仇恨，并将持续到复活日。真主将向他们说明他们所做过的事情。（第12-14节）

Likewise, from those who said, “We are Christians, “We have accepted a firm covenant, but they, too, have forgotten much of what they had been told to bear in mind. Therefore, We have given rise among them to enmity and hatred to last until the Day of Resurrection. God will make clear to them what they have done. (Verses 12-14)

真主曾经从以色列的后裔那里接受了一份盟约,其中规定了一个具体的条件,并规定了违约时的惩罚。在阐述促成这一盟约确立的种种情况之后,本章接着提到了盟约的条款、条件和惩罚。这份盟约是与以色列人的十二位首领所立,他们代表着从雅各(即以色列)繁衍而来的全部十二个支派。每个支派都源自雅各的一个儿子。盟约的条款如下:"真主说:'我必与你们同在。如果你们谨守拜功,施行天课,信仰我的众使者并支持他们,并向真主奉献慷慨的借贷,我必赦免你们的罪过,并让你们进入下临诸河的乐园。'"

The covenant God had accepted from the Children of Israel stated a specific condition and stipulated certain penalties in case of default. After explaining the circumstances leading to the confirmation of this covenant, the sūrah mentions its terms, conditions and penalties. It was a covenant made with the twelve captains of the Israelites, representing all twelve tribes descending from Jacob, or Israel. Each tribe descended from one of Jacob’s sons. The terms of the covenant are outlined as follows: “God said: ‘I shall be with you. If you attend to your prayers, practise regular charity, believe in My messengers and support them and offer up to God a generous loan, I shall forgive you your sins and admit you into gardens through which running waters flow.

“但你们中如果在此之后背弃信仰，那他确已偏离了正道。”（第12节）

But any of you who, after this, rejects the faith will indeed have strayed from the right path.” (Verse 12)

他们确实违背了与神所立的约；他们无正当理由地杀害了他们的先知，并且密谋杀害耶稣，将他钉十字架（愿主赐他平安）。

They have indeed broken their covenant with God; they killed their prophets for no legitimate reason, and they plotted to kill and crucify Jesus (peace be upon him)

他们的先知中的最后一位。他们还歪曲了他们所接受的启示经典,即《讨拉特》,并抛弃了其中的律法。他们对众先知中的最后一位穆罕默德ﷺ采取敌对的态度。他们阴谋对付他,背叛了他,并对他的使命采取了毫不妥协的敌视态度,甚至不惜违背他们与他所签订的条约。因此,真主剥夺了他们的正道指引,并弃绝了他们。他们的心被封闭得坚硬,以至于他们再也无法接受神圣的指引:“因为他们违背了盟约,我就弃绝了他们,使他们的心变得坚硬。他们歪曲经文的原义,使之脱离原来的上下文。他们也忘记了曾被提醒要牢记的大部分教训。”(第13节)

the last of their Prophets. They also distorted their revealed Scriptures, i.e. the Torah, and abandoned its laws. They adopted a hostile attitude towards the last of all Prophets, Muĥammad (peace be upon him). They schemed against him and betrayed him and adopted an uncompromising attitude of hostility towards his message, not hesitating to violate the treaty they signed with him. As a result, God denied them His guidance and rejected them. Their hearts were caused to harden so that they could no longer be the recipients of Divine guidance: “Then for having broken their covenant, We rejected them and caused their hearts to harden. They now distort the meaning of [revealed] words, taking them out of their context. Moreover, they have forgotten much of what they have been told to bear in mind.” (Verse 13)

诚然,真主所言属实。这些是以色列人的显著特征:他们的面容上明显带着一种诅咒的痕迹,根植于其邪恶的品性之中;他们心肠硬如磐石,容不下一丝慈悲的笑容,行事也不顾人的感受。当他们有所畏惧,或有利益需要谋取时,或当他们试图在人们之间挑起纷争时,他们或许显得温和;然而,他们的硬心肠终究会显露出来,暴露出他们内心深处的残忍与缺乏怜悯。他们的本性如此,以至于他们歪曲启示的经文,断章取义。他们歪曲了自己的启示经典,并将其呈现为与摩西(愿主福安之)所传的不同。他们这样做的方式不止一种:他们在经典中增添了许多符合其狡诈目的的内容,并借此为追求邪恶目的提供宗教上的依据,而他们却诬称这些是出自真主。他们还依据自己的成见来解释经典中仍然保留的原始经文,使之迎合他们的邪恶图谋。

Indeed, God tells the truth. These were the distinctive features of the Israelites; a curse clearly apparent in their faces and deeply entrenched in their evil character, a hardness that left no room for a compassionate smile, and actions that took no heed of human feelings. They may appear gentle when they have something to fear or an interest to further, or when they try to sow the seeds of discord among people, but their hardness will nevertheless surface revealing how, deep at heart, they are cruel, devoid of mercy. Such was their essential nature that they distorted revealed words, took it all out of context. They distorted their revealed Book and presented it in a light different from that given to Moses (peace be upon him). They did this in more ways than one. They added to their Book much of what served their devious goals and gave them religious justification for pursuing their wicked ends, which they falsely attributed to God. They also interpreted such original statements as remained in their Book according to their prejudices, this to fit them to their wicked designs.

此外,他们故意抛弃或遗忘了其信仰的基本准则,并使其在社会中得不到实行,因为实行这些准则就要求他们遵循一种纯洁无瑕、为真主所悦纳的方法。

真主也与祂的使者（愿主福安之）以及穆斯林群体有关联：祂也曾与自称“基督徒”的人立下坚定的盟约，但他们同样背弃了盟约，并承受了后果。正如经文所说：“同样，对那些说‘我们是基督徒’的人，我也曾接受他们的坚定盟约，但他们也忘记了所被告诫要牢记的大部分内容。”

God also relates to His Messenger (peace be upon him) and to the Muslim community that He accepted a covenant from those who described themselves as Christians, but they, too, were unfaithful to their covenant and suffered the consequences: “Likewise, from those who said, ‘We are Christians’, We have accepted a firm covenant, but they, too, have forgotten much of what they had been told to bear in mind.

因此，我使他们之间产生了敌意和仇恨，直到复活日。真主将让他们明白自己所做的事情。（第14节）

Therefore, We have given rise among them to enmity and hatred to last until the Day of Resurrection. God will make clear to them what they have done.” (Verse 14)

这节经文开头的描述特别值得留意：“同样，对于那些说‘我们是基督徒’的人，我们也与他们立下了坚定的盟约。”这种表述告诉我们，他们只是口头宣称自己是基督徒，却没有在实际中践行其所宣称的信仰。他们盟约的实质，是相信上帝的独一性。然而，正是在这一根本问题上，偏离逐渐侵入了基督教的历史。他们盟约中这一核心条款，竟成了他们所被嘱咐之事中被遗忘的部分。当它被遗忘之后，各种偏离便都成为可能，古老与新兴的、数不清的基督教派别和教会之间便爆发了敌对，关于这一点我们稍后将作简要说明。上帝告诉我们，他们之间的敌意与仇恨将持续到复活日。此外，他们还将在后世遭受惩罚，届时他们所行之事将以清晰的image呈现在他们面前。

This verse begins with a particularly significant description: “Likewise, from those who said: ‘We are Christians’, We have accepted a firm covenant.” This mode of expression tells us that they simply professed to be Christians without giving practical credence to their claims. The essence of their covenant was to believe in God’s oneness. Yet it was in regard to this very issue that deviation crept into the history of Christianity. It is this central clause in their covenant which became the forgotten part of what they had enjoined. When it was forgotten, every deviation became possible and enmity broke out between the numberless sects and churches of Christianity, old and new, as we will shortly but briefly explain. God tells us that their enmity and hatred will continue until the Day of Resurrection. Moreover, they will suffer the punishment of the Hereafter, at the time when they will be shown a clear image of what they have done in this life.

古往今来的历史中，自称为基督徒的人之间发生了许多冲突、敌对和仇恨。这一切在事实上印证了真实之书中神所告诉我们的话。他们彼此之间的战争所造成的流血，远远超过历史上他们与非基督徒之间的战争。他们相互争斗，原因是信仰原则上的分歧、宗教至上地位的争执，以及政治、经济和社会问题上的纷争。许多代人已经过去，但他们的敌意和战争并未平息。正如那位永远说真话的主所说，这些纷争将一直持续到审判日。这一切都是他们违背对神的盟约、疏忽神所命令他们去做之事的自然结果。正如我们已经说过的，他们盟约的第一条是相信神的独一，而恰恰是这第一条，在耶稣基督被神接升之后不久就被他们抛弃了。

Old and modern history has witnessed much conflict, hostility and enmity between those who claim to be Christians. All this gives factual endorsement to what God tells us in His truthful Book. Their wars against each other have caused much more bloodshed than the wars they fought against non-Christians throughout history. They have fought each other because of conflicts over principles of faith, disputes over religious supremacy and quarrels over political, economic and social issues. Many generations have passed but their hostility and their wars have not subsided. They will continue to flare up until the Day of Judgement as stated by the One who always says the truth. This is all a natural result of their violation of their pledges to God and their negligence of what He commanded them to do. As we have already said, the first item in their covenant is to believe in God’s oneness and it is this first item that they abandoned shortly after Jesus Christ had been raised by God.

那些过去接受过启示的人，很难接受一位并不属于他们的先知号召他们顺服真主。这位先知出身于一个不识字的民族，而他们过去正是因为这些人不识字而轻视他们，自己却拥有天启的经典。真主想要赐予这些不识字的人以极大的尊荣，因此从他们中间选出了将成为最后一位先知的人。他又把自己最终的讯息赐给他们，面向全人类。真主教导这些不识字的人，使他们成为世上知识水平最高的人。这一转变使他们拥有了最高的信仰、最一致而健全的生活方式、最完备的制度与律法、最稳固的社会结构，以及最崇高的道德标准。这一切都是真主在选择伊斯兰作为他们的信仰时所赐予的恩典的一部分。如果没有真主所赐予的这份恩典，那些不识字的人本不可能成为人类的引导者。事实上，除了他们的信仰所给予他们的东西之外，他们过去从未有、将来也永远不会有任何可以奉献给人类的东西。

Those people who received revelations in the past found it rather hard to accept that a Prophet who did not belong to them should call on them to submit themselves to God. This Prophet belonged to a nation of illiterate people whom they used to despise, on account of their being unlettered while they themselves had Divine Scriptures. God wanted to bestow a great honour on those unlettered people and, therefore, He chose from among them the individual who was to become the last of all Prophets. He also gave them His final message, addressed to all mankind. He taught those unlettered people to become the ones with the highest standard of knowledge on earth. This transformation made them the ones with the highest beliefs, the most consistent and sound way of life, the most complete system and legal code, the soundest social set-up and the most sublime standard of morality. All this was part of the grace God bestowed on them when He chose Islam to be their faith. Those unlettered people could not have aspired to be the guides for humanity without this grace they received from God. Indeed, they never had and will never have anything to offer humanity except for what their faith gives them.

在这段神圣的训谕中，明确告诫有经人，他们应当皈依伊斯兰，信仰穆罕默德并支持他，因为这是神从他们那里接受的盟约的一部分。他们被清楚地告知，神亲自作证：这位不识字的先知是神派来的使者，不仅派给阿拉伯人，也派给全人类，也包括他们。 不可否认，他的使命是神赐予他的，因此不能承认他的使命只针对阿拉伯人的说法；实际上，它也针对先前启示的追随者：“有经的人啊！我的使者已经来到你们那里，为你们阐明你们过去隐瞒的许多经典内容，并且饶恕你们的许多过失。”（第15节）他已派遣使者到你们中间，使者的职责是为你们揭开真相，使你们看清事物的实质。由此你们可以看到，他如何把你们曾经蓄意掩盖的、关于先前启示中根本真理的内容公之于众。

In this Divine address to the people of earlier Scriptures, it is made clear that they are called upon to accept Islam, believe in Muĥammad and support him, as this has been part of their covenant which God accepted from them. They are clearly told that God Himself is a witness that this Prophet who could not read and write was His Messenger to them as well as to the Arabs and to all mankind. There is no denying the fact that his message was given to him by God, and no claim can be admitted that his message was addressed to the Arabs only; it is, indeed, addressed also to the people of earlier revelations: “People of earlier revelations, Our Messenger has come to you to make clear to you much of what you have been concealing of the Scriptures, and to forgive you much.” (Verse 15) He has sent a Messenger to you, and his role is to open things up to you so that you see them in their reality. You can thus see how he brings out into the open what you have conspired to suppress of the basic truth of the revelations given to you.

然后阐明了这位最后的使者所被赋予的启示的本质、它在人类生活中所注定要起的作用，以及它的实际效果："真主确已降临你们一道光明和一部明白的经典。"（第15节）或许没有什么比称其为"一道光"更准确、更全面地表达古兰经和伊斯兰的神圣讯息的本质了。一个信士在内心深处，在他生活的方方面面，在他对事物、事件和人物的评判中，一旦接受了信仰的真理，便会意识到自己拥有一道光，它使一切对他都变得清晰。他面前的一切都亮了起来。他不再对任何事情感到困惑；在做出重大决定之前，他不再有任何犹豫；他不再走在没有标记的道路上，也不再对自己的方向感到迷茫。他的最终目标是清晰的，通往目标的道路是笔直的，他对自己的每一步都充满把握。

The nature of what the last Messenger has been given, the role it is destined to play in human life and its practical effect are then explained: “There has come to you from God a light and a clear Book.” (Verse 15) Perhaps nothing expresses the nature of the Qur’ān and the Divine message of Islam more accurately and comprehensively than stating that it is “a light”. In his heart of hearts, in everything in his life, in his evaluation of things, events and people, a believer realises as soon as he accepts the truth of faith that he has a light that makes everything clear to him. Everything brightens up in front of him. No longer is he confused about anything; no longer does he suffer any hesitation before taking a serious decision; no longer is he travelling an unmarked road and no longer is he uncertain of his direction. His ultimate goal is clear. His way towards it is straight and he is certain of his footsteps.

有两种品质描述了赐予尊贵的使者的讯息:“一道光明和一部明白的经典。”真主喜悦地选择了顺服,即伊斯兰,作为人类的宗教。凡遵循真主为他所喜悦选择的,并欣然接受的人,真主将引导他“走上平安之路”。这一描述何等真实、何等精确。这信仰给整个生活所带来的,是广义上的平安。它是个人内心的平安,是社群的平安,是整个世界的平安。它是与自己良心的平安,与自己的心智和身体的平安。它是家庭与家人之间的平安,是社会与社区中的平安,也是与全人类的平安。

Two qualities describe the message which was given to the noble Messenger: “a light and a clear book” It has been God’s pleasure to choose self-surrender, or Islam, as a religion for mankind. Anyone who follows what God has been pleased to choose for him and accepts it with pleasure will be guided by God “to the paths of peace”. How true and accurate this description is. What this faith imparts to life as a whole is peace, in the broadest sense of the term. It is peace within the individual, the community and the whole world. It is peace with one’s conscience, with one’s mind and body. It is peace within the home and family, society and the community and with humanity at large.

这是与生命、宇宙以及造物主真主之间的和平。人类只有通过遵循这一信仰并实行其律法与制度，才真正认识并体验到这种和平。

It is peace with life, the universe and with the Creator, God. Mankind never knew or experienced this sort of peace except through following this faith and implementing its laws and systems.

凡是寻求真主喜悦、遵循伊斯兰教的人，真主必引导他“走入和平之路”，这一点千真万确，涵盖上述生活的各个方面。除非是亲身经历过愚昧社会——无论古代还是现代——战争之路上的生活，或者亲身体验过偏离正道的信仰、错误的律法与制度在人心中所引发的忧虑与不安的人，否则无人能真正体会这份恩典有多么深远。最先聆听这些古兰经启示的人，正是凭借他们在愚昧社会中的过往经历，才领悟到这份和平的真正含义，而这份和平也为他们的个人生活带来了幸福。

It is a true fact that through this religion of Islam God guides anyone who seeks His pleasure by following it “to the paths of peace” in all the aforementioned aspects of life. No one can appreciate how profound a blessing this is except a person who has experienced what life is like along the paths of war in ignorant societies, old and modern, or one who has experienced the turmoil of worry and restlessness generated within man’s conscience by deviant faiths, or erroneous laws and systems. Those who were the first to be addressed by these Qur’ānic revelations realised, as a result of their past experience in ignorant societies, the true meaning of this peace which brought happiness into their personal lives.

不信道者确已不信，他们说："安拉就是麦尔彦之子麦西哈。"你说："如果安拉要毁灭麦尔彦之子麦西哈和他的母亲以及地上的所有人，谁能在安拉面前为他们做任何事情呢？"天地之国以及其间的万物都属于安拉，他创造他所意欲的，安拉对万事都有大能。（第17节）

Unbelievers indeed are they who say: “God is the Christ, son of Mary.” Say: Who could have prevailed with God in any way had it been His will to destroy the Christ, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on earth? To God belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He creates what He wills and God has power over all things. (Verse 17)

耶稣（愿主赐他平安）所传达的信息，是主所赐予他的讯息，即真主独一的信息，这也是赐予每一位使者的信息。 Wait: the rules say never write "Allah", use God word in Chinese (安拉 would be Allah; use 主/真主? The rules say write the Chinese word for God). Correct translation should use 神 (Chinese word for God). Also "(peace be upon him)" should stay as words in Chinese: (愿主赐他平安) is written-out honorific, which rule says keep as words translated. Fix: 耶稣（愿他平安）所传达的信息，是他的主所赐予的，即神的绝对独一，这也是赐予每一位使者的信息。

The message Jesus (peace be upon him) conveyed as given to him by his Lord was the message of God’s absolute oneness which has been given to every messenger.

每一位使者所持的态度，都是对唯一的神的全然顺服，承认祂是独一的神，是全宇宙的主。然而，这种清晰的信仰后来遭到扭曲：异教徒接受了基督教之后，仍保留了其旧有异教信仰的一些痕迹，并热衷于将这些内容引入以神的独一性为基础的信仰之中。随着时间推移，这些偏离的信念逐渐成为整个信仰不可分割的组成部分。

Total submission to God alone as the only God and the Lord of the universe was the attitude adopted by every messenger. This clear faith, however, later became distorted after pagans adopted Christianity, retaining some traces of their old pagan beliefs which they were keen to introduce into the faith based on God’s oneness. As time passed, these deviant beliefs became an integral part of the whole faith.

这些偏离的信仰并非同时出现。教会公会议在不同时期陆续引入它们，最终形成了这种极其混乱的传说与观念的混合体，即便是试图对其作出合乎逻辑解释的拥护者，也无法自圆其说。

These deviant beliefs were not introduced all at the same time. Ecclesiastical councils introduced them at different intervals until they eventually produced this singularly confusing mixture of legends and concepts that defies even those of its advocates who try to give a logical interpretation of it.

关于真主独一性的基本理念，是在耶稣之后才被宣讲的。 Wait: the rules say God → Chinese word for God (真主 is used for Allah in Chinese Islamic texts; the rule says write the Chinese word for God, never "Allah"). Use 上帝 for God. Honorific "(peace be upon him)" should be written as words, which stays as words in Chinese (Simplified), so "（愿主赐他平安）" would be a written-out honorific. Rule says other honorifics written in words stay words in Chinese. Corrected translation: 关于上帝独一性的基本理念，是在耶稣（愿主赐他平安）之后才被宣讲的。

The basic concept of God’s oneness was preached after Jesus (peace be upon him)

最后的使者宣告了关于此事的最终裁定，向曾经领受启示之人阐明了真正的神圣信仰之本质："那些说'真主就是麦尔彦之子麦西哈'的人，确已不信。"（第17节）"那些说真主是三位一体之一的人，确已不信。"（第73节）在此，人们被劝导去聆听理性、纯正的天性与事实的声音："你说：'如果真主想要消灭麦尔彦之子麦西哈、他的母亲以及地上的一切人，谁能在任何方面阻止真主呢？'"（第17节）这表明，真主、祂的本质、意志与主权，与麦西哈之子耶稣（愿主赐其平安）、其母以及一切受造物的本质之间，存在着绝对而不容置疑的区别。这种区别清晰而彻底。真主是独一的；没有任何事物与祂相似；祂的意志是绝对的；祂的权能是全面的；倘若祂欲消灭麦尔彦之子麦西哈、他的母亲以及地上的所有人，没有任何人能够逆转祂的意志。至尊的祂拥有并创造了一切，而其余一切皆为受造之物："天地的主权是真主的，天地之间的万物也是真主的。祂创造祂所意欲的；真主对万事全能。"（第17节）

The final message gives the ultimate ruling on this whole issue, with the final Messenger declaring to the people who received revelations in former times the true nature of the Divine faith: “Unbelievers indeed are they who say: ‘God is the Christ, son of Mary.‘“ (Verse 17) “Unbelievers indeed are those who claim that God is one of a Trinity.” (Verse 73) An effort is made here to persuade them to listen to the voice of reason, upright nature and fact: “Say: Who could have prevailed with God in any way had it been His will to destroy the Christ, son of Mary, and his mother, and everyone on earth?” (Verse 17) This represents an absolute and undeniable distinction between God, His nature, will and dominion on the one hand and the nature of Jesus (peace be upon him); his mother and all beings on the other. The difference is clear and total. God is single; nothing is like Him; His will is absolute; His authority is total; no one can do anything to reverse His will should He desire to destroy the Christ, son of Mary, his mother and everyone on earth. He, the most glorious owns and creates everything, while all else are created: “To God belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and all that is between them. He creates what He wills and God has power over all things.” (Verse 17)

因此，伊斯兰信仰以其真实的面貌呈现在所有人面前：简单、清晰、直截了当。

The Islamic faith thus appears to all in its true light: simple, clear, straightforward.

它的清晰性在与那些已渗入部分先前蒙受启示者信仰中的一切错误观念、传说和异教信仰相比时，显得更加突出。伊斯兰信仰的第一个显著特征十分明显：它毫不含糊地阐明了神性的真实本质，以及对真主的崇拜与顺服。它也最为坚决地区分了这两种地位。

Its clarity is even more enhanced in comparison to all erroneous concepts, legends and pagan beliefs which have crept into the faith of a section of those who were given earlier revelations. The first distinctive feature of the Islamic faith becomes prominent as it states without any trace of ambiguity the true nature of Godhead, as well as servitude and submission to God. It separates the two positions most decisively.

接着，这一章提到犹太教徒和基督教徒所提出的另一种说法："犹太教徒和基督教徒说：'我们是真主的子民，是他所宠爱的人。'"（第18节）

The sūrah then mentions another claim pressed by the Jews and Christians: “Both the Jews and the Christians say: ‘We are God’s children and His loved ones.‘“ (Verse 18)

他们声称，某种形式的父子关系属于真主。若这种父子关系并非肉体上的，那它便是精神上的。无论是哪一种，它都会对真主独一的理念投下疑云，并模糊真主与祂的仆人之间本应截然分明的界限。事实上，这种界限对于信仰的清晰和人类生活的正常秩序而言都是必要的。唯有如此，全体受造物才能将一切崇拜专一地献给真主。真主拥有唯一的立法权威，为人类确立价值、准则、律法与制度；若权威的品质与地位混杂不清，权威就会紊乱。这不仅仅是信仰偏差的问题，更是其后果的问题：这些后果必然会败坏整个生活。

They allege that some sort of parenthood belongs to God. If this fatherhood is not a physical one, then it is spiritual. Whatever it is, it throws an element of doubt on the concept of God’s oneness and detracts from the decisive separation between the position of God and that of His servants. The fact is that this separation is necessary for the clarity of faith and the proper order of human life. It is essential so that all worship is addressed to God by all His creation. They, thus, have a single legislative authority which sets for them their values, standards, laws and systems, with no confusion of authority resulting from a jumble of qualities and positions. It is not merely a question of deviant beliefs, but a question of their consequences that are bound to corrupt life as a whole.

由于犹太教徒和基督徒宣称自己是神的子民和神所钟爱的人，他们进而断言，神不会因他们的罪过而惩罚他们，他们也不会在火狱中停留超过几天，甚至根本不会入火狱。这实际上意味着，神的公义没有得到妥善施行，而且神偏袒他的一部分仆人，允许他们在地上行作恶之事，却不像惩罚其他做同样事情的人那样惩罚他们。我们能想象这种观念可能导致怎样的堕落生活吗？

As a logical consequence of their claim that they are the children of God and His loved ones, the Jews and Christians claimed that He would not punish them for their sins, and that they would not be in Hell for more than a few days, if at all. This means in plain terms that God’s justice is not administered properly and that He favours a section of His servants by allowing them to spread corruption on earth without punishing them as He punishes others who would do the same. Can we imagine the sort of corrupt life that may result from such a concept?

在这一点上，伊斯兰教最坚决地拒斥这类偏离正道的信仰及其对生活造成败坏的现实后果。它强调，真主的公正是绝对的。

At this point, Islam rejects most decisively such deviant beliefs and their practical consequences which corrupt life. It stresses the fact that God’s justice is absolute:

“你说：‘那么，他为何因你们的罪过而惩罚你们呢？你们只是他所创造的人类。’他宽恕他所意欲的人，惩罚他所意欲的人。”（第18节）因此，他们自称是神之子的说法被declared为虚假的。他们不过与其他人类无异。宽恕还是惩罚，都依据同一条规则来决定，即依据神的旨意——神已设定了宽恕的某些理由，以及惩罚的另外一些理由。两者都不是由他们与神的任何特殊关系所决定的。

“Say: Why then does He punish you for your sins? You are only human beings of His creation. He forgives whom He will and punishes whom He will.” (Verse 18) Their claims of being God’s children are, thus, stated to be false. They are no more than other human beings. Forgiveness or punishment is determined by the same rule, based on God’s will which has established certain reasons for forgiveness and different ones for punishment. Neither is determined by any special relationship with God.

在这一段经文中，讲述了以色列的后裔对神派给他们的使者穆萨（愿主赐其平安）的态度。穆萨是他们的救星，带领他们走出埃及，前往神为他们所指定的圣地。

At this point in the sūrah, the attitude of the Children of Israel towards God’s Messenger sent to them, Moses (peace be upon him), is given. Moses was their saviour who led them out of Egypt towards the holy land God had assigned to them.

该章还揭示了他们对与主所立之约的态度，以及他们如何违背此约，并因此受到惩罚。

The sūrah also exposes their attitude to the covenant they made with their Lord and how they violated it and were punished for that violation.

于是穆萨对他的族人说:"我的族人啊,你们应当记念真主赐予你们的恩惠:当时他在你们中间设立众先知,使你们为君王,并赏赐你们前所未赏赐任何人的恩典。我的族人啊,你们应当进入真主为你们规定的圣地,不要退缩,否则你们将遭受亏损。"他们说:"穆萨啊,那里有强大的民族,我们绝不进去,除非他们离开那里。如果他们离开了,我们就进去。"当时,两个敬畏真主、并蒙受真主恩惠的人说:"你们可以从城门攻入他们那里,你们一进去就必定胜利。如果你们是信士,就应当依赖真主。"他们说:"穆萨啊,只要他们还在那里,我们永远不会进去。你和你的主去作战吧,我们就坐在这里。"穆萨说:"我的主啊,我只能主宰我自己和我的兄弟,求你在我们和这些悖逆的人之间作出判决。"真主说:"这片土地,在四十年内要禁止他们进入,他们将在大地上迷途。你不要为这些悖逆的人而忧伤。"(第20-26节)

And so Moses said to his people: `My people, remember the favours which God has bestowed upon you when He raised up prophets among you, made you kings and granted you what He has not granted to any other community. My people, enter the holy land which God has assigned to you. Do not turn your back, for then you will be lost.’” “Moses,” they answered, `mighty people dwell in that land, and we will surely not enter it unless they depart from it. If they do depart, then we will enter.” Thereupon two men who were God-fearing and on whom God had bestowed His grace said: “Go in upon them through the gate. As soon as you enter it, you shall be victorious. In God you should place your trust, if you are true believers.” They said, “Moses, we will never go in so long as they are in it. Go forth, then, you and your Lord, and fight, both of you. We shall stay here.” “Lord, “he said, `I am master of none but myself and my brother. Do, then, draw a dividing line between us and these wrongdoing folk.” He replied, “This land shall, then, be forbidden to them for forty years, during which they will wonder aimlessly on earth. Do not grieve for these wrongdoing folk.” (Verses 20-26)

这只是《古兰经》中以大量细节叙述的以色列后裔故事中的一段。这一叙述有多重目的，其中之一与以下事实相关：以色列后裔是最早以恶毒的阴谋、诡计以及公开战争来对抗伊斯兰教讯息的人，无论是在麦地那，还是在整个阿拉伯半岛。

This is only one episode in the story of the Children of Israel which is related in the Qur’ān in extensive detail to serve several purposes. One purpose relates to the fact that the Children of Israel were the first to confront the Islamic message with wicked designs, plots and open warfare both in Madinah and the whole of Arabia.

他们的敌对态度可以追溯到伊斯兰使命的最早时期。正是他们鼓励并培育了麦地那的伪善行为与伪信者,为他们提供了谋划反对伊斯兰和穆斯林的条件。

Their hostile attitude could be traced back to the very early days of the Islamic message. It was they who encouraged and nurtured hypocrisy and the hypocrites in Madinah, providing them with the means to scheme against Islam and the Muslims.

以色列人的本性在此暴露无遗，毫无掩饰。他们面临危险，于是放弃了一切虚张声势的努力。即便神向他们许诺要使这片土地归他们所有，也不足以激励他们。他们想要一份更容易得到的奖赏，不必付出任何代价。这份奖赏应当从天而降，正如当年为他们降下吗哪和鹌鹑供他们食用一样。"那片土地上住着强壮的人民，除非他们离开那里，我们绝不会进去。如果他们离开，我们就进去。"（第22节）

The Israelite nature appears here unmasked, without cosmetics. They were facing danger and, therefore, all attempts to put on a brave face were abandoned. Not even God’s promise to them to make this land theirs was sufficient to motivate them. They wanted an easier prize, without having to pay any price. It should come to them from heaven just as manna and quails were sent down for them to eat. “Mighty people dwell in that land, and we will surely not enter it unless they depart from it. If they do depart, then we will enter” (Verse 22)

然而,胜利并非如犹太人在缺乏信仰时所期望的那样获得:"当时有两个敬畏真主、蒙真主恩赐的人说:'你们从城门进去攻击他们,一进城门,你们必定获胜。如果你们是信士,你们就应当信赖真主。'"(第23节)

Victory, however, does not come in this manner as the Jews wanted when they were devoid of faith: “Thereupon two men who were God- fearing and on whom God had bestowed His grace said: ‘Go in upon them through the gate. As soon as you enter it, you shall be victorious. In God you should place your trust, if you are true believers.’” (Verse 23)

信仰与敬畏真主的价值在此显得非常清楚。这两个人敬畏真主,因此当他们面对强大的人时,敬畏真主使他们完全无所畏惧。他们拥有驱散虚妄危险所需的全部勇气。他们作出这番见证,突显了信仰的重要性,以及在考验与艰难之时的意义。他们要向人们展示,在人们彼此畏惧的时候,唯独敬畏真主意味着什么。真主不会让同一个人的心中同时存有两种畏惧:畏惧真主与畏惧世人。敬畏真主的人,不再畏惧任何其他人。

The value of having faith and of being God-fearing appears very clearly. These were two men who feared God, and being God-fearing made them totally fearless when they confronted mighty people. They had all the courage needed to dispel the imaginary danger. They made this testimony, highlighting the importance of faith and the time of trial and difficulty. They wanted to show what it meant to fear God alone at times when people fear each other. God does not combine the two feelings of fear in any one man’s heart: fearing Him and fearing human beings. A person who fears God fears no one else.

“你们从城门进攻他们，一旦你们进入，你们必获胜利。”（第23节）这是与敌人交战的一条基本原则。此处劝告犹太人发动进攻，直接深入到对方的家园之中。

“Go in upon them through the gate. As soon as you enter it, you shall be victorious.” (Verse 23) This is a basic rule in how to fight the enemy. The Jews are advised here to launch an offensive which takes them right through into the other people’s homes.

一旦他们进入，其他人就会士气低落，而他们自己的士气则会极为高涨。遭受攻击的一方将彻底丧失信心，而进攻者将获胜。

Once they are in, the others will be demoralised while their own morale will be high indeed. Those attacked will suffer a total loss of confidence and the attackers will win.