这一简短的章节勾勒出了一套基于伊斯兰观点的完整人生体系。它以最清晰、最简练的方式界定了信仰的基本概念及其全面的实质。寥寥数语便涵盖了整部伊斯兰宪章，事实上，穆斯林群体的基本品质与使命仅在最后一节经文中便已得到描述。这种清晰而极具表现力的文风，唯有真主才能做到。

This very short sūrah outlines a complete system for human life based on the Islamic viewpoint. It defines, in the clearest and most concise form, the basic concept of faith in the context of its comprehensive reality. In a few words the whole Islamic constitution is covered and in fact, the Muslim community is described in its essential qualities and message in one verse only, the last. Such is the clear and most expressive style of which only God is capable.

本章所要确立的重大事实很简单：纵观人类历史，始终只有一条值得走、可以信赖的道路，正是本章所描述的那一条。其他一切道路都只会导向亏损与毁灭。正如其大意所示，这条道路首先是信仰的确立，其次是善行，再者是互相劝勉遵循真理，并在逆境中坚忍不拔。

The great fact which this sūrah affirms is simply that throughout the history of mankind there has been one worthwhile and trustworthy path, which is, specifically, the one the sūrah describes. All other ways lead only to loss and ruin. As it says in outline, this way means first the adoption of faith, followed by good deeds and exhortation to follow the truth and to persevere in the face of adversity.

那么，信仰的接纳意味着什么？我们在此不给出它的法学定义，而是阐述它的本质及其在人类生活中的重要性。

What does the adoption of faith then mean? We shall not give here its juristic definition. Instead, we shall describe its nature and importance in human life.

信仰是这样一种品质：人作为一个渺小的生灵，生命短暂，身处有限的世界之中，借此得以亲近那绝对而永恒的造物主，亲近宇宙及其中一切存在的本源。由此，他便与整个宇宙建立起联系。宇宙源于那唯一的本源，并受其规律支配，蕴含着其所赋予的力量与潜能。于是，他得以挣脱自身微不足道的狭小边界，走向宇宙的广阔；从自己微弱的力量，走向那伟大而未知的宇宙能量；从短暂生命的局限，走向唯有真主所能全知的永恒。

Faith is the characteristic by which man, a small creature with a life of short duration in a limited world, attains closeness to the Absolute and Everlasting Originator of the universe and all that exists in it. He thus establishes a link with the whole universe, which springs from that One Origin, with the laws governing it and the powers and potentialities it provides. As a result, he breaks away from the narrow boundaries of his trivial self to the broadness of the universe, from his inadequate power to the great unknown universal energies, and from the limits of his short life to the eternity that God alone comprehends.

这种与真主的联结，赋予人以坚定的力量、无限的空间和自由。它使人能够充分享受这美好的生命，并使他的生活因与其他受造物之间的相互友谊而充实。如此，生命对人而言便成为一段随时随地都令人愉悦的旅程。由此产生的是永恒的幸福，以及对生命与创造的深切理解。这是无价的收获，缺少它则是无法估量的损失。

This bond with God grants man assured power, limitless scope and freedom. It endows him with great enjoyment of this beautiful life and enriches his life with a mutual friendship with other creatures. Thus life becomes a pleasant journey for man everywhere and at all times. From this an everlasting happiness and intimate understanding of life and creation are derived. This is the invaluable gain, to lack which is an immeasurable loss.

信仰的品质也正是崇高而有尊严的人性的品质,例如对独一真主的崇拜,它使人超越于对他人的奴役之上,并在他心中确立人类一切平等的真理,使他不向除真主(独一、绝对者)之外的任何人屈服或低头。其结果是,人享有真正的自由,这种自由源自他的良心之中,因为他认识到这世上只有一种力量和一位主宰。这种解放从这样的觉悟中自然生发出来,因为这是唯一合乎逻辑的结果。

The qualities of faith are also precisely those of sublime and dignified humanity, such as the worship of one God which elevates man above servitude to others and establishes within him the truth of all mankind’s equality so that he neither yields nor bows down his head to anyone other than God, the One, the Absolute. The result is that man enjoys true liberty, which radiates from within his conscience following his realization that there is only one power and one Lord in this world. This liberation is spontaneously developed from such an awareness, for it is the only logical sequence.

敬神是有尊严的人性的第二个特质。这一特质决定了人从何处获取其观念、价值、标准、考量、教义、法则，以及一切使他与神、与整个世界、与其同类之人发生关系的事物。由此，公平与正义取代了个人欲望与私利。这增强了信徒对其生活方式价值的认识，使他超越一切蒙昧（jāhiliyyah）时代的观念、利益与世俗价值。即使信徒独自一人，身边没有同类之人，亦是如此。因为他以直接从神那里获得的价值来对抗这一切特征。因此，这些价值最为崇高、最为健全，也最值得崇敬与尊重。

信仰是人类生活中一切善行的根基。一切善的形式都源于信仰，其所有果实也都归于信仰。凡非出于信仰的，就如被砍断的树枝：必然枯萎凋零；或者只是一根旁生的枝条，有限而短暂！信仰是轴心，生活中所有精细织成的网络都与之相连。没有信仰，生活就是一连串松散的事件，在追逐欲望与幻想中被虚耗。信仰是一种意识形态，它将种种不同的行为纳入一个一致的体系之下，沿着同一条路线前行，服从同一种机制，拥有明确的动机和清晰界定的目标。

Faith is the foundation of all goodness in human life. It is from faith that all forms of goodness spring and to which all its fruits are due. What does not spring from faith is a branch cut from its tree: it is bound to fade and perish; or else, it is a stray shoot, limited and temporary! Faith is the axis to which all the fine fabric of life’s networks is connected. Without it life is a loose event, wasted through the pursuit of yearnings and fantasies. It is the ideology which brings together diversified deeds under a consistent system, following the same route and geared to the same mechanism, possessing a definite motive and a well-defined goal.

因此,凡不源于此本源、与此道路无关的一切行为,都被《古兰经》完全弃置不论。伊斯兰教在这一点上始终直言不讳。在第14章《易卜拉欣》中,我们读到:"那些不信主的人,他们的善功如同灰烬,在狂风猛烈的日子里被风吹散。他们所行的一切,都不能给他们带来任何益处。"(14:18)在第24章《光明》中,我们读到:"至于不信道的人,他们的善功如同旷野中的海市蜃楼,口渴的旅人以为那是水,但当他走近时,却发现它什么也不是。"(24:39)这些都是明确的论断,否定了一切与信仰无关的行为。事实是,信仰使人的行为具有一种与存在之本源相连的动机,以及一个与一切受造之目的相契合的方向。这是一种将一切事件归于真主的思想体系所具有的合乎逻辑的观点。凡与祂断绝关系的人,便会消逝,失去其存在的真实。

Hence, all deeds not stemming from this origin and not related to that way are completely disregarded by the Qur’ān. Islam is invariably candid over this. In Sūrah 14, Abraham, we read: “The works of those who disbelieve in their Lord are like ashes which the wind blows about fiercely on a stormy day. They cannot achieve any benefit from all that they might have earned.” (14: 18) In Sūrah 24, Light, we read: “As for the unbelievers, their deeds are like a mirage in the desert, which the thirsty traveller supposes to be water, but when he comes near to it, he finds that it is nothing.” (24: 39) These are clear statements discrediting every deed not related to faith. The fact is that faith gives a person’s deed a motive that is connected with the origin of existence and an aim compatible with the purpose of all creation. This is a logical view of an ideology that attributes all events to God. Whoever dissociates himself from Him, vanishes and loses the reality of his existence.

信仰是人天性健全、性情良好的标志。它也表明人与整个宇宙的本性相协调，表明人与周围世界之间存在相互的影响。只要人的行为正直，他的生活必然会引导他趋向信仰，因为这个宇宙本身就蕴含着无数迹象和见证，指向创造它的那无上的力量。如果情况相反，那一定是接受者，即人的状态出了问题或有所欠缺，这就是败坏的迹象，只会导致损失，并使任何看似有善行外表的行为归于无效。信徒的世界是如此广阔、全面，如此崇高、美丽，如此幸福，以至于与之相比，不信者的世界显得渺小、琐碎、卑下、软弱、丑陋和悲惨。

Faith is a sign of health in a person’s nature and soundness in his disposition. It also indicates man’s harmony with the nature of the whole universe, and the presence of mutual effect between man and the world around him. His life, as long as his behaviour is straightforward, must bring about an orientation which ends up in his adoption of faith because of what this universe itself possesses of signs and testimonies about the absolute power that created it. Were the contrary the case, something must then be wrong or lacking in the state of the recipient, i.e. man, which would be a sign of corruption that only leads to loss and nullifies any deed which might somehow give an appearance of righteousness. So extensive and comprehensive, so sublime and beautiful, so happy is the believers’ world that the world of unbelievers appears, by comparison, minute, trivial, low, feeble, ugly and miserable.

行善是信仰的自然结果。当信仰的真实在人的内心和思想中扎根之后，行善便会作为一种自发的互动随之产生。信仰是一个积极而主动的概念，一旦它渗透进人的良知，就会迫不及待地在善行中向外界显现自身。这就是伊斯兰对信仰的看法：信仰必须是有活力的。若非如此，它要么是虚假的，要么根本不存在，正如一朵花不可能隐藏它自然散发的芬芳，否则这芬芳根本就不在花中。

Doing what is righteous is the natural fruit of faith. It is a spontaneous interaction generated once the reality of faith settles inside the human heart and mind. For faith is a positive and active concept which, once it has pervaded the human conscience, hastens to reflect itself to the outside world in good deeds. This is the Islamic view of faith. It must be dynamic. If it is not, then it is either phoney or nonexistent, just as a flower cannot withhold its fragrance which naturally spreads. Otherwise, it is not in the flower at all.

由此我们认识到信仰的价值：它是充满活力的、积极的、富有创造性的、有成效的，并且完全致力于取悦真主。它与狭隘、消极或内向恰恰相反。它不仅仅是那些从未转化为行动的真诚而纯朴的意图。这正是伊斯兰教的显著特征，使它成为现实生活中的创造力量。

From all this we recognize the value of faith: it is dynamic, active, creative, productive and totally devoted to God’s pleasure. It is the opposite of narrowness, negativity or introversion. It is not just sincere and innocent intentions that never develop into actions. This is the distinguishing characteristic of Islam that makes it a creative power in practical life.

只有当信仰始终是人与真主所指明的生活方式之间的纽带时,上述这一切才是合乎逻辑的。这种生活方式的特点是在世界上和人们之中永恒的活力。它依照特定的规划建立,并指向确定的目标。此外,信仰推动人类去实践那些善良、纯洁、建设性和有益的事情。

All this is logical only as long as faith remains the link with the way of life God has outlined. This way of life is characterized by perpetual dynamism in the world and among people. It is founded according to a specific plan and orientated towards a definite goal. Moreover, faith propels humanity towards implementing what is good, pure, constructive and utilitarian.

彼此相劝遵循真理、在逆境中坚忍不拔，这展现出伊斯兰社会的一幅图景：它有着独特的整体性，其成员之间有着特殊的相互关系，并拥有同一个目标。它充分理解自身的地位、职责与义务。它认识到自身信仰的实质，以及它必须践行的善行，其中包括引领人类走上它所循的道路等任务。要履行这项重大的责任，彼此劝勉与规诫就成为必要。

Counselling one another to follow the truth and to persevere in the face of adversity reveals a picture of Islamic society which has its own very special entity, a unique inter-relationship between its individual members and a single objective. It fully understands its position, role and duties. It realizes the essence of its faith and what it has to do of good deeds which include, among other tasks, the leadership of humanity along its own way. To execute this tremendous duty, mutual counselling and exhortation become a necessity.

从"协商"（shūrā）一词的含义与本质中，可以清晰地描绘出一幅壮丽的图景：一个团结、协调、正直而开明的社会，在大地上追求正义、公平与善良。伊斯兰正是希望穆斯林社会呈现这样的面貌。

From the meaning and nature of the very word ‘counsel’ appears a most magnificent picture of a united, co-ordinated, righteous and enlightened community or society which pursues right, justice and goodness on this earth. This is exactly how Islam wants the Muslim community to be.

我们在这一切之下所看到的，人类在各处所遭受的损失是什么？

Now what, in the light of all this, is the loss humanity is suffering everywhere?

在善恶之争中，它的失败是何等惨重！它对阿拉伯人所传递的伟大讯息视而不见——当年阿拉伯人高举伊斯兰的旗帜，从而担起了引领人类的重任。阿拉伯民族抛弃了伊斯兰，如今却走在通往毁灭与沦丧的队伍最前列。

How great is its failure in the battle between good and evil as a result of turning a blind eye to the great message the Arabs delivered to it when they raised the banner of Islam and thus assumed the leadership of mankind? Having abandoned Islam, the Arab nation is in the forefront of the caravan which is heading towards loss and ruin.

自那时起,人类的旗帜便一直属于撒旦、虚妄、迷误、黑暗与败亡。为真主而树立的旗帜,为真理而树立的旗帜,为正道、光明与成功而树立的旗帜,至今无一面被高举。然而,真主的旗帜依然竖立着,等待着能够将它高举的手臂,等待着那个将在它之下迈向正直、正道与成功的民族。

Since then, the banners of mankind have been for Satan, falsehood, error, darkness and loss. No banner has been raised for God, truth, guidance, light or success. God’s banner, however, is still there awaiting the arms that will raise it and the nation which under it will advance towards righteousness, guidance and success.

迄今所说的一切，都是关于今世的得失。今世固然极为重要，但与后世相比，却微不足道。后世有永恒的生命，有一个真实的世界，在那里才有真正的盈利或真正的亏损；也就是说，或得以进入乐园、获得主的喜悦，或被剥夺这一切。人在那里，要么达到为他所允许的最高完善，要么彻底崩溃，人性被碾碎，最终变得如同一颗石子般毫无价值，甚至更糟：“在那日，人将看到自己的手所预先作的，不信道者将哭喊：‘但愿我是泥土！’”（78：40）

All that has been said so far concerned gain and loss in this life which, though of great importance, is very trivial in comparison with the hereafter. There is an everlasting life and a world of reality where real profit is made or real loss is suffered; that is, either the attainment of, or deprivation from, paradise and the pleasure of God. There man either accomplishes the highest of perfection allowed for him or completely collapses so that his humanity is crushed and ends up as worthless as pebbles or even worse: “On the day when man will look on what his hands have forwarded and the unbeliever will cry: ‘Would that I were dust.’“ (78: 40)

本章明确指出了使人类远离亏损的道路：

This sūrah is unequivocal in indicating the path leading humanity away from loss:

“除了那些信道、行善，并且彼此劝勉遵循真理、彼此劝勉坚忍耐性的人。”（第3节）唯一正确的道路，就是信仰、善行，以及一个穆斯林群体的存在——群体中的成员彼此劝勉遵循真理，并表现出坚韧与毅力。

“except for those who have faith and do righteous deeds and counsel one another to follow the truth and counsel one another to be patient in adversity.” (Verse 3) There is only one right path — that of faith, good deeds and the existence of a Muslim community whose members counsel one another to follow the truth and to show endurance and perseverance.