这一章的特点是经文简短且押韵，画面强烈，意境激昂，犹如重锤敲击，其节奏旨在使每一颗人心为之战栗。整章看来是一个完整的整体，所有部分都围绕一个核心主题展开：关于审判日场景的叙述，早先民族的命运，对宇宙的描绘，以及直接论述神的独一、人的复活和神的启示。

Characterized by its short and rhyming verses, violent images and inspirational shades of meaning, this surah strikes like a hammer, its beat directed at making every human heart tremble. The entire surah appears to be a single whole, with one central theme to which all its elements are tied: the story the scene from the Day of Judgement, the fate of earlier communities, its depiction of the universe and the direct discussion of Gods oneness, people’s resurrection and God’s message.

该章开篇提到《古兰经》及其降示于一个蒙福之夜，在那夜，一切智慧之事都得以明确。它的降示是对人类的一种慈悯，也是对他们的一种警告。此外，它告诉人们关于他们的主的事：天地及其间万物之主，并确立了祂的独一性。祂是使人生存、使人死亡的那位，是所有已经生活过的人和将要复活的人的主。

The surah begins with a reference to the Qur’an and its revelation on a blessed night when every matter of wisdom is made clear. Its revelation is an act of mercy for mankind, as well as a warning to them. Moreover, it tells people about their Lord, the Lord of the heavens and the earth and all between them, confirming His oneness. He is the One who gives life and deals death, the Lord of everyone who lived and everyone who will come to life.

然而他们仍然怀疑，嬉戏玩笑。（第9节） 这一章暂时放下这条主线，转而谈论《古兰经》所针对的那些人。它迅速而严厉地警告这种怀疑与嬉戏："你应当等待那一天，天空将降下明显的烟雾。它将笼罩众人。这是痛苦的刑罚。"（第10-11节） 在这种刑罚降临他们的那一天，他们会祈求将其解除，但一旦到来，它就不会被撤除。他们被提醒：这样的刑罚至今尚未降临。因此，他们应当趁现在抓住机会，在他们被送回主那里、这可怕的刑罚到期降临之前：

The surah abandons this thread in order to speak about the people addressed by the Qur’an: “Yet they remain in doubt, playing about” (Verse 9) It issues a swift but stern warning against such doubt and play: “ Wait, then, for the Day when the skies shall bring forth a kind of smoke which will make things clear. It will envelope the people. Grievous is this suffering? (Verses 10-11) On the day when this suffering befalls them, they will pray for it to be lifted, but once it comes it will not be removed. They are reminded that such suffering has not as yet been inflicted. They should, therefore, seize the opportunity now before they are returned to their Lord when this fearful suffering falls due:

“在那一天,我们将施以猛烈的打击;我们必定施行报复。”(第16节)

“On that Day We shall deliver a mighty onslaught; We will indeed exact retribution? (Verse 16)

这一章告诉他们法老的故事，以及他和他的族人遭遇的结局，当时一位来自真主的高贵使者前来向他们呼吁。

The surah tells them about Pharaoh and the end he and his people met when a noble messenger from God came and appealed to them:

“你们要服从我，真主的仆人们！我确实是奉派给你们的使者，是值得信赖的。你们不要在真主面前自高自大。”（第18-19节）

“Give in to me, you servants of God! For, I am indeed a messenger sent to you, worthy of trust! Do not exalt yourselves against God? (Verses 18-19)

然而,他们却不肯醒悟,直到真主的使者对他们是否会回应感到绝望。他们因傲慢放肆而被毁灭:"他们遗留下多少花园、多少泉水、多少田地、多少华美的住所,以及他们曾经享受的种种美好之物!事情就是这样。我让别的民族继承了这一切。天地也没有为他们哭泣,他们也没有被宽限。"(经文25-29节)

However, they refused to take heed until Gods messenger despaired of their ever responding. They were destroyed after having behaved with insolence: “How many gardens did they leave behind, and how many fountains, and fields of grain, and noble dwellings, and good things in which they used to delight! Thus it was. And We made other people inherit it all. Neither heaven nor earth shed tears over them, nor were they allowed a respite? (Verses 25-29)

在这样的背景下,该章又回到了他们对来世的否认。他们说:“我们只死一次,之后不会再被复活。如果你所说的是真的,那就把我们的先人带回来吧!”

Against this backdrop the surah reverts to their denial of the life to come. They said: “ We shall die but one death, and we shall not be raised to life again. Bring back our forefathers, if what you claim be true?

（第35-36节）他们被提醒，要想起图巴人所遭受的命运，并被告知他们并不比那些人更好。因此，他们也不会免于与之相似的命运。

(Verses 35-36) They are reminded of the fate suffered by the people of Tubba( and are told that they are no better than they were. Therefore, they will not be spared a similar fate.

本章还明确指出，复活与真主在创造天地过程中所显现的智慧之间存在关联："我未曾为游戏而创造天地及其间的万物，我创造它们只是出于真理，但他们大多不知道。"（38-39节）随后，经文告诉他们，那是裁决之日，是为他们所有人所定的时间。此处又描绘了一幅惨烈的景象，展示罪人所受的痛苦：他们被迫食用宰屈姆树的果实。经文描述，一个有罪之人被拖入烈火之中，头顶被浇灌滚烫的沸水，以此作为对其罪过的报应："你尝吧！你确是强大而尊贵的人！这正是你们过去所怀疑的事情。"（49-50节）

The surah also makes it clear that there is a link between resurrection and Gods wisdom manifested in the creation of the heavens and the earth: “We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play. We created them all for nothing other than a true purpose, but most of them do not understand? (Verses 38- 39) It then tells them about the Day of Decision, which is the time appointed for all of them. It adds here a violent scene depicting the suffering of the guilty who are made to eat of the Zaqqum tree. It shows them how a sinful person is dragged into the midst of the blazing fire, where scalding water is poured over his head in recompense for his sins: “ Taste this, you powerful and honourable man! This is the very thing you surely doubted? (Verses 49-50)

与这一场景并列的，是安拉敬畏者在天堂中所享受的福乐图景。这是一幅深刻的画面，与另一群人所承受的巨大痛苦形成鲜明对比，也与本章强有力的节奏相契合。随后，经文再次提及《古兰经》，并带有一种强烈而隐含的警告："我确已使这部《古兰经》易于理解，用你们的语言降示，以便他们觉悟。你们等待吧，他们也在等待。"（第58—59节）

Side by side with this scene is an image of the blessings enjoyed in heaven by the God-fearing. This is a profound image, one that contrasts with the great suffering endured by the other group, and fits with the strong beat of the surah. This then ends with another reference to the Qur’an, coupled with a strong and implicit warning: “We have made this Quran easy to understand, in your own language, so that they may take heed. Wait, then; they too are waiting." (Verses 58-59)

从头至尾,这一章以连贯而急促的节奏展开,向人的心灵呈现一连串极具感染力的画面与印象。它带领我们踏上一段漫长的旅程,途经天空与大地、今世与来世、天堂与火狱、古往与今来、生与死、创造的法则与宇宙的规律,以及可感知的世界与不可感知的世界。这一章篇幅虽然不长,却为我们提供了一次宏大的巡礼:既览过我们周围的世界,也触及了超出我们感官之外的领域。

From start to finish the surah uses a continuous and fast beat, and puts before the human mind a succession of images and impressions that are characteristically powerful. It takes us on a long journey that includes the heavens and the earth, the present world and the next, heaven and hell, the past and the present, life and death, the laws of creation and those of the universe, of worlds that are perceptible as well as those that are imperceptible. Relatively short as it is, the surah provides a grand tour of the world around us and of that which lies beyond our perceptive faculties.