本章整体上是对穆斯林群体的训谕,号召他们在自己的社会中践行信仰。这个群体应当成为信仰真理的体现,使人们的心灵如此坚定地奉献于此,以至于他们愿意为之牺牲一切:生命与财产、情感与感受。凭借这一真理,人的灵魂即便仍生活在大地上,也能被提升至神圣的境界。因此,他们的准则是真主所确立的准则,他们的价值是在真主的天平上被赋予分量的价值。这一真理使心灵能够感受到真主的临在,在提及真主时谦卑自抑,并摒弃一切可能阻碍它们全心全意转向真主的事物。

This surah, in its totality, is an address to the Muslim community, calling upon it to fulfil faith within its own society. The community should become an embodiment of the truth of faith, enabling hearts to become so dedicated that they are ready to sacrifice all, life and property, feelings and emotions, for it. With this truth, human souls are elevated to a divine level while they still live on earth. Thus, their standards are those that God has established, and their values are those that are given weight on God’s scales. This truth enables hearts to feel the presence of God, to humble themselves when He is mentioned and to discard everything that may hinder them from turning to Him in complete dedication.

在这一信仰真理的基础上，本章号召穆斯林群体为真主的事业献出生命和财产：“你们当信仰真主和他的使者，并以他使你们继承的财产施舍。你们中间信道而施舍的人，将获得重大的报酬。你们若是信士，那么，你们有什么理由不信仰真主呢？使者号召你们信仰你们的主，他确已与你们立约。他降示明白的经文给他的仆人，以便引导你们脱离黑暗而进入光明。真主确是你们的至仁者，确是你们的至慈者。你们在真主的道路上施舍，有什么不好呢？天地的遗产，只归真主。你们中在胜利之前施舍并战斗的人，与其余的人是不同等的；前者的品级高于后来施舍并战斗的人。虽然，真主已向他们二者许诺了至善。真主是彻知你们的所作所为的。”（第7—10节）

On the basis of this truth of faith, the surah calls upon the Muslim community to sacrifice life and property for God’s cause: “Believe in God and His Messenger, and give [in charity] of that of which He has made you trustees. Those of you who believe and give [in charity] will have a great reward. Why should you not believe in God when the Messenger calls upon you to believe in your Lord, and He has already taken a pledge from you, if you are true believers? It is He who bestows from on high clear revelations to His servant, to lead you out of the deep darkness into light. God is indeed most compassionate to you, ever merciful. Why should you not spend freely in the cause of God, seeing that God's alone is the heritage of the heavens and the earth? Those of you who gave and fought [for God's cause] before the victory are not like others: they are higher in rank than those who gave and fought afterwards, although God has promised the ultimate good to all of them. God is well aware of all that you do.” (Verses 7—10)

穆斯林群体也被号召在念诵真主的圣名和祂所赐予的真理时保持谦卑之心。如此,他们的牺牲便是出于对信仰真理的谦卑接受。正如经文所说:"难道信士们的心对真主的记念和已降示的真理,还不该谦卑吗?他们不该像先前接受过天启的人那样,因为年岁久远而心肠变硬,其中许多人已成为悖逆者。"(第16节)

The Muslim community is also called upon to humble themselves at the remembrance of God and the truth He has bestowed. This so that their sacrifices are the result of this humble acceptance of the truth of faith: “Is it not time for believers that their hearts should feel humble at the remembrance of God and the truth that has been bestowed from on high, and not to be like those who were granted revelations before them and whose hearts have hardened with the passing of time? Many of these are now transgressors!" (Verse 16)

这一章经文将今世的价值与后世的价值放在真理的天平上加以权衡。它劝导穆斯林群体选择明显更重的那一端，并坚守真正的价值：“你们应当知道，今世生活只是娱乐、嬉戏、装饰、互相夸耀，以及争多斗富、比较子嗣的东西。”

The surah puts the values of this world against those of the next world in the balance of the truth. It invites the Muslim community to choose the clearly preponderant scale and to uphold the true value: “Know that the life of this world is but a play, a passing delight, a beautiful show, a cause of boasting among you and a quest for more riches and children.

它就像雨水使植物生长，让播种者欣喜。随后植物枯萎，你会看到它变黄，最终碎成尘土。在来世有可怕的痛苦，也有真主的赦宥和祂的美好悦纳。今世的生活不过是虚幻的享受。你们应当彼此竞相争取主的赦宥，以及为信仰真主和祂的使者者所预备的、广阔如天地的乐园。这是真主的恩惠，祂赐予所意欲的人。真主的恩惠实在浩大。（第20-21节）

It is like the rain that causes the plants to grow, and thus gives delight to the sowers. Then it withers, and you can see it turn yellow, and in the end it crumbles into dust. In the life to come there is terrible suffering, as well as God's forgiveness and His goodly acceptance. The life of this world is no more than an illusory pleasure. Vie with one another in seeking to attain your Lord's forgiveness, and a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who believe in God and His messengers. Such is God's bounty which He grants to whomever He pleases. God's bounty is great indeed." (Verses 20-21)

从该章的脉络可以清楚看出，它针对的是穆斯林社群中一个真实存在的情况，这一情况在其降示之时便已存在。

It is clear from the surah's drift that it addresses a real situation within the Muslim community, one that existed at the time of its revelation.

这种情况出现在麦地那，时间跨度从先知迁徙后的第四年，一直到麦加归信伊斯兰之后。当时在麦地那的有早期的穆斯林，即从麦加迁来的穆哈吉尔（迁士），以及欢迎他们进入自己城市的安萨尔（辅士）。两个群体都在将信仰的真理转化为实际行动方面，树立了人类历史上前所未有的最高典范。

This situation existed in Madinah during the period stretching from the fourth year after the Prophet’s immigration up to the time after Makkah had fallen to Islam. In Madinah at that time were the early Muslims, the Muhajirin who had migrated from Makkah, and the Ansar who had welcomed them into their city. Both groups set the highest example ever in human history in translating the truth of faith into practical reality.

他们急于献出生命和财产，全心奉献于自己的事业，不为任何世俗考虑、个人欲望或诱惑所动摇。然而，除这一群体之外，穆斯林社群中还有另一群人，他们没有达到同样高的信仰境界，尤其是在麦加归附伊斯兰之后。那时伊斯兰已明显获胜，人们成群结队地来归附它。这些新皈依者中许多人尚未完全理解信仰的基本真理，也不像第一批人那样将生命奉献于它。

They hastened to sacrifice life and property in total dedication to their cause, undeterred by any worldly consideration, personal desire or temptation. Yet besides these there was within the Muslim community a second group that did not attain the same high level of faith, particularly after Makkah had fallen to Islam. By then Islam was clearly triumphant and people flocked to it in large groups. Many of these new converts did not yet fully understand the basic truth of faith, nor did they dedicate their lives to it as the first group did.

属于第二类的人发现，为了真主的事业而牺牲自我与财产是十分艰难的。这些责任在他们看来太过沉重，而今世的安逸又极具诱惑，难以抗拒。本章正是特别向这些人发出激励的劝诫，使他们的灵魂除去这些诱惑，提升到信仰这一伟大真理所要求的境界。

People belonging to this second group found it difficult to make sacrifices of self and property for Gods cause. Such duties seemed too hard, while the comforts of this worldly life were too appealing and impossible to resist. It is to those in particular that the surah makes its inspiring address so that their souls eradicate such temptations and elevate them to the level required by the great truth of faith.

当时麦地那还有第三类人，即伪信者。他们与穆斯林群体并未分开，尤其是在伊斯兰的力量明显显现之后，这种情况更为突出。

There was also in Madmah at this time a third group consisting of hypocrites. These were unseparated from the body of the Muslim community, especially so once Islam’s power became clearly apparent.

这些伪信者被迫隐藏自己，表面上装作穆斯林，而内心深处却充满怀疑。他们还伺机制造麻烦，危害穆斯林社群，并且参与任何引发纷争的事情。这一章描述了他们在被揭露、并与穆斯林社群分开时的处境：

These hypocrites were forced to hide themselves, pretending to be Muslims when deep in their hearts there was doubt. They also looked for opportunities to create problems for the Muslim community and contributed to any cause of strife. The surah describes their situation when they are called out and separated from the Muslim community:

{在那一天你将看见信道的男女，他们的光明在他们面前和右边迅速发射。}"今天给你们的喜讯是：你们将永居于下临诸河的乐园，这确是至大的成功。"在那一天，伪信的男女将对信道的人们说："请你们等候我们，让我们借你们的光明一用。"他们将被告知："你们转回去寻求光明吧！"于是在他们之间竖起一道有门的墙，门内有慈恩，门外有刑罚。（门外的人）将向（门内的人）呼喊："难道我们不是与你们同在的吗？"他们将回答："是的，但你们自陷于诱惑，观望、怀疑，并被虚妄的希望所欺骗，直到真主的命令降临；那欺骗者在真主的事上欺骗了你们。今天，无论从你们或从不信道者那里，都不会接受赎罚。火狱将是你们的归宿，它是你们应得的地方，多么恶劣的归宿！"（第12-15节）

“Cto the day when you see all believers, men and women, with their light spreading rapidly before them and to their right, [they will be told], ‘The good news for you today is that you shall for ever abide in gardens through which running waters flow. This is indeed the supreme triumph.’ On that day the hypocrites, men and women, will say to the believers, ‘Wait for us! Let us have a ray of your light!" They will be told: ‘Turn back and seek some other light. "A wall with a gate will be raised between them: within it will be mercy, and outside will be suffering. [Those without] will call out to those [within], ‘Were we not with you?" They will reply, ‘Yes, but you allowed yourselves to be led into temptation, you wavered, you doubted, and you were deceived by false hopes until God’s command came to pass, and indeed you let your deceptive thoughts about God delude you. Today no ransom will be accepted from you or from the unbelievers. The fire shall be your home: it is where you belong; and how evil a destination!” (Verses 12-15)

此外,阿拉伯半岛上仍有一些犹太教徒和基督教徒生活在那里。本章提到了他们的处境,以及他们过去和现在的某些态度。我们已经引用过要求信士"不要像那些先前被赐予启示、但心因岁月流逝而变硬的人"的经文(第16节)。这段经文很可能指的是犹太教徒。本章末尾还提到了基督教徒:"我们派遣了其他使者跟随他们的足迹。之后,我们派遣了玛利亚之子耶稣。我们赐给他福音,并把怜悯和仁慈放进那些真正跟随他的人的心中。"

There were, in addition, a number of Jews and Christians who still lived in Arabia. The surah refers to their situation and some of their past and present attitudes. We have already quoted the verse that requires the believers “not to be like those who were granted revelations before them and whose hearts have hardened with the passing of time” (Verse 16) This reference was most probably to the Jews. A reference to the Christians is given towards the end of the surah: “ We sent other messengers to follow in their footsteps. After these We sent Jesus, son of Mary. We gave him the Gospel and put compassion and mercy in the hearts of those who truly follow him.

至于修道苦行，那是我没有命令他们的，是他们自己创立的，为的是追求真主的喜悦。然而他们并没有按照它应有的样子去遵守。所以，我赏赐了他们中间确信的人应得的报酬，但他们中间很多人是悖逆者。」（第27节）

As for monastic asceticism, We did not enjoin it upon them. They invented it themselves out of a desire for God's goodly acceptance. Even so, they did not observe it as it should properly be observed. So We gave those of them who truly believed their due reward, but many of them were transgressors.” (Verse 27)

在确立信仰这一伟大真理于人们心中的过程中，本章遵循一条激励人心的进路，与麦加章相似，汇聚种种影响，以打动心灵与情感。其开篇尤为如此，奏出多个极具感染力的音调，呈现了真主的若干属性，以彰显伊斯兰对祂的观念。这包括一种微妙而动人的召唤：人们一旦理解了真主独一的真义、祂对宇宙的全然掌管、万物终将归于祂、祂洞悉人心所藏、以及一切众生都顺服祂并赞颂祂的荣耀，便会将自己全然奉献给祂。经文说：“天地间的万物都赞颂真主，真主是万能的，是至睿的。天地的主权是祂的；祂使人生，使人死，祂对于万事都是全能的。祂是元始，是终极，是显露，是隐微，祂是全知万物的。祂在六日内创造了天地，然后升上宝座。祂知道入于地中的是什么，出于地中的是什么，从天降下的是什么，升到天上的是什么。无论你们在哪里，祂都与你们同在；真主是洞察你们的一切行为的。天地的主权是祂的；一切事务都归于真主。祂使黑夜进入白昼，使白昼进入黑夜；祂是洞察人心所藏的。”（第1–6节）

In establishing the great truth of faith in peoples hearts the surah follows an inspiring course, akin to Makkan surahs in aligning a host of influences that captivate hearts and feelings. Its opening in particular strikes a combination of highly inspiring notes, presenting a number of God’s attributes that emphasize the Islamic concept of Him. This includes a subtle but captivating invitation to dedicate oneself totally to God as a result of understanding the true meaning of His oneness, His total control of the universe, the fact that everything eventually returns to Him, His knowledge of what people harbour in their hearts and the fact that all beings submit to Him and extol His glory: “Everything in the heavens and earth extols God's limitless glory. He is the Almighty, the Wise. His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. He grants life and causes death; and He has power over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Outer and the Inner. He has full knowledge of all things. It is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days and established Himself on the throne. 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. He is with you wherever you may be; and God sees all that you do. His is the dominion over the heavens and the earth. Everything goes back to God. He causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night; and He has full knowledge of what is in people's hearts.” (Verses 1-6)

这一开篇本身就足以深深撼动人心,使人心生敬畏,并增强其为主道而奉献自己的渴望。人们应当舍弃一切阻碍其牺牲的东西,转向真主。此章其余部分也包含许多元素,再次肯定这一牺牲的号召,例如它描绘信道的男女形象,他们“光明在他们面前和右边飞驰”(第12节)。另一幅画面则显示,今世及其价值与后世相比是微不足道的。

This very opening is enough to strongly shake people’s hearts, inspiring them with awe and strengthening their desire to dedicate themselves to God. They should turn to God after discarding all that constitutes a hindrance to sacrifice for His cause. The rest of the surah, however, includes a number of elements that reaffirm this call to sacrifice, such as the bright picture it paints of believing men and women, who are seen “with their light spreading rapidly before them and to their right.” (Verse 12) Another image shows this life and its value as trifling, compared with those of the life to come.

该章还描绘了真主的旨意完全掌控整个世界："大地上和你们自身所遭遇的灾难，在我创造它们之前，都已记录在天经里，这对真主来说是容易的。这样，你们就不会为失去的东西而忧伤，也不会为所得的东西而得意忘形。真主不喜爱傲慢自夸的人，"（经文22-23）这些经文给我们的心灵与灵魂带来了所需的全部慰藉：无论我们在寻求他的喜悦之路上遇到何种祸福，我们都不会因此绝望，也不会因此狂喜；我们也不会把所发生的一切归因于某种原因、事件或环境。一切都按照真主的旨意、依照他的安排而发生，一切最终都要回归于他。

The surah also portrays how God’s will is in complete control of the whole world: “No incident can take place, either on earth or in yourselves, unless it be recorded in a decree before We bring it into being — that is easy for God — so you need not grieve for what you miss or be overjoyed at what you gain. God does not love those who are arrogant and boastful; [nor] those who are niggardly and bid others to be niggardly. Those who turn away should remember that God alone is self sufficient, worthy of praise.” (Verses 22-24) These verses give our hearts and souls all the necessary reassurance, no matter what befalls us of good or evil as we proceed along the way seeking His acceptance. We will neither despair nor be mad with joy when either eventuality happens to us; nor will we attribute whatever happens to any cause, event or circumstance. All takes place by God’s will, in accordance with what He has planned. All ultimately return to Him.

该章可以分为两个紧密相关的部分，我们现在将分别讨论。

The surah may be divided into two closely interrelated parts, each of which we will now deal with separately.