这一章由不超过十八节经文组成,却庄严而崇高,实在卓越。它包含了信仰、伊斯兰教法和人类生存的许多基本事实。它为我们的心灵和理智打开广阔的视野,并引发诸多重要的思考。它涉及构建与组织的体系、教育与培养的原则、立法的根本,以及若用百倍篇幅也可能阐述的重要指导。它将两个重大问题摆在我们面前,供我们反思与审议。

This surah, composed of no more than 18 verses, is majestic, indeed superior. It includes a number of basic facts of faith, Islamic law and human existence. It opens up before our hearts and minds wide horizons and gives rise to a host of important thoughts. It refers to systems of formation and organization, principles of education and upbringing, fundamentals of legislation and essential directives which could take a hundred times its length. It puts before our eyes two great issues for reflection and deliberation.

当我们阅读这一章时，首先映入眼帘的是：它几乎独立地勾勒出一个高尚世界的完整蓝图，这个世界不存在任何可被称为不当之处的东西。它阐明了构成这一世界根基的原则、观念和方法，首先确保它得以形成，继而确保它得以延续。

The first thing that appears to us when we read this surah is that it lays down, almost independently, a complete sketch of a noble world, free of anything that may be described as unbecoming. It outlines the principles, concepts and approaches that form the foundation of this world, ensuring first that it comes into being, and then its continuity.

这个世界的存在意义源于真主，仰望真主，也配得归属于真主。它将意图与情感的纯正，与言语、感受和思想上的敏锐得体结合在一起。在与真主、与祂的使者、在自身事务以及与他人的交往中，它保持着崇高的道德标准和良好的礼仪。这种道德意识深入到最深层的思想之中，并在行动中显现出来。

This world derives its raison d'etre from God, looks up to God and is fit to be attributed to God. It is a world that combines purity of intention and feeling with a keen sense of propriety in what it says, feels and thinks. It maintains a high standard of morality and good manners in its dealings with God, His Messenger, its own affairs and interaction with others. This sense of morality penetrates into its deepest thoughts and manifests itself in its actions.

同时，它也拥有确保其延续性的法律和规章。

At the same time it has laws and regulations that ensure its continuity.

这些法律和制度建立在其道德基础之上，源于这种道德，并与之相契合。因此，这个世界得益于内在实质与外在表象的一致，得益于其法律与情感的相互协调，得益于动机与约束之间的平衡，以及情感与行为在趋向神、祈求神的方向上的和谐。由此可见，这个高尚而纯洁的世界的存在与延续，既不能仅仅依靠美好的情感和敏锐的良知，也不能仅仅依靠法律与立法。这个世界的建立与维系，也不能仅仅依靠个人的情感与努力，或仅仅依靠国家的措施与制度。恰恰相反，个人与国家必须并肩努力，使两者的努力与职责相互补充，达到完美的和谐。

These laws and regulations are based on its morality, emanate from it and fit with it. Thus this world benefits from such consistency of deep reality and surface appearance, the compatibility of its laws and feelings, the equilibrium between motives and checks, and the harmony between feelings and actions as it turns to God, appealing to Him. Hence, the existence and continuity of this noble and pure world are not left either to fine feelings and a sensitive conscience or to law and legislation. Nor are the establishment and maintenance of this world left to either the feelings and efforts of the individual or to the measures and systems of the state. Indeed, both individual and state have to work side by side, so that their efforts and duties complement each other in perfect harmony.

在这个世界上，人们遵循一套对待真主和祂的使者的行为准则，这要求每个人都认清自己在主面前、在传达祂讯息的使者面前所处的位置："信道的人们啊！你们不要在真主和使者之前抢先（发表意见）。你们应当敬畏真主，真主确是全聪的，确是全知的。"（第1节）因此，真主的仆人不会抢在真主的命令或禁令之前行事，也不会向祂提出任何裁断或判决。他们不会越过真主所命令或禁止的界限，也不会表现出自己有独立于造物主之外的意志或见解。这一准则源于一种态度，即敬畏真主，并在与祂相处时保持谦卑，遵守应有的礼节。 信士们在对真主的使者[愿主赐予他平安]说话时，也遵守特别的礼节："信道的人们啊！你们不要高声于先知的声音之上，也不要对他大声说话，像你们彼此大声说话那样，恐怕你们的善功徒劳无效，而你们自己还不觉察。那些在真主的使者面前降低声音的人，是真主已经考验他们的心以使其敬虔的人，他们将获得赦宥和丰厚的报酬。"

This world observes a certain code of behaviour with God and His Messenger, one that requires that everyone realizes his or her limits in relation to their Lord, and in relation to the Messenger who conveys His message: “ Believers! Do not behave presumptuously in the presence of God and His Messenger. Have fear of God: God hears all and knows all.” (Verse 1) Thus a servant of God does not precipitate His orders or prohibitions; nor does he or she suggest to Him any judgement or ruling. They neither exceed the limits of what God orders or prohibits, nor show that they have a will or an opinion independent from those of their Creator. This code is motivated by an attitude that combines fearing God with being modest and observing appropriate values in dealing with Him. Believers also observe special values when they address Gods Messenger [peace be upon him]: “Believers! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak loudly to him as you would speak loudly to one another, lest all your deeds should come to nothing without your perceiving it. Those who lower their voices in the presence of God's Messenger are the ones whose hearts God has tested for piety. Forgiveness and a rich reward await them.

"那些从你的private apartments外面呼喊你的人，大多数是不运用理智的人。如果他们有耐心等到你出来见他们，那对他们自己更好。然而，真主……" Wait, I must avoid "Allah" and use the Chinese word for God. Correct translation: 那些在你的私人住所外面呼喊你的人，大多数是不运用理智的人。如果他们有耐心等到你出来见他们，那对他们自己是更好的。然而，神是至为宽恕、至为慈悯的。

Those who call out to you from without your private apartments are for the most part people who do not use their reason. If they had the patience to wait until you went out to them, it would be for their own good. Still, God is much forgiving, merciful.” (Verses 2-5)

这个高尚的世界为核实人们所言所行设定了一套明确的方法,在做出任何判断之前先确定其真实性。这一方法依靠敬畏真主,并将一切事务交由真主的使者裁决,既不抢先作出判断,也不向他提出他既未命令也未建议的主张:"{信道的人们啊!如果一个作恶的人带来消息,你们就应当查明,以免你们不知情地伤害别人,然后为自己的行为懊悔。你们应当知道,真主的使者就在你们中间。假若他在许多事情上顺从你们的私欲,你们必定遭受损害。但真主使你们喜爱信仰,并使它在你们心中美好,使你们厌恶不信、罪恶和违抗真主的行为。这些人确是遵循正道的人。这一切都是真主的恩惠和慈爱。真主是全知的,是至睿的。}"(第6-8节)

This noble world sets a well-defined approach for verifying what people may say or do, determining their accuracy before making any judgement. This approach relies on fearing God and putting all matters to Gods Messenger, without precipitating his judgement or suggesting to him what he has neither ordered nor recommended: “ Believers! If any evildoer comes to you with a piece of news, make sure of it first, lest you should wrong others unwittingly and then regret your action. And know that God's Messenger is among you. Were he to comply with your inclinations in many a case, you would surely come to harm. But God has caused [your] faith to be dear to you, and has given it beauty in your hearts, and has made hateful to you unbelief, wrongdoing and disobedience to God. Such indeed are they who follow the right course. [All this is indeed part of] God's bounty and favour. God is all-knowing, truly wise." (Verses 6-8)

这个高贵的世界有其自身的规则和切实的措施,用以处理其中可能出现的任何分歧、冲突和过激行为,因为它认识到,如果这些问题得不到妥善处理,就可能破坏它的根本结构。因此,它依据三项主要原则制定了相应的处理程序:(1)所有信士都是兄弟;(2)必须维护公正与和平;(3)所有信士都敬畏真主,他们的目标是求得真主的喜悦与慈悯。"如果两群信士相互争斗,你们就应当在他们之间调解和解。然而,如果其中一方仍对另一方不义,你们就应当与那不义的一方作战,直到它归顺真主的命令;如果它归顺了,你们就应当秉公地在他们之间调解,并公正地对待他们。真主确实喜爱公正的人。信士们都是兄弟。因此,你们应当调解两位兄弟之间的纷争,并敬畏真主,以便你们蒙受慈悯。"(第9-10节)

This noble world has its own rules and practical measures in sorting out any differences, conflicts and excesses that may occur within it, realizing that unless these are properly dealt with, they may undermine its very structure. Hence, it sets out certain procedures for dealing with them based on three main criteria: (1) that all believers are brethren; (2) that justice and peace must be maintained, and (3) that all believers are God-fearing and their goal is to earn God’s pleasure and mercy. “If two groups of believers fall to fighting, make peace between them. But then, if one of the two goes on acting wrongfully towards the other, fight against the one that acts wrongfully until it reverts to God's commandment; and if they revert, make peace between them with justice, and deal equitably with them. Indeed, God loves those who act equitably. All believers are but brothers. Hence, make peace between your two brothers, and remain God fearing, so that you may receive [God's] mercy" (Verses 9-10)

此外，某些道德价值观在塑造人们在这个世界上彼此之间的感情以及相互行为方面起着作用。"信道的人们啊！一部分男人不要嘲笑另一部分男人，被嘲笑的人或许比嘲笑的人更好；一部分女人也不要嘲笑另一部分女人，被嘲笑的人或许比嘲笑的人更好。你们不要互相指责，不要互相以绰号称呼。信道以后，以恶名相称，是最恶劣的。不悔罪的人，他们确是不义的人。"（第11节）

Moreover, certain moral values apply in shaping the feelings of people in this world towards one another and in their behaviour towards each other. “Believers! No men shall deride other men: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves. And no women [shall deride other] women: it may well be that those [whom they deride] are better than themselves. And neither shall you deface one another, nor insult one another by [opprobrious] epithets. Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness [to be used of one] after he has believed. Those who do not repent are indeed wrongdoers." (Verse 11)

这是一个情感健康、权利有保障的世界,无论人在场还是不在场,其人格尊严都受到珍视。没有人因怀疑而遭受谴责,也没有人企图宣扬他人的过失。

It is a world with healthy feelings, guaranteed rights, where peoples integrity is valued in both their presence and absence. No one is condemned on suspicion. None seeks to publicize another’s shortcomings.

人们的安全、保障、完整与自由都得到了充分尊重。

Peoples safety, security, integrity and freedom are fully respected by all.

"{信道的人们啊!你们应当远避多疑,因为有些猜疑确是罪过。你们不要互相侦察,不要互相背毁。你们中有谁喜欢吃他死去兄弟的肉呢?你们一定厌恶它。你们应当敬畏真主,真主确是至悔的,确是至慈的。}"(第12节)

“Believers! Avoid suspicion as much as possible, for, some such suspicion is a sin. And do not spy on one another, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Surely you would loathe it. And remain God fearing. God is certainly the One who accepts repentance, and He is merciful. ” (Verse 12)

在这个崇高的世界里，人类团结的完整理念占据主导，尽管人类种族和群体各不相同。一个不带偏见、没有错误的统一评判标准适用于所有人。 {“人类啊！我确已从一男一女创造了你们，并使你们成为许多民族和部落，以便你们互相认识。在真主看来，你们中最尊贵的人，是最敬畏真主的人。真主是全知的，是彻知的。”}（第13节）

In this noble world a complete concept of mankind s unity, despite its divergent races and communities, prevails. A single standard of evaluation, free of prejudice and error, applies to all people. “Mankind! We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most genuinely God fearing. God is all-knowing, all-aware.” (Verse 13)

在确立了这些使这个高尚世界保持高度纯洁的基本理念之后,本章开始勾勒信仰的轮廓,信士们正是凭着这信仰被召唤去建立这个世界。的确,正是凭借他们信仰的品质,他们才被要求承担这一任务并使之得以完成。这种品质使他们有别于他人,并促使他们回应和顺服。他们被以其信仰的品质来称呼:"信道的人们啊!"凡是被真主如此称呼的人,都会因为不给出正确的回应而感到羞愧。

Having presented these fundamental concepts that ensures this noble world maintains a high standard of purity, the surah embarks on drawing an outline of the faith by which believers are called upon to establish this world. Indeed, it is by their quality of faith that they are required to rise to the task and see to its fulfilment. This is the quality that distinguishes them from others and motivates them to respond and submit. They are addressed by their quality of having faith, 'Believers? Anyone who is so addressed by God will be so embarrassed not to give the right response.

这是一种能够使任何义务变得容易履行的劝诫，无论这项义务多么艰难、多么繁重。的确，人们的心会迫不及待地去倾听并予以回应：

It is an address that makes any duty, hard and demanding as it may be, easy to fulfil. Indeed hearts will be all too eager to listen and respond:

"贝都因人说：'我们已经信仰了。'你说：你们并不是信士。你们该说：'我们已经归顺了。'因为信仰还没有进入你们的心中。但如果你们真心敬畏真主和祂的使者，祂就不会使你们的任何善行白费。真主确是至恕的，至慈的。真正的信士，只是那些信仰真主和祂的使者，而后从不怀疑，并且以自己的财产和生命在真主之道上奋斗的人。这些人才是言行相符的人。你说：'难道你们要把自己的信仰告诉真主吗？而真主知道天地间的一切。真主确是全知万物的。'"（第14至16节）

“ The Bedouin say:' We have attained to faith. ’ Say [to them]:1 Believers you are not. Rather say, “ We have submitted ourselves”, for true faith has not entered your hearts. But if you truly pay heed to God and His Messenger, He will let nothing of your deeds go to waste. God is indeed much-forgiving, merciful? True believers are only those who have believed in God and His Messenger, and never then entertained any doubt, and who strive hard in God's cause with their possessions and their lives. Those are the ones who are true to their word. Say: Do you, perchance, want to inform God of your faith, when God knows all that is in the heavens and earth? Indeed, God has full knowledge of everything.” (Verses 14-16)

在本章结束之前，这一章显示了真主赐予人类的恩典是何等伟大。这恩典就是信仰的赐予，真主依照祂所知晓的人们所应得的，以此恩待他们。"他们以为他们皈依伊斯兰就是对你施恩。你说：

Before it closes, the surah shows how great the favour God has bestowed on humanity is. It is the gift of faith with which God favours people according to what He knows of what they deserve. “ think that they have bestowed a favour upon you by having embraced Islam. Say:

“不要以你们的皈依伊斯兰教为对我的恩惠。确实，如果你们是诚实的人，那么是真主（God）向你们施恩，指引你们走向信仰。”真主（God）确知天地的幽玄，真主（God）是洞察你们所作所为的。（第17-18节）

‘Do not count your embrace of Islam a favour to me. It is indeed God who bestows a favour upon you by showing you the way to faith, if you are men of truth.’ God certainly knows the hidden reality of the heavens and the earth; and God sees all that you do” (Verses 17-18)

其次，当我们阅读这一章并回顾促成其降示的实际事件时，另一件非常重要的事情便清晰地呈现在我们面前：通过古兰经的经文和先知的指示所体现的，是为建立和教育最初的穆斯林社群所付出的伟大而坚定不移的努力。事实上，正是这个社群代表了那个崇高的世界，并为其提供了切实可行的范例。因此，它不再只是萦绕于人们梦想和想象之中的理想。

The second very important thing that appears clearly to us when we read the surah and review the actual events leading to its revelation is the great and unwavering effort, represented by Quranic verses and the Prophets directives, to establish and educate the first Muslim community. Indeed it is the community that represents that noble world, providing a practical model of it. Thus, it is no longer a mere ideal that lingers in peoples dreams and imaginations.

这个在历史上某一时期存在的共同体,并非突然出现,也不是偶然形成的。它的存在,不是由于万物本性的一次骤然改变。相反,它经历了一个自然而缓慢的成长过程,就像一棵大树,将根深深扎入大地,将枝干向空中广阔地伸展。它花费了必要的时间来完成自己的成长,并借助持续而稳定的努力来保障这种成长。其间还有耐心的照料、透彻的洞察、审慎的激励、稳定的鼓励以及深远的加强。此外,它还必须经历艰难而严峻的考验,并从这些考验中学到重要的教训。在这一切之中,我们看到了真主对这一共同体所给予的照顾。祂以其智慧选择完成一项重大的委托,从而使祂的旨意得以实现。然而,这一共同体本身拥有其自身的美德与潜能,只需要使其得到充分发挥。所有这些共同作用,造就了人类历史上如此卓越的光明,并在现实中开启了一种看似更接近于理想世界的局面。

This community, which existed during a certain period of history, did not come into existence suddenly or by chance. It did not owe its existence to a sudden change in the nature of all things. Instead, it went through a process of natural and slow growth, like a great tree that stretches its roots deep into the earth and spreads its branches wide into the air. It took the necessary time to complete its growth and benefited from steady and consistent effort to ensure that growth. Patient care, penetrating insight, careful motivation, steady encouragement and far sighted strengthening were also provided. Moreover, it needed to go through hard and testing experiences and to learn important lessons from such experiences. In all this we see the kind of care God took of that community. He in His wisdom chose to fulfil a great trust, thus bringing His will to pass. Yet that community had its own virtues and potentials that only needed to be brought into full play. All this worked together to bring about such remarkable light in human history and to start, in reality, a situation that seems closer to an imaginary world.