这段文字评述了乌侯德战役早期的事件，直至原本已稳操胜券的穆斯林军队转为失败的时刻。《古兰经》在评述这些事件时，意在确立某些律例与原则。这些事件本身只是《古兰经》用来向穆斯林阐明真理的手段。这些评述以提及一种不断重现的模式开始，这种模式会笼罩那些拒绝真主的使命并斥其为谎言的人。这里告诉穆斯林，古莱氏人在这场特定战役中的胜利是一次性的事件，传递着一个特定的教训。他们被要求展现坚忍的品格，并通过信仰感受自身的优越。穆斯林虽然遭受了损失，但多神教徒在同一场战役中也同样付出了代价。穆斯林所经历的事情在某些方面是有益的，因为它有助于辨别那些信仰坚定的人，并从中挑选出准备为信仰献出生命的殉道者。

This passage comments on the early events of the Battle of Uĥud up to the point at which the victory which was well within the grasp of the Muslim army turned into defeat. As the Qur’ān comments on these events, it seeks to establish certain rules and principles. The events themselves are only a means employed by the Qur’ān to drive the truth home to the Muslims. These comments begin with a reference to an ever-recurring pattern which engulfs those who reject God’s message and describe it as a lie. The Muslims are told here that the Quraysh victory in this particular battle is a one-off incident delivering a particular lesson. They are called upon to demonstrate their steadfastness and to feel their superiority through faith. If they have suffered, the idolaters have also suffered in the same battle. What happened to the Muslims is useful in certain ways as it helps distinguish those who are firm in their faith and select from among them martyrs who are ready to sacrifice their lives for their faith.

此外,穆斯林被置于直面死亡的境地,而他们此前曾渴望死亡。他们的承诺与愿望由此受到考验。这一切有助于穆斯林群体具备面对敌人所需的装备,并实现消灭不信者这一期望的结果。无论是失败还是胜利,总体目标都得以实现。

Moreover, the Muslims are brought face to face with death, after they had wished for it. Their promises and wishes are thus put to the test. All this helps the Muslim community acquire the necessary equipment to face its enemies and to bring about the desired result of wiping out unbelievers. In both defeat and victory, the overall goal is served.

在乌侯德战役中,穆斯林遭遇了挫败:他们被击败,许多人阵亡。身体和精神上,他们都承受了苦难。七十位先知的同伴殉难。先知ﷺ本人受伤,保卫他的人也都受了伤。这一切使信士们深受震动;在巴德尔的辉煌胜利之后,他们没有料到会遭受如此打击。他们心想:“这怎么会发生在我们身上?我们是穆斯林,这种局面怎么会出现?”《古兰经》在此提醒他们,有一些规律终将显现。穆斯林并非一类特殊的人。适用于人类生活的自然法则依然会发挥作用。任何事情都不会无缘无故地发生。如果他们考察自然法则,理解影响他们的各种规律,就能从一切事件中汲取教训。他们会认识到,真主的法则从不落空,没有任何事情是徒然发生的。他们也将能够依据过去所发生的事情,规划自己未来的道路。他们不应无所作为,仅仅依赖自己是穆斯林的身份,便指望获得胜利而不去做取得胜利所必需的事情。其中最重要的,便是服从真主和祂的使者。

In the Battle of Uĥud, the Muslims suffered a misfortune: they were defeated and many of them were killed. Physically and mentally, they endured affliction. Seventy of the Prophet’s Companions were killed. The Prophet himself was wounded as were those who defended him. All this shook the believers; they had not expected such a blow after their spectacular victory at Badr. They wondered: “How could this happen to us? How can this turn of events come about when we are Muslims?” The Qur’ān reminds them here that there are patterns which will eventually come to pass. Muslims are not a special type of men. The laws of nature which apply to human life will continue to operate. Nothing comes about out of the blue. If they examine the laws of nature and understand what rules affect them, they will be able to learn the lessons of all events. They will realise that God’s law never fails. Nothing happens in vain. They will also be able to carve out their future way in the light of what has happened in the past. They will not stand idle, relying on the fact that they are Muslims, and expect to have victory without doing what is necessary to achieve it. Foremost among these is obedience to God and to His Messenger.

{在你们之前，已有许多先例逝去了。你们当游历大地，看看否认真理者的结局如何。} 这是对世人的明白阐述，也是对敬畏者的指引和教诲。（第137-138节）

Many patterns have passed away before you. Go about the earth and see what was the fate of those who described the truth as lies. This is a plain exposition for mankind, as well as a guidance and an admonition for the God-fearing. (Verses 137-8)

这些章节所提及并引导信士留意的规律，涉及历史上那些否认真主的启示、并斥之为谎言的人所遭受的结局，也涉及人与民族之间顺境与逆境交替更迭的事实。所指出的这些规律还在于考验人，以此分辨谁是真正的信士，谁在逆境中能够坚忍。另一个重要的规律是：胜利始终属于坚守正道的人，而不信道者则必被消灭。随着这些相应的内容被逐一阐明，信士们获得了极大的鼓励，使他们坚持不懈、保持坚定。他们的不幸并非只落在自己身上，因此得到了安慰。

The patterns to which the sūrah refers here, and to which it draws the attention of the believers, concern the fate of those who, throughout history, denied God’s message and described it as a lie, and the fact that days of fortune and misfortune alternate between people and communities. The patterns identified also test people in order to know whether they are truly believers, and patient in adversity. Another pattern of importance is the fact that victory is always granted to those who are steadfast, while the unbelievers are blotted out. As these corresponding parts are outlined, much encouragement is given to the believers to persevere and remain steadfast. They are consoled for their misfortune, which has not befallen them alone.

类似的灾祸也曾降临于他们的敌人。他们应当记住，自己拥有更优越的信仰，并以此为目标超越敌人；他们蒙受神圣的指引，并拥有完备的制度。

A similar one has befallen their enemies. They should remember that they have a superior faith and aim to those of their enemies and that they enjoy Divine guidance and have a perfect constitution.

此外,最终的胜利必将属于他们,而他们的对手将被击败:"在你们之前,已有许多成例逝去。你们当游历大地,看看那些否认真理者的下场如何。"(第137节)《古兰经》将现在与过去相联系,以指向未来。《古兰经》最先所要教导的阿拉伯人,在伊斯兰之前的生活中既没有经验,也没有知识,无法对生活及其事件有如此广阔的视野。伊斯兰确实赋予了他们新的生命,使他们成为引领人类的民族。

Moreover, ultimate victory will be theirs, while their opponents will be vanquished: “Many patterns have passed away before you. Go about the earth and see what was the fate of those who described the truth as lies.” (Verse 137) The Qur’ān relates the present to the past in order to point to the future. The Arabs who were the first to be addressed by the Qur’ān had nothing in their lives, neither experience nor knowledge, prior to Islam, to enable them to have such a wide view of life and its events. Islam indeed gave them a new life and made out of them a nation to lead mankind.

在他们的部落社会中，人们从未能够理解阿拉伯人的生活，乃至整个人类生活，与支配万物的自然法则之间的关系。伊斯兰这一新的理念，是对旧有观念的一次巨大的超越，它不可能从他们的部落社会或其生活条件中发展出来，而是由他们的新信仰赐予他们的。在不到四分之一世纪的时间里，他们便被提升到了这一高度，而与他们同时代的其他民族，却要在许多个世纪之后才能达到这一水平。

The tribal system in their community could never have enabled them to appreciate the relationship between the life of the people of Arabia, or indeed human life in general, and the laws of nature which govern everything in life. The new concept, Islam, represented a great departure which could not have developed out of their tribal society or their life conditions. It was given to them by their new faith. They were elevated to this standard within a quarter of a century, while their contemporaries could not manage to reach this level for many centuries to come.

你们不要懈怠，不要忧伤；如果你们是信士，你们必定占上风。如果你们遭受创伤，那些人也曾遭受类似的创伤。这些日子，我使世人轮流更替。真主要借此分辨信士，并从你们中选取见证者。真主不喜爱不义者。（第139-140节）

Do not be faint of heart, and do not grieve; for you shall gain the upper hand if you are truly believers. If misfortune befalls you, a similar misfortune has befallen other people as well. Such days [of fortune and misfortune], We deal out in turn among men. God wants to mark out those who truly believe and choose from among you such as [with their lives] bear witness to the truth. God does not love the wrongdoers. (Verses 139- 40)

信士们不可灰心丧气，也不应因可能发生的事而陷入忧伤。他们将占据上风，因为他们拥有更优越的信仰。信士们只向真主叩拜，而其他人则向他的一个或多个受造物叩拜。这一章明白地告诉信士们：他们确实更为优越，远比其他人高尚。它对他们说：你们拥有更优越的生活方式，因为你们遵循的是真主所确立的道路，而其他群体所遵循的方法则是由他的受造物所设计的。

Believers must not lose heart, nor should they allow grief to overtake them because of what may happen. They will gain the upper hand, because they have a superior faith. Believers prostrate themselves only to God, while others prostrate before one, or more, of His creatures. This sūrah makes it plain to the believers that they are indeed superior and far more exalted than other people. It tells them: You have a superior way of life, because you follow a method established by God while the methods followed by other groups have been devised by His creatures.

此外，你们的地位是崇高的，因为你们被选定担任重要的使命，向全人类传达真主的指引。其他人并不了解这一指引，因而迷失了方向。你们在大地上的地位是崇高的，因为真主已经应许你们继承大地，而他们终将湮没无闻。如果你们确是信士，那么你们就是至高无上的。因此，你们必须以不灰心、不忧伤来展现信仰的力量。真主所制定的规律，使你们可能获胜，也可能遭遇失败，但历经考验、为真主的事业努力奋斗之后，最终的结局必将属于你们。

Moreover, your role is superior, because you have been selected for a position of trust, to convey God’s guidance to all mankind. Other people are unaware of this guidance, and have gone astray. Your place on earth is superior, because God has promised you to inherit the earth, while they will sink into oblivion. If you are truly believers, then you are superior. Therefore, you have to demonstrate the strength of your faith by not losing heart and you must not grieve. The rules determined by God make it possible that you may score a victory or suffer a defeat, but the ultimate end after enduring the test and striving hard for God’s cause, will be in your favour.

“如果你们遭遇灾难，那么别人也曾遭遇过类似的灾难。”所说的穆斯林所遭遇的灾难，以及拒绝真理者也曾遭遇类似灾难的事实，可能指的是巴德尔战役，在那场战役中，多神教徒遭受了惨重的失败。另一方面，它也可能指的是吾侯德战役，在那场战役中，穆斯林起初接近胜利，但随后却遭到了失败。穆斯林所遭受的，是他们因意见分歧和违抗命令而应得的报应。此外，它体现了真主所设定的自然法则从不失效的道理。穆斯林军队后卫之间的分歧，是出于他们的贪欲。在任何一次圣战中，真主都会赐予为祂的事业而奋斗的人胜利，他们所追求的并非今世的微小利益。

“If misfortune befalls you, a similar misfortune has befallen other people as well.” The misfortune which is said to have befallen the Muslims and the fact that a similar one befell those who rejected the truth may be a reference to the Battle of Badr, in which the idolaters suffered a heavy defeat. On the other hand, it may be a reference to the Battle of Uĥud, in which the Muslims were initially close to victory, but were then defeated. What the Muslims suffered was fair reward for their disagreement and disobedience. Moreover, it represents an aspect of how the rules of nature established by God never fail. The disagreement among the rearguard of the Muslim army was the result of their greed. In any campaign of jihād, God grants victory to those who strive for His cause, looking for nothing of the petty gains of this world.

真主想要分辨出真正的信士,并从你们中间选取殉道者——真主不喜爱不义的人。真主也要考验信士,并消灭不信道的人。(第3章140-141节)

God wants to mark out those who truly believe and choose from among you such as [with their lives] bear witness to the truth. God does not love the wrongdoers. And God wants to test and prove the believers, and to blot out the unbelievers. (Verses 140-1)

该章接着向穆斯林群体揭示了乌侯德战役发生背后的某些神圣智慧，以及穆斯林在拜德尔战役辉煌胜利之后为何遭受失败。经文着重强调了考验信士、检验他们品格的原则。与此同时，真主表明，祂愿意从信士中选出那些“以自己的生命为真理作证”的人。阿拉伯原文称，真主愿意从信士中选出“烈士”。应当记住，在阿拉伯语中，表示“烈士”的词“shahīd”同时也有“见证人”的意思。3

The sūrah goes on to reveal to the Muslim community certain aspects of Divine wisdom behind which the events of the Battle of Uĥud took place, and why defeat was suffered by the Muslims after their spectacular victory at Badr. The principle of testing the believers and proving their mettle is strongly emphasised. At the same time God states that He wants to choose from among the believers people who “with their lives bear witness to the truth.” The Arabic original states that God wants to choose from among the believers “martyrs”. It should be remembered that in Arabic the word “shahīd” which denotes “martyr” also means “witness”.3

在《古兰经》中，这一点的表达尤为深刻："真主要从你们中选取见证者（以其生命）为真理作证。"真主便从为祂的事业而奋斗的人中选取殉道者。因此，有人被选为殉道者，既不是悲剧，也不是损失。事实上，这是一种荣誉，因为选择出自真主，真主也赐予这些殉道者在祂那里的特殊地位。此外，他们被选中为真主向人类所传信息的真理作证。他们以一种任何人都无法反驳的方式作证。这证言就是：在生命中为确立神圣信息的真理而奋斗，直至死亡。他们以此证明，他们从真主所领受的，正是他们所信仰、并为之献身的真理；而且除非这真理得到实行，人类的生活就不会得到匡正。

The way this point is expressed in the Qur’ān is particularly remarkable: “God wants ... to choose from among you such as [with their lives] bear witness to the truth.” God, then, takes martyrs from among those who strive for His cause. Therefore, it is neither a tragedy nor a loss that anyone is chosen to be a martyr. Indeed, it is a matter of honour because the choice is made by God and those martyrs are given, by God, a special position near Him. Moreover, they are selected to bear witness to the truth of God’s message to mankind. They give their testimony in a way which cannot be contested by anyone. That testimony is to struggle to establish the truth of the Divine Message in life until they die. They testify that what they have received from God is the truth in which they have believed and to which they have dedicated themselves, and that human life will not be set right unless this truth is implemented.

他们对此如此确信，以至于不遗余力地对抗虚妄、确立真理，并依据其信条塑造社会。他们的见证就是他们直到死亡的奋斗。这一见证的真实性是无可辩驳的。

They are so certain of this that they spare no effort in fighting falsehood and establishing the truth, moulding society on the basis of its tenets. Their testimony is their struggle until death. The truthfulness of that testimony is irrefutable.

你们以为自己会进入乐园，而真主尚未认识你们中那些为主道而奋斗、并且在患难中坚忍的人吗？你们过去曾渴望死亡，在你们亲眼看见它之前。现在你们已经亲眼看见了。（第142-143节）

Do you reckon that you can enter paradise unless God has identified those among you who strive hard [in His cause], and who are patient in adversity. Surely, you used to wish for death before you came face to face with it. Now you have seen it with your own eyes. (Verses 142-3)

这些经文以一个反问句开始，其目的在于纠正穆斯林基于真主为传播其宗教而确立的规律所形成的观念：胜利如何取得，失败如何遭遇；行动的重要性以及它应得的回报，等等。《古兰经》清楚表明，通往天堂的道路充满了许多艰难和不愿遇到的事情。信士最好的装备是逆境中的忍耐。这与空洞的愿望和主张截然不同，任何考验都可能证明它们是徒劳的。"难道你们以为，在真主尚未分辨你们中间的奋斗者和坚忍者之前，你们就能入乐园吗？"（第142节）

These verses start with a rhetorical question, the purpose of which is to correct the concepts formed by Muslims on the patterns established by God for the advocacy of His faith: how victory is achieved and defeat suffered; the importance of action and what reward it merits, etc. The Qur’ān makes it clear that/ the road to heaven is attended by many difficulties and undesirable things. The best equipment for a believer is patience in adversity. This is totally different from hollow wishes and claims which any test may prove to be futile. “Do you reckon that you can enter paradise unless God has identified those among you who strive hard [in His cause] and who are patient in adversity?” (Verse 142)

修辞手法在此问句中被用来明确表明，整个观念是错误的。任何人若认为，只要宣称自己已经皈依伊斯兰，并准备为之献出生命，便足以履行信士所应尽的义务，那无疑是一种错误。需要在此铭记的是，履行这些义务会使那人获得最大的奖赏，即进入天堂。要履行这些义务，就需要经受圣战（jihād）的实际考验，直面困难，并在逆境中保持忍耐。

The rhetoric mode is employed in this question so as to make it clear that the whole concept is wrong. It is certainly a mistake for any man to think that it is sufficient for him to only say that he has accepted Islam and be ready to die for it in order to fulfil the duties which are required of him as one of the believers. It is important to remember here that the fulfilment of such duties earns that person the greatest prize of all, namely, admission to heaven. What is needed for the fulfilment of such duties is to go through a practical test of jihād, to face up to difficulties and to be patient in adversity.

《古兰经》文的措辞尤其意义深远：“……除非真主已经察知你们中间奋力圣战者和坚忍者。”信士仅仅为真主的事业而奋斗是不够的，他们必须展现自己的坚忍，并完成信仰所赋予他们的持续而多样的任务。在战场上作战或许是这些需要坚忍并能证明信仰力量的任务中最轻的一项。此外，还有一项永无止境、艰难攀登的任务：保持与信仰相称的行为标准，建立一套不仅以信仰原则为基础，同时也体现在人的情感与态度之中的价值体系。还需要坚韧不拔，帮助人们克服自身的弱点，以及在日常生活中与之打交道的他人身上的弱点。坚忍与毅力必须在各种情境中展现出来，尤其是在放弃似乎更具吸引力的时候。

The phraseology of the Qur’ānic text is particularly significant: “...unless God has identified those among you who strive hard [in His cause], and who are patient in adversity.” It is not sufficient that believers should strive hard in God’s cause. They have to demonstrate their patience and fulfil the continuous and varied tasks imposed on them by their faith. Fighting on the battlefield may be one of the lightest of these tasks which demand patience and prove the strength of faith. There is, in addition, the never-ending, uphill task of maintaining the standards of behaviour commensurate with faith, developing a set of values which are not only based on the principles of faith but are also reflected in one’s feelings and attitudes. There is also the need for perseverance which helps people overcome their weaknesses, whether these be within themselves or in others with whom they deal in the course of daily life. Patience and perseverance have to be demonstrated in a variety of situations, especially when to give up appears to be far more appealing.

穆罕默德只是一位使者,在他之前的使者都已逝去。如果他死去或被杀,你们难道要转身退缩吗?转身退缩的人绝不会对真主有丝毫损害。真主必将报答那些感恩的人。

Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him. If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels? He that turns about on his heels will not harm God in any way. God will reward those who are grateful [to Him].

（第144节）

(Verse 144)

这节经文指的是乌侯德战役期间发生的一件事。先知ﷺ在穆斯林军队身后的山上部署了一支小分队。他们是后卫，配备弓箭，以击退从背后对穆斯林军队发起的任何进攻。当战斗看似已经结束时，他们中的大多数人违背先知ﷺ的明确命令，离开了自己的阵地。于是敌军的一支部队得以绕过山脚，从后方袭击穆斯林。先知ﷺ本人也受了伤：门牙被打断，脸上流着血。

This verse refers to a particular incident which took place during the Battle of Uĥud. The Prophet had stationed a detachment of soldiers on top of the mountain behind the Muslim army. They were the rearguard, equipped with bows and arrows to repel any attack launched against the Muslim army from behind. When the battle appeared to be all over, most of them left their positions, against the express orders of the Prophet. A battalion of the enemy forces were thus able to go round the mountain and attack the Muslims from the rear. The Prophet himself was injured: his front teeth were broken, and his face was bleeding.

情况变得混乱，穆斯林军队陷入一片慌乱。就在此时，有人大喊：“穆罕默德被杀了！”这一消息对穆斯林的打击如此之大，以致许多人转身返回麦地那。他们逃上山去，精神崩溃，战败沮丧，陷入绝望。然而，先知本人与一小群圣门弟子坚守阵地。当弟子们开始撤退时，他呼唤他们。他们听到他的声音后，便开始重新集结。真主帮助他们恢复了士气，并使他们在片刻间陷入安睡，以赐予他们力量、安全感和安慰，这一点稍后将予以说明。

The situation became chaotic and the Muslim army was in disarray. At this moment, someone cried out: “Muĥammad is killed!” Such a great shock was this to the Muslims, that many of them turned round to return to Madinah. They went up into the mountain, shattered, defeated, in despair. However, the Prophet himself, with a small group of his Companions, stood firm. He called to his Companions as they began to retreat. When they heard him, they began to rally. God helped them regain their moral strength and allowed them to be overtaken by a momentary slumber so as to give them strength, security and reassurance, as will be explained later.

这一系列事件在《古兰经》中被用来向穆斯林阐明关于生死以及神圣信仰历史的若干基本原则。

This sequence of events is used in the Qur’ān to drive home to the Muslims certain fundamental principles about life and death and the history of Divine faith:

“穆罕默德只是一位使者，在他之前，所有的使者都已逝去。如果他死了或被杀，你们就要转身退却吗？”穆罕默德ﷺ只是一位使者，在他之前已有其他所有的使者。他将像在他之前的其他使者一样死去。这是一个基本事实。那么，当这一事实在战场上摆在他们面前时，穆斯林为何却表现出对它视而不见呢？

“Muĥammad is only a messenger: all messengers have passed away before him. If then, he dies or is slain, will you turn about on your heels?” Muĥammad (pbuh) is simply a messenger, having been preceded by all other messengers. He will die as other messengers have died before him. This is an elementary fact. How is it then that the Muslims show themselves to be oblivious of this fact when it stared them in the face during the battle?

不是任何人都能死，除非经真主允许，按照预定的期限。谁想要今世的报酬，我就给他今世的报酬；谁想要后世的报酬，我就给他后世的报酬。我必报答感恩的人。（第145节）

No one can die except by God’s leave, at a term appointed. He who desires the reward of this world, We shall give him thereof and to him who desires the reward of the life to come, We shall give thereof. We shall reward those who are grateful to Us. (Verse 145)

因此,每个人的灵魂都会活到其注定的时限。没有人会早于他的时限死去。无论是恐惧,还是想要活得更久的渴望,都不能推迟任何人注定的时限。另一方面,勇气与冒险也不会缩短一个人的寿命。当这一观念深入信徒的心中,他们在履行职责、践行宗教义务时,便不会去想死亡。这就是为何历世历代的人们都看到,信仰真主的人不会被延长在世时间的渴望或对未来的恐惧所束缚。他们只是依靠真主,以耐心与安心去履行自己的责任。

Every human soul, then, lives up to its appointed time. No one dies before his time. Neither fear, nor the desire to live longer can postpone anyone’s appointed time. Courage and adventure, on the other hand, will not shorten one’s life. As this idea sinks into the minds of the believers they simply do not think of death as they go about fulfilling their responsibilities and carrying out their religious duties. This is the reason why people, throughout the ages, have seen that those who believe in God are not encumbered by their desire to prolong their time on earth or by their fear of what lies ahead. They simply rely on God as they carry out their duties with patience and reassurance.

既然每个人都会在其注定的时刻死去，那么每个人都应当思念后世，并努力工作，以求在那后世获得更大的幸福：“欲今世之报者，我将依其所欲给予之；欲后世之报者，我也将依其所欲给予之。”（第145节）

Since everybody dies at his or her appointed time then everyone should think of the life to come and should work hard in order to achieve the greater happiness of that life: “He who desires the reward of this world, We shall give him thereof and to him who desires the reward of the life to come, We shall give thereof” (Verse 145)

两种生活之间的鸿沟，犹如追求这两种生活各自回报者之间的鸿沟一样宽广。一个人选择何种生活，并不会改变他在这个世上的寿命长短。因此，那些以今世为终极目标、只求今世回报的人，所过的生活与动物的生活相去不远，直到按照既定的期限死去。另一方面，那些仰望更广阔视野的人，过的是真正人的生活——那是真主所尊崇的人，是真主托付其在地上建设幸福人类生活使命的人。这样的人同样会在既定的期限死去。

The gulf between the two types of life is as wide as the gulf between the concerns of those who desire the reward of either one or the other. The length of one’s life on this earth is not affected by the choice one makes. So, he who makes this life his ultimate goal and seeks only its rewards leads a life which is not greatly different from the life of animals, before he dies at the appointed time. On the other hand, he who looks up to the wider horizon leads the life of a true human being whom God has ennobled, to whom He has assigned the mission of building a happy human life on earth. Such a person also dies at his appointed time.

“我们必将回报那些感恩于我们的人。”那些懂得珍视真主如何使人类尊贵、并超越畜生的标准、向真主表示感恩的人，必将获得真主丰厚的回报。

“We shall reward those who are grateful to Us.” Those who appreciate how God has ennobled man and lift themselves above the standard of animals and show their gratitude to God will certainly be richly rewarded by Him.

然后，真主为穆斯林举了一个例子，取材于信士同道的历史。信士组成的信仰行列，可以追溯到时间的最初。那时有言行一致的人，是坚定的信士，他们与派遣到他们中间的先知并肩作战，在逆境中从未动摇。当他们直面死亡时，在为真主的事业而战、遵循其信仰教导而生活时，展现了他们对自身真实地位的觉知。他们所说的，不过是向真主祈求宽恕的祷告。

God then gives the Muslims an example drawn from the history of fellow believers. The procession of faith, composed of believers, dates back to the very beginning of time. There were people who were true to their word, firm believers who fought alongside the prophets sent to them and they never weakened in times of adversity. As they stared death in the face, they demonstrated their awareness of their true position when they fought in God’s cause and lived in accordance with the teachings of their faith. They said no more than a prayer to God to forgive them.

他们在言行和态度上的过失被放大，以至于被描述为“过度”。他们还祈求真主使他们的脚步稳固，并赐予他们胜利。由于他们在战斗中的正确态度与在祈祷中的正确态度相结合，这为他们赢得了今世的回报和后世的回报。因此，他们树立了一个榜样，真主在此将其作为穆斯林的示范。

They enlarged their slips in behaviour and attitude, so as to describe them as “excesses”. They also prayed to God to make their steps firm and to grant them victory. This earned for them the reward of this life and that of the life to come, because they combined the right attitude in battle and the right attitude in their prayers. Thus, they have provided an example which God cites here for the Muslims.

许多先知与众多虔诚的信士并肩作战。他们为了主的事业所承受的磨难,从未使他们灰心丧志,他们也未曾软弱屈服。主喜爱那些在逆境中坚忍的人。他们所说的只是这些话:"我们的主啊!求你赦免我们的罪过,以及我们在事务上的过分行为,使我们的脚步坚定,并使我们战胜不信道的人。"主便赐予他们今世的报酬,以及后世最美好的报酬。主喜爱那些行善尽职的人。(经文146-148节)

Many a Prophet has fought with many devout men alongside him. They never lost heart on account of what they had to suffer in God’s cause, and neither did they weaken nor succumb. God loves those who are patient in adversity. All that they said was this: “Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs. Make firm our steps, and give us victory over the unbelievers.” God has granted them the reward of this life and the best reward of the life to come. God loves those who do their duty well. (Verses 146-8)

uḥud之战是穆斯林遭受的第一次重大失败。此前，他们在Badr取得了胜利，而当时他们的兵力远逊于敌人。因此，他们可能认为，在每一次交锋中取胜是自然法则的一部分。在Uḥud所遭受的打击是一场艰难而令人不安的考验。这或许就是《古兰经》对这场特定战役作出长篇评注的原因。穆斯林在某处受到鼓励，在另一处他们的观念又得到纠正；有时，某些原则被明确阐述，有时则引用实例，以对他们进行恰当的教导，并纠正他们可能存有的任何误解。

The Battle of Uĥud was the first major defeat suffered by the Muslims. They had earlier been granted victory at Badr when their forces were far inferior to those of their enemy. Thus, they may have felt that victory in every encounter was part of the laws of nature. The shock dealt them at Uĥud was a hard and disturbing trial. This may be the reason for the long Qur’ānic comments on this particular battle. The Muslims are encouraged at one point, and their notions are corrected at another; at times, certain principles are clearly stated, and at others, examples are cited to provide proper education for them and to correct any misconceptions they may have.