本章接下来论述那些坚持反对信仰的不信道者。这些人并不理解先知所倡导之事的本质。因此，他们试图与先知妥协，希望他停止，或至少放弃那些最令他们反感的部分。本章的最后一段，正是在这一背景下论述此种情形：他们寻求与先知妥协，迫害他的追随者，使人们远离真主的启示，并拒绝那通向天堂回报的善道。
The surah now looks at the situation of the unbelievers who persist in their opposition to the divine faith. These did not understand the nature of what the Prophet advocated. Therefore, they tried to compromise with him, hoping that he would stop, or at least forgo the part of it that most offended them. The last section of the surah deals with this situation against the backdrop of their seeking a compromise with the Prophet, persecuting his followers, turning people away from God’s message and rejecting the way of goodness that ensures reward in heaven:
这是我们向你逐步降示的《古兰经》。
It is We who have bestowed the Quran upon you by gradual revelation.
所以你要耐心等待你主的判决，不要理会其中任何罪人和不信道者。你要在早晚纪念你主的名。夜间你要向他叩拜，漫长的夜里你要赞颂他的无限圣洁。（第23-26节）
Await, then, your Lord's judgement in all patience, and pay no heed to any of these sinners and unbelievers. Remember your Lord's name morning and evening. At night prostrate yourself before Him, and extol His limitless glory throughout the long night. (Verses 23-26)
这四节经文概括了伊斯兰信仰的一项重要原则，信仰者应当充分理解并珍视这一原则。他们还应当研究它在人的灵魂之中以及在现实生活中所产生的影响。
These four verses sum up an important principle of the Islamic faith, one which its advocates should fully understand and appreciate. They should study its effects within the human soul and in practical life.
真主的使者直接面对不信者，呼吁他们信仰真主的独一性。在宣扬自己的信息时，先知所面对的不仅仅是不同的信仰。如果只是如此，事情就会容易得多。不信者的多神信仰太过脆弱、毫无根据，无法为他们拒绝清晰、简单而合乎逻辑的伊斯兰信仰提供任何坚实的依据。相反，历史所记载、《古兰经》所录的，他们激烈而坚决的反对，源于一系列的情况与考量。社会地位、对既有价值观的骄傲，以及可能随之而来的物质利益，构成了第一个因素，促使这些人紧紧抓住自己脆弱而虚假的信仰，抗拒那些显然正确的东西。同样，在蒙昧时代的制度下，人们可以沉溺于各种享乐，满足每一种欲望。因此，那些热衷于此的人，自然会抵制一种对道德和崇高价值持严肃态度、并禁止一切不道德和纵欲行为的信仰。所有这些因素，在伊斯兰信息最初被宣扬时便与之对立，并且在每个社会、每一代人中依然与之对立。它们是信仰之争中的根本力量，使这场斗争变得艰苦卓绝，要求为信仰奋斗者在种种困难面前坚定不移，并愿意作出巨大的牺牲。因此，无论身处何地、何时，伊斯兰的宣讲者都必须充分理解这四节经文所概括的真理，并学习导致这些经文降示的背景，从而将其运用于自身的处境。
God’s Messenger faced the unbelievers directly, calling on them to believe in God’s oneness. In advocating his message, the Prophet was not merely facing different beliefs. Had it been so, the case would have been much easier. The unbelievers’ polytheistic beliefs were too flimsy and groundless to give them any solid ground to reject the clear, simple and logical Islamic faith. Instead, what led to their fierce and determined opposition, reported in history and recorded in the Qur’an, was a host of circumstances and considerations. Social position as well as pride in prevailing values and what they might entail of material interest constituted the first factor motivating such people to hold tight to their flimsy and false beliefs, resisting those that were evidently true. Similarly, life under a system of jdhiliyyah allowed indulgence in every type of pleasure and gratification of every desire. Hence, people who were keen to indulge in these were expected to resist a faith that adopted a serious approach to morality and high values, stamping out all immoral and carnal practices. All these factors stood up against the Islamic message when it was first advocated. They continue to stand up against it in every community and every generation. They represent the essential forces in the battle of faith, making it a hard-fought battle, requiring those fighting for faith to stand firm in the face of all such difficulties, willing to make great sacrifices. Therefore, advocates of Islam, regardless of place or time, must fully understand the truth summed up in these four verses and learn the circumstances leading to their revelations so that they apply to them too.
先知接到了来自其主的指令,要求他警告自己的族人。当他开始履行这一使命时,遇到了一些因素和情况,使人们背离他的信息,并促使他们坚持自己的信仰——尽管他们明知这些信仰是多么脆弱、站不住脚。他们十分顽固,竭力维护自己的信仰、社会秩序、个人利益以及熟悉的习俗和享乐。他们意识到,这一新的信仰威胁到了上述一切。他们为捍卫自己的体系和旧有方式,采取了多种形式:先是迫害少数回应新信仰的信众,企图以武力和身体酷刑迫使他们重新回到旧的道路上;他们还试图败坏新信仰的名声,编造虚假的指控,散布关于它以及传播它的使者的谣言。他们希望借此阻止人们加入这一信仰。他们认为,阻止人们加入新信仰,要比人们接受并体会到其真理之后再把他们拉回来容易得多。
The Prophet received instructions from his Lord requiring him to warn his people. When he began carrying out his instructions, he was faced with those factors and circumstances that turned people away from his message and motivated them to persist with their own beliefs, knowing how flimsy and insupportable these were. They were very stubborn, and fought hard to preserve their beliefs, social order, personal interests and familiar practices and indulgences. They realized that the new faith threatened all these. Their defence of their system and old ways took several manifestations, starting with persecuting the few believers who responded to the new faith and trying to turn them back to the old way by force and physical torture. They also tried to give the new faith a bad image, making false accusations and spreading false rumours about it and the Messenger preaching it. They hoped that in this way they could prevent people from joining it. They thought that stopping people joining the new faith would be much easier than trying to turn them back from it after they had embraced and felt its truth.
与此同时,不信道者也尝试了各种诱惑手段,并伴以惯常的施压和威胁,企图说服先知ﷺ与他们互相让步。他们希望他停止对其信仰、传统和习俗的猛烈攻击,并与他们协商出某种双方都能接受的妥协方案。当人们的利益和主张相互冲突时,通常都会设法找到某种共处的办法。这些手段,或与之十分相似的做法,也常常是伊斯兰的传播者所面临的。
At the same time, the unbelievers also tried different aspects of temptation, alongside the usual pressures and threats, to persuade the Prophet to meet them halfway. They wanted him to stop his onslaught against their beliefs, traditions and practices, and to work out some compromise, which would be acceptable to both parties. People normally try to work out a sort of modus vivendi when they have conflicting interests and claims. These same methods, or very similar ones, are often faced by the advocates of Islam.
诚然,作为真主的使者,先知蒙受真主的保护与襄助,但他同时也是一个人,要承受艰难的压力,身边只有一小群信士的支持,而这些信士的力量远弱于他们的对手。真主洞察这一切。因此,祂没有抛弃他,没有让他孤身应对这一切,也没有不为他指明前行的道路。这四节经文正是这种亟需的支持的精髓所在。
It is true that, as a Messenger of God, the Prophet enjoyed God’s protection and help, yet he was a human being facing difficult pressures and supported only by a small band of believers who were far weaker than their opponents. God was aware of all this. Therefore, He did not abandon him, leaving him to face all this without support, or without marking the road ahead for him to follow. These four verses thus provide the essence of this much-needed support.
“是我降示《古兰经》给你，是逐步降示的。”（第23节）这是第一点，说明这一讯息的来源，以及是谁赋予了宣扬它的使命。它来自真主，除祂之外别无来源。这是《古兰经》所阐明的讯息。它不能与任何并非来自其纯净源头的事物相混淆。它不会吸纳来自其自身源头之外的任何东西。它也不会借用与其本质相异的任何事物。
“It is We who have bestowed the Quran upon you by gradual revelation.” (Verse 23) This is the first point, stating where this message comes from and who has assigned the duty of its advocacy. It comes from God, having no source other than Him. It is the message the Quran outlines. It cannot be mixed up with anything that does not come from its pure source. It will incorporate nothing that comes from anywhere other than its own source. It will borrow nothing alien to its nature.
此外,启示《古兰经》并将使命托付给其倡导者的真主,不会抛弃他,也不会在将《古兰经》赐予他之后,任由他自生自灭。
Moreover, God, who revealed the Qur’an and entrusted the message to its advocate, will not abandon him or leave him to his own devices when it is He who gave him the Qur’an.
然而,谬妄却肆意妄为,邪恶也在自我吹嘘。信士们遭受苦难,并被施以迫害。信仰真道的敌人掌握着使人远离正道的手段,并运用各种策略以达成其目的。他们似乎坚定地维护自己的信仰、保存自己的传统,并遵循其迷误而败坏的道路。
Yet falsehood behaves with insolence, and evil blows its own trumpet. Hardship is inflicted on the believers and they are subjected to persecution. The enemies of the divine faith possess the means to turn people away from it, and they use different tactics to achieve their purpose. They appear adamant about maintaining their beliefs, preserving their traditions and following their erring and corrupt ways.
然后,他们突然提出和解的机会,并为妥协展示了前景。在这种情况下,这样的提议很难拒绝。
Then, suddenly, they offer the opportunity for reconciliation and hold out the prospect of compromise. In such circumstances, such an offer is hard to resist.
第二点是一项明确的指示:"你且为你的主的判决忍耐,不要听从其中任何罪人或不信道者。"(第24节)一切事情都取决于真主的旨意。祂可能允许邪恶和虚妄得意一时,也可能让信士的考验持续很久。这一切都有其目的,最终都会实现祂的旨意:"你且为你的主的判决忍耐",直到它在注定的时刻到来。
给先知的这一指示,要求他坚忍不拔,不论他可能遭受怎样的伤害,经历怎样的考验。即使他看到虚妄取得胜利、邪恶趾高气扬,他也要保持忍耐。此外,他还要坚守《古兰经》所确立的真理。凡是以牺牲他所传播的使命为代价的任何妥协或折中提议,他都不应接受:"不要听从其中任何罪人或不信道者。"他们提供不了任何善良或有益的东西。
Here comes the second point, stating a clear directive: “Await, then, your Lord's judgement in all patience, and pay no heed to any of these sinners and unbelievers.” (Verse 24) All matters are subject to God’s will. He may allow evil and falsehood to have their day, and He may allow the believers’ trial to last long. All this will be for a purpose that sees His will being done: “Await, then, your Lord's judgement in all patience” until it comes at its appointed time. The instruction given to the Prophet requires him to persevere despite all the harm to which he may be exposed, and all the trials he may be put through. He is to remain patient even when he sees falsehood achieving victory, and evil taking airs. Moreover, he is to persevere in holding to the truth the Qur’an lays down. He is not to listen to any offer of compromise or a meeting halfway if this is at the expense of the message he is advocating: “Pay no heed to any of these sinners and unbelievers.” They do not offer anything good or beneficial.
怎么可能呢?他们都是罪人和不信道者。他们在你面前妥协时所能提供的,只不过是罪恶与不信的份额。他们提供的是他们认为会让你高兴、会诱惑你的东西。他们向他提供了确实very诱人的东西:权力、财富和女人。他们愿意拥立他为领袖,并使他成为他们中最富有的人。
How can they, when they are sinners and unbelievers? All that they offer you, when they try to compromise, is a share of sin and disbelief. They offer what they think will please and tempt you. They offered him what was indeed tempting: power, wealth and women. They were willing to make him their leader and to make him the richest among them.
他们还向他提供美貌的女子。乌特巴·伊本·拉比尔(‘Utbah ibn Rabi‘ah)对他说:
They also offered him pretty women. ‘Utbah ibn Rabi(ah said to him:
“放弃你所倡导的这件事，我就把我的女儿嫁给你为妻。我的女儿们是古莱什人中最美丽的。”那些倡导虚妄的人，总是向倡导真理的人许下这样诱人的承诺，企图让他们的声音沉默下来。
“Abandon this matter you are advocating and I will give you my daughter as your wife. I have the prettiest daughters among the Quraysh.” Those advocating falsehood always make such tempting offers to advocates of the truth, seeking to silence their message.
“所以你应当耐心等待你主的判决，不要听从他们中任何罪人或不信道者的话。”（第24节）你与他们之间没有交汇之处。在你的方法与他们的方法之间、你的真理与他们的虚妄之间、你的光明与他们的黑暗之间、你的信仰与他们的不信之间、你的真理使命与他们的蒙昧（jahiliyyah）之间，那道宽阔的鸿沟上，没有任何桥梁可以架起。
“Await, then, your Lord's judgement in all patience, and pay no heed to any of these sinners and unbelievers” (Verse 24) There is no meeting point between you and them. No bridge can be built over the wide gulf separating your method from theirs, your truth from their falsehood, your light from their darkness, your faith from their disbelief, your message of truth from their jahiliyyah.
先知被告知要保持忍耐,即使苦难可能持续不断、考验十分严峻、诱惑极为强烈。然而,忍耐并非易事。人总是需要帮助与支持。
The Prophet is told to remain patient, even though the adversity may be continuous, the trial hard, and the temptation powerful. Yet patience does not come easy. Help and support are always needed.
因此:"你要在早晚记念你主的名。夜间你要向他叩拜,并且在漫长的夜里赞颂他的圣洁。"(第25-26节)这段经文可以概括为:所需要的全部帮助与支持,就是在一天的开始与结束时记念真主的名,夜间向他叩拜,并长时间地赞颂他。先知被告知,这些正是维系他与真主之间联系的途径,那位真主赐予他《古兰经》,并托付他传达启示。真主是一切力量的源泉。前路漫长,他所担负的重担沉重,他需要大量的支持。而这支持,就是通过在漫长的夜里赞颂真主,保持与他的联系。
Hence: “Remember your Lord's name morning and evening. At night prostrate yourself before Him, and extol His limitless glory throughout the long night” (Verses 25-26) This, in a nutshell, is all the help and support that is needed: remembering God’s name at the beginning and end of the day, prostrating before Him at night, and glorifying Him at length. The Prophet is told that these are the means to maintain the bond with God who gave him the Qur’an and who entrusted him with His message. He is the source of all power. The way ahead is long, the burden he carries is heavy, and he needs much support. Now, the support is identified as maintaining contact with God by glorifying Him through the long night.
因此,仆人独自与他的主相遇,直接与祂交谈,仰望祂的恩惠与扶持,感受祂的慈悯,这慈悯能除去一切烦恼,消解疲惫。祂的大能将转化仆人们的软弱与人数之少。当他们放下尘世的重负,注视托付给他们的伟大使命时,便会觉得自己所经历的一切艰难都微不足道,他们继续承担前方任务的决心也将因此更加坚定。
Thus, the servant meets his Master alone, speaking to Him directly, looking up to Him for favour and support, feeling His compassion that removes all trouble and relieves exhaustion. His power will transform His servants’ weaknesses and lack of numbers. When they shed their earthly burdens and look at the great task entrusted to them, they will think little of all the hardships they are going through and their resolve to get on with the task ahead will be that much strengthened.
真主是至慈至仁的。祂将自己的使命托付给了祂的仆人——先知ﷺ，并将《古兰经》降示给他。祂知道他在前行的道路上将遭遇的艰难，因此并没有让他孤立无援。相反，祂赐予他最为有用、最为有效的支持与帮助，以助他度过艰难的旅程。无论时代、境况或地域如何，这种支持始终是一切宣扬神圣使命者所需要的。它是同样的使命，面对的是同样的处境，遭遇的是同样顽固的、来自虚妄的反对，原因也相同。虚妄对它所采用的工具和手段也是相同的。那么，就让真理所运用的手段，成为真主所知道的最有效的手段吧。
God is ever merciful. He entrusted His servant, the Prophet, with His message and revealed the Qur’an to him. He is aware of the hardship he would meet along his way. Therefore, He did not leave him without support. On the contrary, He gave him the support and help He knew to be most useful and effective along his difficult journey. This remains the support needed by all advocates of the divine message, regardless of time, circumstance or place. It is the same message, with the same circumstances, facing the same intransigent opposition by falsehood, and for the same reasons. Falsehood employs the same tools and means against it. Let, then, the means the truth employs be the ones God knows to be the most effective.
传达神圣讯息的人应当始终牢记的真理，是神所启示给这一讯息的第一位传播者——先知穆罕默德ﷺ的那一真理。传播讯息的职责由神所指定，这讯息依然是神的讯息。它所阐明的真理，绝不能与罪人和不信道者所宣扬的虚妄相混淆。
The truth advocates of the divine message should always bear in mind is the one God impressed on the first advocate of this message, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The duty to advocate the message is assigned by God, and it remains His message. The truth it outlines can never be mixed with the falsehood advocated by sinners and unbelievers.
因此，真理与谬误之间不可能有交汇点，也不可能达成和解。主张真理的人与主张谬误的人之间，同样不可能有折中的相遇。他们所走的是两条永不相交的道路。即便谬误有时十分强大，能够压制信士，而信士可能弱小、人数稀少，那也是因为真主凭着无限的智慧允许如此。在这种情形下，唯一的办法是保持忍耐，等待真主的判决。
Hence, there can be no meeting point or reconciliation between the truth and falsehood. Nor can there be any halfway meeting between those advocating the truth and those advocating falsehood. They follow two ways that never meet. Should falsehood at times be very powerful and able to subdue the believers, who may be weak and small in number, it will be so because God, in His infinite wisdom, allows this. In such a situation, the only way is to remain patient and await God’s judgement.
与此同时，应当通过夜间的礼拜和赞颂真主来寻求帮助。这是唯一肯定有效的帮助。
In the meantime, support should be sought through night worship and glorification of Him. This is the only help that is guaranteed to work.
这是一条必须被充分理解的根本真理，对于那些想要追随先知的足迹、踏上他的道路的人而言，尤其如此。
This is an essential truth that must be fully understood by those who want to follow the Prophet’s footsteps and tread along his way.