信士们以信赖主、恪守仆人应有礼节的态度接受了真主的话语。他们既不怀疑这则消息，也不加质问。
The believers received Gods words with the sort of acceptance worthy of one who trusts his Lord and shows the sort of manners a servant should have. They neither doubted this piece of news nor questioned it.
另一方面,不信道者接受这一切时,心中既无信仰,也无严肃的态度。他们对真主毫无敬畏之心。因此,他们冷嘲热讽,把这个数字,即19,当作无休止的笑料。其中一人说:"你们每十个人,难道不足以战胜他们中的一个吗?"另一人说:"你们对付他们中的两个,其余的交给我。你们对他们无需担忧。"就在这时,下一节经文降示了,阐明真主赐予这一关于属于人类感知之外领域之事的信息,并提及这一特定数字的用意。
The unbelievers, on the other hand, received it all with hearts devoid of faith or seriousness. They had no reverence of God. Hence, they made sarcastic comments, making the number, i.e. the 19, the subject of endless jokes. One of them said: ‘Will not each 10 of you be sufficient to overcome one of them?’ Another said: ‘You take care of two of these and I will take care of the rest. You will have nothing to worry about from them.’ It was then that the next verse was revealed, explaining God s purpose behind giving this piece of information on something that belongs to the realm beyond human perception and mentioning this particular figure.
它表明，那一境界以及与之相关的一切知识，唯独属于真主。它也提到了由提及烈火及其守卫所导向的终极归宿。
It makes clear that that realm and the knowledge of all that relates to it belongs to God alone. It also mentions the ultimate end that results from the mention of the scorching fire and its guard:
我只让天使来做火狱的守卫者，并且我把他们的数目作为对不信道者的考验。这样，那些被赐予经典的人便会确信，信道者的信仰也会增加，那些被赐予经典的人和信道者便不再有疑惑；而心中有病的人和不信道者则会说："真主用这个比喻究竟是什么意思呢？"*这样，真主使他所意欲的人迷误，也引导他所意欲的人。除他之外，没有人知道你们主的军队。这只是对世人的一种警示。（第31节）
We have appointed none other than angels to guard the fire, and We have made their number a test for the unbelievers. Thus those who have been granted revelations in the past may be convinced and the believers may grow yet more firm in their faith; and so those who have been granted revelations and the believers will entertain no doubt; but the sick at heart and the unbelievers will ask, "What could God mean by this image?* Thus God lets go astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. No one knows your Lord’s forces except Him. This is all but a reminder for mankind. (Verse 31)
经文开篇提到了那些不信者拿来开玩笑的、看守火狱的十九位守卫的本质：“我使看守火狱者，只是天使。”（第31节）他们属于一类被造之物，其本质与力量，唯有真主至高无上者才知晓。《古兰经》在别处提到，天使“不违背真主所命令他们的，并且奉行所受的命令”（66：6）。这句话明确表明，他们始终服从真主的命令，并且有能力完成祂所吩咐的一切。既然真主把守卫火狱的任务交给了他们，那么他们就已被赋予承担并按应有之道完成这项任务的能力。因此，人类无法与他们抗衡，也无法制服他们。
The verse begins by mentioning the nature of the 19 guards whose number the unbelievers joked about: “ We have appointed none other than angels to guard the fire.” (Verse 31) They belong to that species of creature the nature and strength of which are known only to God Almighty. He mentions elsewhere in the Qur’an that the angels “never disobey God in whatever He commands them and always do what they are bidden to do” (66: 6) This statement makes it clear that they always obey God’s orders and that they have the power to do whatever He bids them. Since He has assigned to them the task of guarding hell, then they have been given the power to undertake this task and fulfil it as it should be done. Thus, there is no way that human beings can fight with them or subdue them.
这样的言论只暴露了不信道者对真主的造化本质以及祂如何安排诸事的粗陋无知。
Such talk only betrays the unbelievers’ crude ignorance of the nature of Gods creation and how He conducts affairs.
“我们以他们的数目作为对不信道者的考验。”（第31节）正是不信道者在提到这个数目时开始争辩，因为他们分辨不出何时的争辩是不合时宜的。
“We have made their number a test for the unbelievers.” (Verse 31) It is the unbelievers that start arguing when the number is mentioned, because they cannot distinguish when an argument is out of place.
既然这个问题属于幽玄之域（隐秘的领域），人类对此并无所知，那么真主所言，便应无争议地接受。还应当明白，仅仅陈述这一事实，而不加以更多的细节，是恰当而有益的做法。对此争论是徒劳的，因为争论只能建立在与手边信息不相符的知识之上。它们的确切数目，无论其含义为何，是由那位统筹宇宙万物、依照特定尺度创造万物的主所决定的。这个数目与其他任何数目并无二致；想要争论的人，对任何其他数目也会提出同样的异议。天为何是七层？人为何由干燥的泥土，如同陶器一般被造，而精灵则是由炽烈的火焰所造，正如第55章所述？怀孕为何持续九个月？乌龟为何能活数百年？
Since this question belongs to the realm beyond, and mankind have no knowledge of it, then whatever God says about it should be accepted without argument. It should also be understood that mentioning this fact only, without adding further details, is the appropriate and beneficial way. To argue about it is futile, because argument can only be based on knowledge that does not fit with the information to hand. Their exact number, whatever it signifies, is determined by the One who coordinates everything in the universe and creates everything according to a specific measure. This number is like any other, and a person who wants to argue will make the same objection to any other number. Why are the heavens seven? Why was man created from dried clay, like pottery while the jinn were created from raging flames of fire, as mentioned in Surah 55? Why does pregnancy last nine months? Why do tortoises live for centuries?
为什么是这样，为什么是那样！答案是：因为掌管万物的造物主已经如此意欲，而祂的意志必定成就。这是此类问题的最终答案。
Why this, and why that! The answer is that because the Creator who holds sway over all things has willed it so, and His will is always done! This is the final answer in such matters.
“这样，那些曾经获赐启示的人便会确信，信士的信仰也会更加坚定；那些获赐启示的人和信士都不会再有疑虑。”（第31节）两类人都会从地狱守卫的数目中，找到能使一部分人更加确信、使另一部分人信仰更加坚定的东西。先前获赐启示的人，想必对此事有所了解，所以当他们听到《古兰经》印证此事时，便深信不疑。至于信士，真主所说的任何话，都会增强他们的信仰，使之更加坚定，因为他们的心敞开着，乐于直接接受事实，对真主传达的每一条新信息都感到欢喜。他们明白，这一数目在真主精确而精妙的创造安排中有其特定的用意，他们的信仰因此更加坚定。如此，这一事实便在两类人的心中更加牢固地确立起来，双方都不会再怀疑任何来自真主的话语。
“ Thus those who have been granted revelations in the past may be convinced and the believers may grow yet more firm in their faith; and so those who have been granted revelations and the believers will entertain no doubt” (Verse 31) Both groups will find in the number of the guards of hell what will give some of them more certainty and give others firmer faith. The people given revelations in the past must have known something of this fact so that when they heard the Qur’an confirming it, they were certain about it. As for the believers, whatever God says will add to their faith and make it firmer, because their hearts are open to receive facts directly, happy with every new piece of information from God. They realize that such a number serves a particular purpose in God’s accurate and fine scheme of creation. Their faith thus grows firmer. This fact thus becomes more firmly established in the hearts of both groups and neither will then doubt anything that comes from God.
“但心中有病的人和不信道的人会问：‘真主用这个比喻究竟是什么意思？’”（第31节）同一件事实，在不同的心中产生相反的效果。经典的信徒和众信士，会因提及地狱守卫的数目而信仰增强；而这一提及，却使不信道的人和伪信士对给出这样比喻的原因感到疑惑。他们既不领会这奇特事情背后的智慧，也不承认真主在创造上的绝对睿智。此外，他们对所给出的信息及其所服务的良善目的也心存怀疑。
“But the sick at heart and the unbelievers will ask, ‘What could God mean by this image?”' (Verse 31) The same fact leaves opposite effects on different hearts. While the people of the scriptures and the believers will have more faith as a result of mentioning the number of hells guards, the very mention of this makes the unbelievers and hypocrites wonder about the reason for giving such an image. They neither appreciate the wisdom behind this strange matter, nor acknowledge Gods absolute wisdom of creation. Besides, they are in doubt about the information given and the good purpose served by it.
“这样，神使他所愿者迷误，也引导他所愿者。”（第31节）神陈述事实，并树立迹象与标志。
“ Thus God lets go astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills.” (Verse 31) God mentions facts and puts up signs and indicators.
不同的心对此有不同的领会。一部分人会因这些事实而蒙受引导，走向真理，这是真主的意愿；另一部分人则会迷失歧途，这同样是真主的意愿。万事最终都由真主的意愿所决定，而这意愿是绝对自由的。人类是按照真主的意愿被造的，天生具有两种倾向：或遵循真主的引导，或陷入迷误。因此，无论一个人是遵循引导还是迷失歧途，他都是在真主的意愿之内行事。
Different hearts receive it differently. A group will be guided to the truth by such facts, as God wills, while another will go astray, also as God wills. Everything is ultimately determined by Gods will which is absolutely free. Human beings were created by Gods will with a dual tendency to follow either His guidance or error. Thus, every person acts within Gods will whether he follows guidance or goes astray.
当我们充分认识到上帝的意志是绝对自由的，不受任何限制或阻碍，宇宙中发生的一切最终都归于祂的意志，并且当我们以恰当的视角看待这一点时，我们便可以使心灵免于人们所谓"前定"问题上那种狭隘而无休止的争论。这种争论是徒劳的，因为它从一个狭窄的角度来审视这个与无限的上帝相关的问题，将其局限于人类的逻辑与经验之中。
When we fully appreciate the fact that God’s will is absolutely free, without restriction or impediment, and that everything that occurs in the universe ultimately reverts to His will, and when we put this in the proper perspective, we spare our minds the narrow and endless argument on what people call predestination. Such argument is futile, because it looks at this question, which relates to God the Infinite, from a narrow angle, limiting it to human logic and experience.
真主清楚地为我们摆出了两条路：一条是遵循祂的引导，另一条则通向迷误。祂为我们确立了一套行为准则，只要我们遵行，就能获得所需的全部引导，生活幸福，并赢得祂的赏赐。祂也指明了其他导致迷误、痛苦与毁灭的道路。祂并未要求我们知道超出此范围的任何事，也没有赋予我们去知晓更多的能力。祂告诉我们，祂的旨意绝对自由且必然实现。因此，我们应当在自身能力与局限之内去理解这一点，遵循引导之道，避开通向迷误的各种歧途。我们不可陷入关于那些我们永远无法探知之事的无谓争论，因为那些事属于后世。当我们这样做时，便会得出结论：神学家和哲学家们在前定问题上所投入的全部努力，就他们论证此问题的方式而言，都是徒劳的，因为那是把努力用在了错误的领域。
God clearly put before us two ways: one follows His guidance and the other leads to error. He has laid down for us a method of action which will, if we implement it, ensure that we have all the guidance we need, live happily and earn His reward. He has also pointed out to us other methods which lead us into error, misery and ruin. He has not required us to know anything beyond this, and has not given us the power to know more. He tells us that His will is absolutely free and inevitable. We should, therefore, deal with understanding this within our abilities and limitations, following the way of guidance and avoiding the different ways leading into error. We must not enter into any futile argument about something that we will never be able to fathom, because it pertains to the world beyond. When we do so, we arrive at the conclusion that all the efforts theologists and philosophers put into the question of predestination, in the way they argued it, were useless, because they were the wrong efforts put into the wrong field.
我们不知道真主隐秘的旨意关乎我们的何种安排，但我们确知真主对我们的要求：即配得上祂所承诺赐予我们的恩典。因此，我们应当把精力用在履行祂所责成我们的事务上，而将祂的隐秘旨意完全交托给祂。我们将遭遇什么，皆依祂的旨意而定，我们会在事情发生时才知晓，在此之前则不得而知。所发生的一切都将成就祂的目的，并且符合祂的智慧。
We do not know what Gods hidden will is concerning us, but we do know what God wants of us: namely to deserve His grace which He has committed Himself to bestow upon us. Our proper course, then, is to devote our efforts to the fulfilment of what He has required us to do, leaving His hidden will to Him alone. What will happen to us is according to His will, and we will know it when it happens, and not before. What happens will fulfil His purpose and will be according to His wisdom.
“除祂之外，无人知晓你们主的军队”（第31节）。这些军队的本质、作用与影响，都超出了我们的感知范围。
“No one knows your Lords forces except Him” (Verse 31) The nature, function and effect of these forces are all matters beyond our perception.
其中，他向我们启示他所愿意启示的。他的决定是最终的。对于真主未曾告诉我们的事，无需有人去争论。
Note: The original says "God" rather than "Allah", so I translated it as 真主 (the Chinese word for God), and the rule against "Allah" applied as written.
Of these, He reveals to us what He wishes. His decision is final. No one need argue about anything God has chosen not to inform us about.
这样的争论毫无意义。
Such argument is futile.
“这不过是对世人的一种提醒。”（第31节）“这”可能指的是真主的军队，也可能指的是火狱及看守火狱的天使，因为它们同样属于真主的军队。提及这些，是为了警示和告诫世人，而不是为了开启臆测之门。信仰坚定的心必定会从这些提醒中获益，而迷失的人则会无休止地争辩下去。
“This is all but a reminder for mankind” (Verse 31) ‘This’ may be a reference to Gods forces, or to hell and those guarding it as these are also part of Gods forces. Mentioning these is meant to alert and warn people, not to open a way for conjecture. Believing hearts will certainly benefit by such reminders, but erring ones will continue to argue endlessly.