伊本·阿比·哈提姆记载：古莱氏的长老们聚会商议。其中有人说：“穆罕默德是一个言辞犀利的人。他若与人交谈，很快就能将人说服。因此，你们应当挑选几位最受尊敬、家世渊源广为人知的人，让他们分别守在通往麦加的每一条路口，距离一到两天的路程，凡有前来与穆罕默德会面的人，都将其劝回。”人们果然照此行事。若他们遇到一个奉本族之命前来打听穆罕默德情况的人，便会主动自我介绍，说明自己在族中的地位，然后向对方提议，由他来讲述那位先知的情况，并说：“他是一个骗子，追随他的只有奴隶、愚昧之人和那些无用之辈。他族中所有有智慧的人都已明确表态反对他。”这样的话便足以使许多人打消念头。经文所说正是指此：“当有人问他们：‘你们的主降示了什么？’他们说：‘这不过是古人的神话传说！’”（第24节）
Ibn Abī Ĥātim reports: “The elders of the Quraysh met for consultation. Some of them said: ‘Muĥammad is a man of fine argument. If he speaks to a man, he soon gets hold of him. Therefore, select some of your most honourable people, whose lines of ancestry are well known. Let them take their positions at every route into Makkah, at one or two day’s distance, so that they turn away anyone who comes to meet Muĥammad.’ People did just that. If any of them met a man sent by his people to find out about Muĥammad, he would introduce himself to him, telling him his position among his people. He would then offer to tell him about the Prophet, saying, ‘He is a liar who has been followed only by slaves and ignorant people, and those who are good for nothing. All wise men among his people have taken a clear stand against him.’ This would be enough to turn many people away. It is to this that God refers in the verse stating: “Whenever they are asked, ‘What has your Lord bestowed from on high?’ they say: Fables of the ancients!’” (Verse 24)
“另一方面,如果被派去打探先知情况的人是真主赐予洞察力的人,他会说:‘如果我已经来到这么近,却不去会见这个人、不听他所说的话,就回去,那我确实是一个糟糕的情报搜集者,无法给我的族人呈现关于他的真实图景。’他会坚持进入麦加,在那里他会遇到信士们,而他们会告诉他,穆罕默德所说的一切都是好的、正确的。”这是古莱什人针对伊斯兰发起的一场精心策划的宣传运动。尽管有大量证据支持真理,但在每个时代,都有一些傲慢之人不愿顺服真理,并组织起类似的运动。
“On the other hand, if the man sent to find out about the Prophet is one to whom God has given insight, he would say: ‘I am certainly a bad intelligence gatherer if, having reached so close, I am to return now without meeting this man and listening to what he says in order to give my people a true picture of him.’ He would insist on going into Makkah, where he would meet the believers and where they would tell him that all that Muĥammad says is good and fine.” This was a well orchestrated propaganda campaign mounted by the Quraysh against Islam. A similar campaign is organized in every generation by arrogant people who do not wish to submit to the truth despite all the evidence supporting it.
诚然,古莱什人中的傲慢者并非第一批否认真理、图谋反对真理的人。本章为他们描绘了在他们之前那些图谋者所遭受的命运,以及他们在来世的归宿。它向他们展示,从灵魂离开身体的那一刻起,直到他们在后世接受惩罚,他们将承受怎样的苦难。这一切都以生动的画面呈现,遵循《古兰经》无可企及的独特风格。
Indeed the arrogant among the Quraysh were not the first to deny the truth or to scheme against it. The sūrah draws for them a picture of the fate suffered by schemers before them, and their destiny in the hereafter. It shows them what they endure from the moment their souls part with their bodies until they receive their punishment in the life to come. All this is depicted in vivid images, following the inimitable style of the Qur’ān:
同样，在他们之前的人也曾策划阴谋。但真主摧毁了他们建筑物的根基，屋顶便从上方坍塌压在他们身上，灾祸从他们未曾察觉之处降临到他们头上。然后，在复活日，祂将使他们蒙受羞辱，并说：“你们所声称与我并列的那些同伴在哪里？你们曾为他们争论不休。”那些被赐予知识的人将说：
Those who lived before them also schemed. But God struck their edifice at its foundation, and its roof fell in upon them from above, and suffering befell them from where they did not perceive. Then, on the Day of Resurrection He will cover them with ignominy, and say: ‘Where are those alleged partners of Mine concerning whom you have engaged in dispute?’ Those who are endowed with knowledge will say:
“今日，不信道者将遭受凌辱与苦难，那些被天使在他们自欺之时取走灵魂的人，”{今日，不信道者将遭受凌辱与苦难，那些被天使在他们自欺之时取走灵魂的人。}这些人将俯首投降，说："我们并没有作恶！"{他们将俯首投降，说："我们并没有作恶！"}（天使将回答）："不然！真主确知你们所做的一切。你们进入火狱的大门，永居其中吧。"{真主确知你们所做的一切。你们进入火狱的大门，永居其中吧。}傲慢者的居所，何等恶劣！
Note on the translation: the bracketed Qur'an text above is quoted in the same form as the source, with the verses between { and } as the original presents them.
‘Ignominy and misery shall this day befall the unbelievers, those whom the angels have gathered in death while they are still wronging themselves.’ These will then offer their submission, saying: ‘We have done no wrong!’ [They will be answered]: ‘Yes, indeed. God has full knowledge of all that you were doing! Enter the gates of hell, where you shall abide.’ Evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant! (Verses 26-29)
“那些在他们之前的人也曾设计谋划。”（第26节）这章经文把他们的谋划描绘成一座有地基、有墙角、有天花板和屋顶的建筑，这意味着他们的阴谋是一个规模宏大、设计精巧的计划。然而，没有什么能抵挡真主的大能：“真主从根基上摧毁了他们的建筑，屋顶便从上方塌落，压在他们身上。”（第26节）这描绘出一幅彻底毁灭的画面，毁灭从他们脚下和头顶同时降临。支撑建筑的地基崩塌，屋顶坠落，将他们掩埋。“刑罚从他们没有察觉的地方降临到他们身上。”（第26节）因此，他们精心建造、用来庇护自身的建筑，成了他们的葬身之地，他们从四面八方被压倒。他们万万没有想到，自己为遮蔽而建的东西，竟成了毁灭自己的工具。
“Those who lived before them also schemed.” (Verse 26) The sūrah paints their scheming as though it was a building with foundations, corners, ceiling and roof, which implies that it was a massive and well designed plot. But nothing can stand up to God’s might: “But God struck their edifice at its foundation, and its roof fell in upon them from above.” (Verse 26) This paints a picture of total destruction, overtaking them from beneath their feet and above their heads. The foundations supporting the building collapse, and the roof falls down burying them. “And suffering befell them from where they did not perceive.” (Verse 26) Thus the building they very carefully constructed to provide them with shelter becomes their burial ground as they are overwhelmed from every direction. Little did they think that what they built for shelter would become the instrument of their own destruction.
我们在这里看到的是彻底毁灭的景象。这是一种完美的讽刺,针对那些策划阴谋、对抗真主信息的人。他们以为自己的诡计足够强大、足够周密,永远不会失败。但真主的谋略远比他们所能对抗的更为有力。这一场景常常重演。古莱什人并非第一个采取这种立场的人,也不会是最后一个。另一方面,无论阴谋者如何策划,真主的信息都沿着它清晰的道路前行。人们时常回转过来,看到古兰经所描绘的那一极其有力的场景:"真主毁坏了他们的建筑根基,屋顶便从上面塌下来压在他们身上,灾难从他们没有察觉的地方降临到他们身上。"(第26节)
The image we have here is one of complete destruction. This is the perfect irony directed at those who scheme and plot against God’s message, believing that their scheming is too strong and elaborate to ever be foiled. But God’s own scheming is far too weighty for them to oppose. This scene is often repeated. The Quraysh were not the first to take this stand, nor would they be the last. On the other hand, God’s message goes on along its clear way, no matter what the plotters devise. People turn around from time to time, and they see that highly effective scene portrayed by the Qur’ān: “But God struck their edifice at its foundation, and its roof fell in upon them from above, and suffering befell them from where they did not perceive.” (Verse 26)
所有这些都发生在今世的地球生活之中。但在此之外，还有另外的事情。
All this takes place in the present life on earth. But there is something else beyond:
“然后，在复活日，祂会使他们蒙受羞辱，并说：‘你们曾为之争论的、自称为我的同伴的那些（所谓的）伙伴在哪里？’”（第27节）
“Then, on the Day of Resurrection He will cover them with ignominy, and say: ‘Where are those alleged partners of Mine concerning whom you have engaged in dispute?” (Verse 27)
现在这一幕是后世的景象:那些策划阴谋的人站起来,羞愧不已,他们的傲慢与谋划已经对他们毫无用处。他们站在那位掌管一切受造物与一切权力的主面前。祂将斥责他们,问道:“那些你们曾为之争论的、自称是我的同伴的所谓伙伴,如今在哪里?”你们热衷于同我的使者以及那些承认我独一的信徒争辩,声称你们的虚假神明是我的同伴。
This is now a scene of the hereafter, where we see the plotters stand up in shame, and when their arrogance and scheming is no longer of any use to them. They stand in front of the One to whom all creation and all authority belong. He will rebuke them, asking: “Where are those alleged partners of Mine concerning whom you have engaged in dispute?” You were keen to dispute with My Messenger and his followers who acknowledged My oneness, claiming that your false deities were My partners.
他们现在在哪里？
Where are they now?
在羞辱与卑微之中,他们将保持沉默。而那些被赋予知识的人、天使、使者,以及真诚的信士,即神允许其发言的人,则会清楚而有力地说道:“今日,不信道者必将蒙受耻辱与苦难。”(第27节)
In their shame and humiliation, they will remain silent. On the other hand, those endowed with knowledge, angels, messengers and true believers, whom God permits to speak, will say plainly and forcefully: “Ignominy and misery shall this day befall the unbelievers.” (Verse 27)
现在，经文将他们带回到一个步骤，描述他们面临死亡的那一刻："今日，不信道者必遭屈辱与苦难，那些在他们还自欺的时候被天使取走灵魂的人。"（第27-28节）天使在取走他们的灵魂，而这些灵魂是他们自己所亏待的，因为他们剥夺了自己信仰的光明与安定。他们以自己的所作所为招致了自身的毁灭，如今他们必须在火狱中承受惩罚。
Now they are taken a step backwards, and described at the moment they face death. “Ignominy and misery shall this day befall the unbelievers, those whom the angels have gathered in death while they are still wronging themselves.” (Verses 27-28) The angels are gathering their souls which they themselves have wronged by depriving themselves of the light and reassurance of faith. By their own actions they have brought about their own ruin, and now they have to suffer punishment in hell.
这一章描绘了他们临死时的处境，那时他们仍与尘世相近，仍与他们在此处所主张的一切虚妄，以及他们所有的恶毒谋划相连。
The sūrah paints their position at the moment of their death, when they are still close to earth and to all the falsehood they asserted here, and all their evil scheming:
“这些人届时会表示顺服，说：‘我们并没有作恶！’”（第28节）
“These will then offer their submission, saying: ‘We have done no wrong!’” (Verse 28)
那些过去沉溺于傲慢的人，如今变得顺服，无力抗争。
Those who used to revel in their arrogance are now submissive, unable to contend.
他们表示完全顺服！然而与此同时，他们却在撒谎。这或许是他们今世阴谋的一个方面，因为他们顺从地说："我们没有做过任何恶事！"然而，回答立刻从真正了解他们实际情况的主那里降临："是的，确实如此。真主完全知道你们所做的一切！"（第28节）此时，已无谎言或欺骗的余地。他们必须承受所有骄傲而否认真理之民的命运："进入火狱之门，你们将永居其中。骄傲者的归宿，何其恶劣！"（第29节）
They offer complete submission! But at the same time they lie. This may be an aspect of their plotting in this life as they submissively say: “We have done no wrong!” Yet the answer comes to them straightaway from God who knows their true reality: “Yes, indeed. God has full knowledge of all that you were doing!” (Verse 28) There is no room now for lies or deception. They have to suffer the fate of all arrogant peoples who deny the truth: “Enter the gates of hell, where you shall abide. Evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant!” (Verse 29)