以星辰发誓,它陨落之时。你们的同伴没有迷误,也没有偏离正道。他不是凭私欲说话。那不过是降示给他的启示,是一位威力强大者教导他的,那是一位力量超群的天使。他站在最高的地平线上,然后靠近,逐渐接近,直到两弓之距,甚至更近,于是向真主的仆人启示了所启示的内容。他的心没有否认他所见的。难道你们要与他争论他所见的事吗?他确实在另一次见过那天使,在极限的树边,靠近安居的乐园,那时有覆盖那棵树的东西覆盖着它。他的眼睛没有偏斜,也没有越轨;他确实看见了主的一些最伟大的迹象。(第1-18节)
By the star when it sets. This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray nor is he deluded. He does not speak out of his own fancy. That [which he delivers to you] is nothing less than a revelation sent down to him, something that a very mighty one has taught him, [an angel] of surpassing power, who stood on the highest horizon, and then drew near, and came close, until he was two bow-lengths away, or even closer, and revealed to God's servant what he revealed. [Muhammad's] heart did not belie what he saw. Will you, then, contend with him over what he sees? Indeed, he saw him a second time by the lote tree of the farthest limit, near to the garden of abode, when the lote tree was shrouded with whatever shrouded it. The eye did not waver, nor was it too bold; he certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord. (Verses 1-18)
当我们诵读这段开篇时,我们会在片刻之间,栖居于先知心灵所体验的那片崇高境界之中。我们借着光之羽翼升腾,与高处的众圣同行。我们聆听话语中回响的和谐节律、话语的含义,以及它们所传递的信息。我们与先知的心同在,凝望着一切,所有的帷幕与遮蔽都已揭开。
As we recite this opening, we live for a few moments on the sublime expanse experienced by the Prophets heart. We rise over wings of light to join the company on high. We listen to the smooth beat echoed in the words, their meanings and the message they impart. We live with the Prophets heart as it looks on, with all curtains and covers removed.
他从高处接受启示，倾听并观看，并将所降示给他的记在心中。这些时刻是一种特殊的体验，只赐予他那颗纯净的心，但真主以他的仆人为恩，赐予他们一段富有感染力的描述，使他们感受到这信息的意味、回响与含义。他向他们描述那段使他蒙福的心灵升往诸天的旅程，一步一步、一幕一幕、一个阶段接一个阶段地叙述，仿佛他们也亲眼目睹了这一切。
He receives revelation from on high, listens and looks, and he commits to memory what was revealed to him. These moments were a special experience given only to his purified heart, but God favours His servants by giving them an inspiring description that imparts to them a feeling of the message, its echoes and meanings. He describes to them the journey that took his blessed heart to the heavens above, step by step, scene by scene and stage after stage, as if they too are witnessing it all.
这段充满启示意味的描述，始于真主起的誓："以星辰发誓，当它陨落的时候"（第1节）。星辰在地平线上落下之前的璀璨光芒，与所起誓言的对象——吉卜利勒——的形象相似。他先是"在最高的地平线上"，然后靠近、接近，直到"与他相距两张弓的长度，或者更近"，并将所启示的内容传达给真主的仆人（第7至10节）。由此，场景、动态、寓意与韵律之间便形成了和谐的统一。
This inspiring description starts with an oath made by God: “By the star as it sets” (Verse 1) The brilliant shining of stars before they set on the horizon is similar to the image drawn of Gabriel, the object of the oath. He is first “on the highest horizon, and then drew near, and came close, until he was two bow-lengths away, or even closer, and revealed to God's servant what he revealed” (Verses 7-10) Thus starts the harmony between the scene, the movement, the connotations and the rhythm.
“以星辰陨落起誓”（第1节）关于这一誓词所指的星辰，各家说法不一。最接近的一种说法认为是天狼星，过去曾有一些人崇拜它。经文后面也提到它，说到真主时说：“祂是天狼星的主。”（第49节）古时的人们特别关注这颗星。古埃及人把尼罗河的泛滥与天狼星升至最高轨道联系起来，并仔细观察它，以监测尼罗河的水位。它在波斯和阿拉伯的传说中也占有特殊地位。因此，可以推断，经文开头以星辰起誓所指的正是它。这里所选取的意象是星辰陨落、沉没，这一点意义重大，它表明无论一颗星辰在体积和位置上多么伟大，它终究会坠落，改变位置。因此，它不配被崇拜。值得崇拜的，应当始终是崇高而永恒的。
“By the star as it sets” (Verse 1) Reports differ as to the star referred to in this oath. The closest that comes to mind is that of Sirius, which was worshipped by some people in the past. It is mentioned later in the surah, as it says of God: “He is the Lord of Sirius.” (Verse 49) People in olden times paid special attention to this star. Ancient Egyptians used to link the flooding of the Nile to Sirius as it crossed the highest orbit. They watched it carefully to monitor the level of water in the Nile. It also has a special position in Persian and Arabian legends. It is probable, therefore, that the oath by the star at the beginning of the surah refers to it. That the image chosen here is that of the stars falling and setting is significant, as it suggests that no matter how great a star is in size and position, it falls down and changes place. It does not, then, deserve to be worshipped. What is worshipped should always be high and permanent.
本誓言的主要对象是先知ﷺ以及降示给他的启示。
The main object of the oath is the Prophet and the revelation given to him:
你们的这位同伴既没有迷失方向，也没有受到迷惑。他说的话并非出于私欲。那不过是传达给他的启示。（第2-4节）
This fellow-man of yours has not gone astray, nor is he deluded. He does not speak out of his own fancy. That [which he delivers to you] is nothing less than a revelation sent down to him. (Verses 2-4)
你们的这位朋友走在正道上，得到正确的引导，诚挚无伪，给你们良好的劝告，传达真理，没有错误、幻想、捏造和虚饰。这一切都是从天而降所赐予他的启示，他诚实地传达所接受的启示。带来这启示的那位，是众所周知、遵循既定正道的。先知ﷺ曾亲眼所见，亲心所识。
This friend of yours is on the right course, well guided, sincere, gives you good advice, delivering the truth, free of error, illusions, fabrications and fancy. It is all a revelation bestowed on him from on high, and he delivers what is revealed to him in all honesty. The one who brings him this revelation is well known, following a well-charted course. The Prophet saw him with his own eyes and mind:
一位极具力量者教导了他，[是一位]威力无比的天使。他站在最高的地平线上，然后靠近，接近，直到相距两弓之长，或者更近，并将所启示的内容传达给真主的仆人。[穆罕默德]的心并未否认他所见的。那么，你们还要就他所见的事与他争辩吗？
A very mighty one has taught him, [an angel] of surpassing power, who stood on the highest horizon, and then drew near, and came close, until he was two bow-lengths away, or even closer, and revealed to God's servant what he revealed. [Muhammad's] heart did not belie what he saw. Will you, then, contend with him over what he sees?
这位拥有非凡力量的大天使便是吉卜利勒。正是他教导了你们的朋友穆罕默德。他的这段经历在此有详细记载。这一切始于最高的地平线，先知在启示开始时在那里见到了他。先知看见吉卜利勒以真主创造他时的模样出现，庞大的身躯遮满了整个地平线。随后他向先知靠近，越来越近，直到距离非常近，正如经文所说：{两弓之间的距离，或更近}，这表明他们靠得极近。
This mighty angel of surpassing power is Gabriel. It is he who has taught your friend, Muhammad. His journey is detailed here. It began on the highest horizon where the Prophet saw him at the start of revelation. He saw Gabriel as God created him, covering the horizon with his enormous body. He then drew near and came closer towards the Prophet until he was very near to him, or, as the surah says, 'two bow-lengths away, or even closer, which indicates very close proximity.
然后他向他启示了所启示的内容,并且故意不明说启示的主题,以表明这件事非同寻常。
He then revealed to him whatever he revealed, leaving the subject matter vague to indicate that it is momentous.
因此,这就像是先远远望见某人,之后近距离看清他的模样,随后有启示、有教导、有仔细的观察,并由此获得确信。在这样的情形下,所传述的内容不可能有虚假。这一事实不容争辩,也不容质疑。
Thus, it is a case of seeing someone very close up after he had initially appeared at a distance, and then there is revelation, teaching, looking closely and being certain. In such conditions there can be no lie in what is reported. This truth does not allow for argument or dispute:
"[穆罕默德]的心没有否认他所见的。你们还要与他争论他所见的吗？"（第11-12节）心所见更加确凿，因为它排除了可能蒙蔽人眼的任何欺骗。他看见了，并且确认了。于是他的心确信，他所见的是携带真主启示的天使。天使是真主派遣的使者，用来教导先知，并委派他将所学传达给世人。此后便再无争议和辩论的余地。
“ [Muhammad's] heart did not belie what he saw. Will you, then, contend with him over what he sees?" (Verses 11-12) A hearts vision is more certain because it precludes any deception that might cloud a persons eyesight. He saw and made sure. His heart was then certain that he saw the angel bearing divine revelations. The angel is a messenger God sends to teach the Prophet and assign to him the task of delivering to mankind what he has learnt. There can be no more dispute or argument.
这并不是先知（ﷺ）唯一一次见到天使吉卜利勒以其本来的形态出现。经文本身也指明了另有一次。
This was not the only time the Prophet saw the Angel Gabriel in his original form. The surah itself identifies there was another time:
诚然，他又一次见到了他，那是在蒲桃树旁，靠近极限的蒲桃树，近栖园之处，当时那蒲桃树被某种东西所笼罩。他的眼睛没有游移，也没有过度放肆；他确实看到了他主的一些最伟大的迹象。（第13-18节）
Indeed, he saw him a second time by the lote tree of the farthest limit, near to the garden of abode, when the lote tree was shrouded with whatever shrouded it. The eye did not waver, nor was it too bold; he certainly saw some of the greatest signs of his Lord, (verses 13-18)
根据较为可靠的记载，这发生在先知登霄夜行、升至天堂的时候。吉布里勒（加百列）以真主所赋予他的形态与样貌靠近先知，这发生在"在极限的莲树旁"。"极限"可以指万物终止之处，因为它靠近归宿之园。它也可以指先知升天之旅所到达的终点。
Note: I've rendered "Gabriel" as the Chinese form 加百列 per the rules, and "God" as 真主 is the Chinese word for God; the original's "ﷺ" rule does not apply here since the Prophet is mentioned without an honorific and I've followed the instruction to write ﷺ after each mention of the Prophet.
Correction to the above: the explanatory note is not part of the translation, so the translation alone is:
根据较为可靠的记载，这发生在先知ﷺ登霄夜行、升至天堂的时候。加百列在真主所赋予他的形态与样貌下靠近先知ﷺ，这发生在"在极限的莲树旁"。"极限"可以指万物终止之处，因为它靠近归宿之园。它也可以指先知ﷺ升天之旅所到达的终点。
This was, according to weightier reports, when the Prophet went on his night journey and ascended to heaven. Gabriel came close to the Prophet in the shape and form God gave him, and this was 'by the lote tree of the farthest limit! The farthest limit may mean the point where everything ends, as it is close to the garden of abode. It may also mean the point at which the Prophets journey taking him to heaven ended.
或者，它也可能指吉卜利勒的陪伴止步之处：当先知再上一层时，吉卜利勒停在了那里，而先知则被带得更接近他主的宝座。这一切只有真主知道，祂把这一知识赐予了祂所拣选的使者。这就是我们所掌握的全部相关信息，而要去探究它则超出了我们的能力。除非出于真主的旨意——祂是人类与天使的创造者，知晓每一方的能力——否则任何人都无法理解这一切。
Alternatively, it could mean where Gabriels company ended, as he stood there when the Prophet ascended a further step taking him closer to his Lord’s Throne. All this is known only to God, and He gave this knowledge to His chosen Messenger. This is the only information we have of it, and it is beyond our power to fathom. No human being can understand this except by Gods will, the Creator of man and angel, who knows the capabilities of each.
该章经文提到了在最远的sidrah树(Sidrat al-Muntaha)旁发生的事情,以进一步强调这一切都是真实的:"当那笼罩树木的,确已笼罩了它。"(第16节)我们没有得到更多细节,因为这件事太过重大,不容我们再去深思其他。这一切都是绝对确定的:"他的眼睛没有偏斜,也没有越界。"(第17节)没有任何东西影响他的视力,使他的视线模糊。那确实是一种清晰、明确的视见,不容任何怀疑。在那次旅程中,他看见了他的主的一些最伟大的迹象,直接注视着这些本质的真相呈现在他面前,没有任何遮蔽。
The surah mentions what affected the scene at the lote tree of the farthest end to further emphasize that it was all real: "when the lote tree was shrouded with whatever shrouded it” (Verse 16) We are given no details because the matter is too serious to think about anything further. All this was absolutely certain: "The eye did not waver, nor was it too bold.” (Verse 17) Nothing affected his eyesight so as to blur his vision. It was indeed a clear, well-defined vision that admitted no doubt. He saw on that trip some of the greatest signs of his Lord, looking directly at these essential truths as they appeared before him free of any make up.
因此,启示的问题建立在清晰的见证、明确的景象、绝对的确信、直接的接触、准确的知识、真实的陪伴以及有着详细细节的真实旅程之上。正是基于这样的确信,你们的朋友所负的使命才得以成立,尽管你们仍然拒绝他所说的话,对他的主张心存怀疑。然而,你们已经认识这位朋友很久了,考验过他的诚实并证实了它。他的主也证实他所说的话,并以它的真实起誓。他向你们叙述自己是如何获得启示的,以及这启示是在怎样的情形下降临的。他告诉你们启示降临时的情形,以及是由谁传达的:他如何看见那位来者,又是在何处看见的。
Hence, the question of revelation is one based on clear vision, a well- defined scene, absolute certainty, direct contact, accurate knowledge, real company and an actual journey with its details outlined. It is on the basis of such certainty that your friends mission is based, even though you continue to reject what he says, casting doubt about his claims. Yet you have known this friend for a very long time, testing his truthfulness and confirming it. His Lord confirms what he says and swears to its truth. He reports to you how he was given revelation and in what circumstances this was imparted. He tells you the circumstances when the revelation is given to him, and by whom: how he saw him and where.