本章名为“光”（Al-Nūr），意为光明。光被确定为真主的本质属性之一：“真主是天地的光明。”（第35节）经文也提到光对人心和灵魂的影响。这种影响体现在人的道德品行，以及个人、家庭和社会的礼仪之中。它们为人类生活带来光亮，照亮心灵，使良知变得澄澈。

This sūrah is named al-Nūr, meaning The Light, and light is identified as an essential attribute of God: “God is the light of the heavens and the earth.” (Verse 35) It is also mentioned in respect of its effects on people’s hearts and souls. Such effects are reflected in human morality and the manners of individuals, families and communities. They impart a brightness to human life that enlightens hearts and makes consciences transparent.

该章以庄重的宣告开篇,指明此章从高处降下,并且其中所包含的一切训示、命令与道德规范都是被确定的:“这是我所降示的一章,也是我所确立的;我们在其中降示了明确的文句,以便你们铭记。”(第1节)这一开篇体现了《古兰经》对人类生活中道德层面的重视,以及道德在伊斯兰信仰中的核心地位。

The sūrah begins with an emphatic declaration of the fact that it is bestowed from on high, and that it is decreed with all that it contains of directives, commandments and morality: “A sūrah which We have bestowed from on high and which We have ordained; and in it have We revealed clear verses, so that you may keep them in mind.” (Verse 1) This opening reflects the importance the Qur’ān attaches to the moral aspect of human life, and to its central position in the Islamic faith.

整部苏拉的核心主题是穆斯林群体的教育。

The central theme of the entire sūrah is the education of the Muslim community.

有时，这一章的论述方式会变得更加严厉，最终规定必须执行的刑罚。有时，这一章又显得柔和、温婉，用真主的光充实我们的心灵，邀请我们思考真主在整个宇宙中所安放的无数迹象。这些相互对照的方式，目的只有一个：培养人们的良知，提高他们的敏感度，并将其道德标准提升到最高境界。个人、家庭、社会以及社会领导层的良好品行彼此交织，因为它们都源于同一个根源，即对真主的信仰，并闪耀着从真主那里获得的同一道光芒。归根结底，这些品行融合了光明、澄澈与明亮。因此，这一章所要达成的教化，其一切方面都源自天地间光明的根本来源，即真主的光，它驱散宇宙中的一切黑暗，也驱散人心与灵魂中的黑暗。

At times, the methods employed by the sūrah increase in their stiffness so as to culminate in prescribing mandatory punishments. At other times the sūrah is softer and more gentle, filling our hearts with God’s light and inviting us to reflect on the numerous signs He has placed throughout the entire universe. The aim of such contrasting approaches is one and the same: to cultivate people’s consciences, enhance their sensitivity and refine their moral standards to the highest degree. The good manners of the individual, the family, the community and society’s leadership are all intertwined as they all stem from the same source, which is belief in God, and shine with the same light received from Him. In essence, these manners combine light, transparency and brightness. Thus the education the sūrah aims to achieve derives all its aspects from the basic source of light in the heavens and earth; that is, God’s light that dispels all darkness in the universe, as well as that in people’s hearts and souls.

该章可分为五个部分，都围绕其基本主题展开。开篇部分作出了决定性的宣告，阐明本章的地位，随后详细规定了通奸的法定刑罚。经文以明确的措辞斥责这一罪行，表明通奸者在穆斯林社群中没有立足之地。

The sūrah may be divided into five parts, all tackling its basic theme. At the outset, the first delivers a decisive declaration outlining the status of this sūrah, followed by the details of the mandatory punishment for adultery. It denounces this crime in clear terms, making it clear that adulterers have no place in the Muslim community.

它还阐述了对诬告通奸行为者的惩罚，以及此项强制性惩罚如此严厉的原因。夫妻若按规定宣誓，且誓言以两人永久分离告终，则可免受此项惩罚。随后，它对那则不实之言的故事作了评论。最后，它说明男人与女人如何同类相聚：善者与善者为伍，恶者与恶者为伍。

It also explains the punishment for any false accusation of adultery, and the reasons for the severity of this mandatory punishment. Couples are exempted from this punishment when they take the prescribed oaths that end with their permanent separation. It then comments on the falsehood story. At the end it shows how men and women flock like with like: the good with the good and the evil with the evil.

第二部分关注的是预防犯罪，以及减少诱惑、远离罪恶的方法。它首先阐述了拜访他人住所时应有的良好礼仪，以及进入前须征得允许的必要性。它命令穆斯林低垂目光，不得向除那些血缘极近、法律上不允许与之结婚的近亲以外的任何人展示女性的魅力和饰物。本部分还明确鼓励为年轻女子的婚姻提供便利，并严厉警告不得强迫女奴卖淫。这些都是预防性措施，旨在普遍促进纯洁与贞洁，防止激发肉欲的事物，帮助人们保持贞洁。

The second part concerns itself with crime prevention, and the methods to reduce the temptation to sin. It begins with an outline of good manners when approaching others’ homes and the need to seek permission before entry. It commands Muslims to lower their gaze and not to reveal women’s charms and adornments to anyone other than their very close relatives whom they are not legally entitled to marry. There is also in this part a clear encouragement to facilitate the marriage of young women, and a stern warning against forcing slave girls into prostitution. All these are preventive measures that aim to promote purity and chastity in general. They aim to prevent what stirs up physical desire and to help people to maintain their chastity.

在这一段列举良好品行的经文中，第三部分将所有这些品行与神的光明联系起来。这里经文提到，那些心被神的光明照亮、时常出入清真寺的人；与之相对，不信者及其所作所为，被比作海市蜃楼，或如层层黑暗。在这一部分，我们看到神的光明在宇宙间的种种体现：万物如何赞颂祂；云彩如何被送过天空；昼夜如何更替；每一种行走的生物如何由水创造，又如何获得各不相同的形状、样式、种类与作用。这一切都摆在那里，供人观察与思索。

In the middle of this list of good manners as outlined in the sūrah, the third part provides a link between all such manners and God’s light. Here the sūrah speaks of the people whose hearts are brightened with God’s light and who always frequent mosques. By contrast, the unbelievers and their deeds are shown as though they are a mirage, or like layers of darkness. In this part we see different aspects of God’s light throughout the universe: how all creatures glorify Him; how clouds are sent through the atmosphere; the succession of day and night; the creation of every walking creature out of water and how they acquire their different shapes, forms, types and roles. All these are there for people to look at and contemplate.

在第四部分中,伪君子被看作忽视了人们与先知交往时应有的礼节。其中最重要的是服从先知,以及执行他在争端中请求其裁决的任何判决。相反,信士则被看作在与先知交谈和服从他时保持着恰当的标准。作为回报,他们被许诺以权力,即他们将确立并践行自己的信仰,并在对抗不信道者时获得胜利。

In the fourth part the hypocrites are seen to neglect the proper manners people should show when dealing with the Prophet. The most important of these are obedience to the Prophet and the implementation of any judgement he makes in disputes put to him for arbitration. By contrast, the believers are seen to maintain the appropriate standards in speaking to the Prophet and obeying him. In return, they are promised power, that they will establish and implement their faith and attain victory over the unbelievers.

本章节的最后部分再次探讨穆斯林社会的良好礼仪，强调拜访亲友时须先请求允许入内、款待客人，以及使整个穆斯林社会成为一个大家庭的优雅礼节；这一大家庭由真主的使者ﷺ引领。

The final part of the sūrah again examines the good manners of the Muslim community, highlighting the need to seek admission when visiting relatives and friends, of hospitality to guests, and the fine manners that make the whole Muslim community a single family, led by God’s Messenger (peace be upon him).

该章以宣告结束：天地间的一切都属于真主，祂知道人们的心事，人们终将回归祂。他们必将根据祂对其行为的了知而接受清算。不言而喻，祂的知识涵盖一切。

The sūrah concludes with a declaration of God’s ownership of all that is in the heavens and earth, His knowledge of people and what they harbour in their breasts, and their ultimate return to Him. They will have to face His reckoning on the basis of His knowledge of their deeds. Needless to say, His knowledge encompasses everything.