本章讲述那个被应许的伟大夜晚,整个宇宙都以喜悦和祈祷来迎接它。那是此世与至高社会达成完美交通的夜晚。那一夜标志着《古兰经》开始降示给穆罕默德ﷺ,这一事件在人类历史上的壮丽,以及它对全人类生活的意义,都是无与伦比的。它的伟大远远超出人类的理解。"我确已在盖德尔夜降示了它。你怎能知道盖德尔夜是什么呢?盖德尔夜胜过一千个月。"(第1-3节)
This sūrah speaks about the promised great night which the whole universe marks with joy and prayer. It is the night of perfect communion between this world and the Supreme society. That night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’ān to Muĥammad (peace be upon him), an event unparalleled in the history of mankind for its splendour and the significance it has for the life of mankind as a whole. Its greatness is far beyond human perception. “From on high have We bestowed it [i.e. the Qur’ān] on the Night of Power. Would that you knew what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.” (Verses 1-3)
《古兰经》中叙述这一伟大事件的经文，闪耀着真主清澈明亮的光辉："我确已将它降在盖德尔夜。"（第1节）还有天使与精神在大地与至高世界之间往来的光明："在那夜里，天使和精神奉他们主的命，带着各种命令降临。"（第4节）此外，还有黎明的曙光。本章将它描绘为与《古兰经》的光明、天使的光明，以及他们的和平之灵完全和谐一致："那夜充满平安，直到破晓。"（第5节）
The Qur’ānic statements which relate this great event radiate with God’s clear and shining light: “From on high We bestowed it on the Night of Power.” (Verse 1) There is also the light of the angels and the Spirit moving between the earth and the Supreme society. “On that night the angels and the Spirit by their Lord’s leave descend with all His decrees.” (Verse 4) In addition, there is also the light of dawn which the sūrah represents as perfectly harmonious with the light of the Qur’ān and the angels as well as with their spirit of peace: “That night is peace, till the break of dawn.” (Verse 5)
这里所说的那一夜，就是《烟雾章》中所提到的那一夜：“我在一个吉庆之夜降示了它［即《古兰经》］，因为我总是要警告世人；在那一夜，每件要事都得到了明确的决定，那是来自我的命令。我曾派遣使者，那是来自你的主的慈恩。他确是全聆的，确是全知的。”（44：3-6）明确可知，这一夜在莱麦丹月之中，正如《黄牛章》所说：“莱麦丹月是降示《古兰经》的月份，《古兰经》是人类的向导，是指导和分辨真伪的明证。”（2：185）这意味着，高贵之夜标志着《古兰经》开始降示给先知ﷺ，以及他向世人传达《古兰经》的使命的开始。
The night in question here is the same night referred to in Sūrah 44, Smoke: “From on high We bestowed it [i.e. the Qur’ān] on a blessed night, for We would warn [mankind]; on a night when every precept was made plain as a commandment from Us. We have ever sent forth messengers as a blessing from your Lord. It is He alone who hears all and knows all.” (44: 3-6) It is clearly established that it is a night during the month of Ramađān, as stated in Sūrah 2, The Cow: “It was in the month of Ramađān that the Qur’ān was revealed: a guidance for mankind and a self-evident proof of that guidance and a standard to distinguish right from wrong.” (2: 185) This means that the Night of Power marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur’ān to the Prophet and his mission of delivering it to mankind.
伊本·伊斯哈格记载：最初的启示，即第96章《凝血块》开头的几节经文，降临于斋月期间，当时真主的使者正在希拉山洞中独自修行。
Ibn Isĥāq related that the first revelation, consisting of the opening of Sarah 96, The Germ-Cell, took place during the month of Ramađān, when God’s Messenger was at his devotion in the Cave of Ĥirā’.
有若干圣训specify这一夜，流传至今：有的强调是在斋月二十七日，有的说是二十一日，另有一些说是斋月最后十天之一，还有一些仅说是在斋月之中。
A number of aĥādīth specifying this night have come down to us: some stress that it is on 27 Ramađān, others on 21; a few others say it is one of the last ten days and still some others do not go beyond saying that it is in Ramađān.
它的名称“莱伊莱·卡德尔”（Layalt al-Qadr），即“权能之夜”，可以理解为审慎的规划、安排与组织，也可以理解为价值、地位与尊贵。
Its name, Layalt al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, may be taken to mean deliberate planning, management and organization, or it may mean value, position and rank.
这两层含义都与《古兰经》的降示以及使命托付给先知这一伟大而普遍的事件相关。这确实是宇宙所见证过的最伟大、最重要的事件。它也最清楚地说明了人类生活如何借由神的筹划、管理与安排而获益。这一夜胜过一千个月。这里以及《古兰经》其他地方的这个数字并不表示精确的数目,它只是表示极高的程度。许多千个月、许多千年过去了,却未留下那蒙福而吉祥之夜所带来的变化与成果的一丝一毫。
Both meanings are relevant to the great, universal event of the revelation of the Qur’ān and the assigning of the message to the Prophet. It is indeed the greatest and most significant event the universe has ever witnessed. It is the event which explains most clearly how human life benefits by God’s planning, management and organization. This night is better than a thousand months. The figure here and elsewhere in the Qur’ān does not signify a precise number. It simply denotes something very high. Many thousands of months and many thousands of years have passed without leaving behind a fraction of the changes and results brought about during that blessed and happy night.
这一夜过于崇高，非人的常识所能充分领会：“你怎知道高贵之夜是什么？”（第2节）。关于这一夜流传的种种传说，并无理由赋予其任何价值。它之所以伟大，是因为真主选定它来降示《古兰经》，使其光芒遍照宇宙，使真主的安宁普降于人类的生活与良心之中。
那一夜之所以伟大，是因为《古兰经》所包含的内容：一套思想体系、一个价值与准则的基础，以及一整套全面的道德与社会行为规范，所有这些都促进人类灵魂内部以及整个世界的和平。它之所以伟大，还因为天使们奉其主的命令降临，尤其是吉卜利勒，他们带着《古兰经》降临。他们充满天地之间的全部空间，形成一场壮丽而普世的庆典，本章对此有生动的描绘。
This night is too sublime for proper human perception: “Would that you knew what the Night of Power is!” (Verse 2) There is no reason to attach any value to the legends circulated concerning this night. It is great because God chose it for the revelation of the Qur’ān, so that its light may spread throughout the universe, and divine peace may spread in human life and conscience. That night is great because of what the Qur’ān includes: an ideology, a basis for values and standards and a comprehensive code of moral and social behaviour, all of which promote peace within the human soul and in the world at large. It is great because of the descent of the angels, and Gabriel in particular, by their Lord’s leave, carrying the Qur’ān. They fill all the space between heaven and earth in such a splendid, universal celebration, vividly portrayed in this sūrah.
当我们今天回顾那个光辉而吉祥的夜晚，时隔无数代人，设想当时世界所见证的那场令人神往的庆典，并思考启示的本质及其对人类生活与价值观的深远影响时，我们便能体会这一事件是何等伟大。由此，我们也能在一定程度上理解，《古兰经》为何以如此意味深长的方式提及那一夜："你怎能知道高贵之夜是什么？"（第二节）
When we look today in retrospect, after the lapse of numerous generations, at that glorious and happy night, imagine the fascinating celebration the world then witnessed, and ponder over the essence of revelation and its far-reaching effects on human life and values, we appreciate how great this event was. We can then understand, to some extent, why the Qur’ānic reference to that night is made in such an equivocal way: “Would that you knew what the Night of Power is!” (Verse 2)
在那一夜，每一件重要的事务都被彰显和明确；新的价值与准则得以确立；各民族的命运得以裁定；各种价值与准则也得以厘清。
On that night every matter of significance was made plain and distinct; new values and standards were established; the fortunes of nations were determined; and values and standards were sorted out.
人类出于无知,不幸地可能会忽视“盖德尔之夜”的价值与重要性。当人类这样忽视它时,便失去了真主所赐予它的最幸福、最美好的恩典迹象。它也失去了伊斯兰所赋予它的真正的幸福与安宁,即良心、家庭和社会的安宁。人类在物质文明方面所获得的,与这一损失相比是远远不足以补偿的。尽管生产水平提高、生活手段改善,人类依然是痛苦的。曾经照亮其灵魂的灿烂光芒已经熄灭;曾经将它高高提升至至高社会的幸福已被摧毁;曾经充溢于人们心灵与思想之中的安宁已经消失。没有任何东西能够弥补人类灵魂的幸福、天国的光明以及升入最崇高品级的境界。
Humanity, out of ignorance and to its misfortune, may overlook the value and importance of the Night of Power. When humanity does so ignore it, it loses the happiest and most beautiful sign of grace which God bestowed on it. It also suffers the loss of the real happiness and peace gifted to it by Islam, namely, the peace of conscience, family and society. What it has otherwise gained of material civilization is inadequate compensation for its loss. Humanity is miserable in spite of higher production levels and better means of existence. The splendid light which once illuminated its soul has been put out; the happiness which carried it high up to the Supreme society has been destroyed; the peace which overflowed in people’s hearts and minds has disappeared. Nothing can compensate for the happiness of the human soul, the heavenly light and elevation to the loftiest ranks.
我们信奉伊斯兰教的信徒，被命令不可忘记或疏忽这一事件。先知ﷺ为我们指明了一种简便而令人愉悦的纪念方式，使我们的心灵始终与此事件以及它所见证的那一普世事件保持紧密的联系。他ﷺ敦促我们在每年的这一夜里专心礼拜。他ﷺ说：
We, the believers in Islam, are commanded not to forget or neglect this event. The Prophet has taught us an easy and enjoyable way to commemorate it, so that our souls may always be in close communion with it and with the universal event which it witnessed. He has urged us to spend this night of each year in devotion. He said:
“你们要在斋月的最后十夜中寻找盖德尔夜。”［由布哈里和穆斯林辑录。］他又说：“谁怀着信仰和虔诚的纯正动机，在盖德尔夜中从事拜功，他过去的罪过都会得到赦宥。”［由布哈里和穆斯林辑录。］伊斯兰不是徒具形式。因此，先知ﷺ specifies 那一夜的奉献必须出于信仰和虔诚的动机。这样，任何人在那一夜的奉献，都表明他充分意识到那一夜所发生之事的深远影响。
“Seek the Night of Power in the last ten nights of Ramađān.” [Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.] He also said: “Whoever spends the Night of Power in worship, with a pure motive of faith and devotion, will have all his past sins forgiven.” [Related by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.] Islam is not mere formalities. Hence, the Prophet specifies that the consecration of that night must be motivated by faith and devotion. This would make its consecration by any individual an indication of his or her full awareness of the far- reaching effects of what took place on that night.
伊斯兰的教育与品格塑造之道，将崇拜与信仰相联系，并在我们的心灵与良知中确立真理。按照这一方法，崇拜被视为一种手段，用以保持对这一真理的充分觉察，使其在我们的思想、心灵与灵魂中得以阐明并稳固确立。事实证明，这一方法最有利于复兴这一真理，使其对人们的行为产生持久不衰的影响。仅仅在理论上理解这一真理，若没有崇拜，本身无法确立它，也无法为其在个人或社会生活中的运行提供必要的动力。盖德尔夜的纪念与其在信仰和虔诚中的奉献之间的这种联系，正是伊斯兰成功而直接的方法的一部分。
The Islamic method of education and character building links worship with faith and establishes truth in our hearts and consciences. By this method, worship is considered a means for maintaining full awareness of this truth, its clarification and firm establishment in our minds, hearts and souls. This method has been proved to be the best for the revival of this truth so that it has an unfailing influence on people’s behaviour. The theoretical understanding of this truth cannot, on its own and without worship, establish it or give it the necessary impetus for its operation in the life of the individual or society. This link between the anniversary of the Night of Power and its consecration in faith and devotion is a part of the successful and straightforward method of Islam.