“星辰与树木都在向祂叩拜。”（第6节）
“The stars and the trees prostrate themselves [before Him].” (Verse 6)
上一段提到的是宏大宇宙结构中所体现的精确尺度。现在要谈的是宇宙遵循的方向。这简短的一句话，蕴含着一个极具启发性、足以开阔心智的根本真理。
The last reference was to the accurate measure observed in the structure of the great universe. Now the reference is to what direction the universe follows. This brief statement contains a highly inspiring reference to an enlightening and fundamental truth.
宇宙与其造物主、创造者安拉之间存在着一种崇拜与顺服的联系。星辰和树木便是宇宙中两类生灵的例子，它们清楚地昭示了宇宙所遵循的方向。学者们对本节经文中"najm"一词的含义有不同看法：有人认为它指天空中的星辰，也有人认为它指不像树木那样直立的植物。无论采取哪种解释，这节经文所强调的要点是相同的，即指明宇宙与其造物主之间的联系。宇宙是一个有灵魂的生命体，各个受造物的灵魂在程度和性质上各不相同，但其本质始终如一。
There is a bond of worship and submission between this universe and its Creator and Originator, God Almighty. The stars and the trees are two examples of creatures that live in the universe. They give a clear idea of the direction the universe follows. Commentators have different views about the meaning of the word najm, or star, which occurs in this verse, with some saying that it refers to the stars in the sky, while others claim that it refers to plants that do not stand erect like trees. Whichever interpretation we take the point this verse stresses is the same, identifying the bond between the universe and its Creator. The universe is a living creature with a soul that differs in degree and nature from one creature to another, but its essence remains the same.
很久以前，人的心灵就已察觉宇宙及其灵魂的这一事实。这种觉察基于真主所赋予心灵的敏锐特质。然而，每当人试图以自己的经验之光、用理智去把握这一事实时，它就变得模糊不清。近来，人已能够认识到宇宙结构的统一性，但他对宇宙那有生命之灵魂的本质，仍然远未理解。
Long ago, the human heart realized this fact about the universe and its soul. This realization is based on the sensitive quality God gave it. This fact, however, became blurred every time man tried to capture it with his mind, in the light of his own experience. Man, however, has recently been able to recognize the unity of the structure of the universe, but he remains far from understanding the nature of the universe’s living soul.
科学家们倾向于认为，原子是宇宙的基本单位，而原子本质上是辐射。他们还认为，运动是宇宙中一切事物共有的特性。因此，值得提出的问题是：宇宙究竟试图达到什么目标？
Scientists tend to believe that the atom is the unit of the universe, and that the atom is essentially radiation. They also believe that movement is the characteristic common to everything in the universe. It is pertinent to ask, then, what goal does the universe try to achieve?
《古兰经》说，宇宙中每一个可见的组成部分，其实质都是其精神的体现，它们都仰望着其造物主。《古兰经》中有许多节经文阐述了这一真理，例如我们正在讨论的这一节：“星辰和树木都在叩拜（造物主）。”（第6章）另外两节表达同样思想的经文如下：“七重天和大地，以及居住其中的一切，都赞颂他的无限荣耀。万物没有不赞颂他、赞美他的，只是你们不理解它们的赞颂。”（第17章第44节）“你难道没有看到吗？天地间的一切生灵，甚至展翅飞翔的鸟儿，都在赞颂真主的无限荣耀。每一个都知道如何向他祈祷，如何赞颂他。”（第24章第41节）
思考这一真理，观察宇宙如何崇拜和赞颂它的主，会给我们的心灵带来一种特别的慰藉与喜悦。当万物都仰望着创造一切的主时，我们便会觉得自己与周围的一切彼此相通。我们感到自己身处一个友善的宇宙之中，其中的万物和一切生灵都有着共同的目标。这种感受具有深远而强大的影响。
The Qur’an says that every apparent step of the universe, which is in essence an expression of its spirit, looks up to its Originator. This is stated in numerous verses of the Qur’an, such as the one we are discussing: “ The stars and the trees prostrate themselves [before Him]." (Verse 6) Two other such verses expressing the same idea are as follows: “ The seven heavens extol His limitless glory, as does the earth, and all who dwell in them. Indeed every single thing extols His glory and praise, but you cannot understand their praises.” (17: 44) “Are you not aware that it is God whose limitless glory all creatures that are in the heavens and earth extol, even the birds as they spread out their wings? Each of them knows how to pray to Him and to glorify Him.” (24: 41) To contemplate this truth and observe the universe as it worships and glorifies its Lord gives our hearts a special type of comfort and pleasure. We feel a mutual sympathy with everything around us as all looks up to the Lord, the Creator of all. We feel that we are in a friendly universe where everything and all creatures have the same aim. This is a feeling with far reaching and profound effects.
“7/e has raised the skies high, and has set the balance, so that you may not exceed the balance. Weigh, therefore, with justice and do not fall short in the balance.” (Verses 7-9)
Here the Qur’an's mention of the skies is intended, as are all its other references to the two immediate aspects of the universe, to awaken minds and hearts that have grown oblivious to the wonders around them through long familiarity. Such minds and hearts should look at the universe, appreciate its wondrous beauty, harmony and order, and glorify the One who originated it all.
“7/e has raised the skies high, and has set the balance, so that you may not exceed the balance. Weigh, therefore, with justice and do not fall short in the balance.” (Verses 7-9) The reference to the skies is intended, like all other references in the Qur’an to the two immediate aspects of the universe, to awaken minds and hearts that have become oblivious to the wonders around them, because of long familiarity. These minds and hearts should look at the universe, appreciate its wonderful beauty, harmony and coordination, and glorify the One who initiated all.
无论经文所指的"天"是什么，提及它时，我们的视线便被引向上方那广阔的空间。这空间看似没有边界，其中漂浮着数以万亿计的巨大天体，然而它们彼此之间，无论是单独的个体还是成群的星团，都不会发生碰撞。一个星团可能包含多达十亿颗恒星，例如包含我们太阳系的银河系便是如此。
Whatever is meant by the skies, the reference to them lifts our sight to the great space above us, which appears without boundaries, and in which float trillions of huge celestial bodies, yet no collision occurs between them, either individually or in clusters. A cluster may include as many as a billion stars, as in the galaxy which includes our own solar system.
我们的太阳直径为230万公里，然而在我们的银河系中，有许多比它小的恒星，也有许多比它大数千倍的恒星。所有这些恒星、星团和行星都以惊人的速度在太空中运动，但在广袤的太空之上，它们不过是彼此相距遥远、漂浮其间的微粒。
Our sun has a diameter of 2.3 million kilometres, yet within our galaxy there are many smaller stars and many that are larger by thousands of times. All these stars and clusters of stars and planets move in space at frightening speeds, but in the great space above they are no more than particles floating far apart from each other.
与抬高天空一同，真主也确立了公正的天平。这一点已有定论，用以界定事物、事件与人的价值。
Along with raising the sky high, God has W the balance of truth. This is well established so as to define the values of things, events and people.
因此,价值是以真理的天平来衡量的,而不是依据各种无知的欲望或个人的偏好。此外,这一天平确立于人的本性之中,确立于所有真主的使者所倡导、并在《古兰经》中所界定的神圣信息之中。祂设立了这一天平,"使你们不要过分地超越天平",即不超过也不低于应有的标准。"你们应当公正地称量,不要在天平上克扣。"如此,便可确保在一切情况下对所有人都秉持公正。
Thus, values are measured by the balance of truth, not according to different, ignorant desires or personal preferences. Moreover, this balance is set within human nature and in the divine message advocated by all Gods messengers and defined in the Qur’an. He has set the balance, “so that you may not exceed the balance” going too high or too low. “ Weigh, therefore, with justice and do not fall short in the balance,” so as to ensure justice to all in all situations.
因此,地上与人生的真理,与宇宙及其结构相关。它既关乎天空的抽象意义,指向启示的源头;也关乎天空的物质意义,即真主无限大能的显现。这两层意义相互交汇,进一步激发人的灵感。
Thus, the truth on earth and in human life relates to the universe and its structure. It relates to the sky in its abstract significance that points to the source of revelation, and in its physical significance as a manifestation of Gods infinite power. The two meanings converge to add further inspiration.
“他为万物铺设大地，地上有各种果实、有带鞘的棕榈树、有带壳的谷物和芬芳的植物。”（第10至12节）因为我们在地上生活已经很久，对地上的一切都十分熟悉，所以我们并不觉得大地是为真主的被造物而“铺设”的，也不觉得它使我们能够如此安逸地生活。因此，我们感受不到大地的稳固所具有的重大意义，也感受不到真主借着这种稳固赐予我们的恩典有多么巨大，除非火山喷发或地震发生，令我们感到恐惧。只有在这样的时刻，我们才会真正体会到真主使大地稳固的恩典。
“He has laid the earth for His creatures, with all its fruits, its palm trees with sheathed clusters, its husked grain and its sweet-smelling plants” (Verses 10-12) Because we have lived on earth for so long, and we are well familiar with all that is on it, we do not feel the significance of its being 'laid' for Gods creatures, and to enable us to function so comfortably. Therefore, we do not feel the great significance of the stability of the earth and how much grace God has bestowed on us by such stability unless a volcano erupts or an earthquake occurs, filling us with fear. Only at such times do we fully appreciate Gods grace in making the earth stable.
然而，人们应当时刻牢记这一真理。他们应当记住，这颗让他们感到如此安稳的星球，不过是为适合居住而设的一处所在。因此，当真主提醒人类和精灵，祂创造了他们，这是对他们的恩赐，其广大难以估量。
Yet people should remember this truth at every moment. They should remember that this planet where they feel so secure is no more than to suit. Therefore, when God reminds humans and jinn of His favour of having created them, He is referring to a blessing that is beyond comprehension.
真主——愿一切荣耀归于祂——接着述说了创造人类与精灵所用的物质。这些同样是真主所创造的。人是由干燥后、用棍子或人手敲击时会发出声响的泥土所创造的。这节经文可能指的是从尘土或泥土创造人类过程中的某一阶段，也可能仅仅是说明人与大地是由同一种物质构成的。
God - all glory belongs to Him - then states the substances used for creating humans and jinn. These are also created by God. Man is created from clay that has dried and gives a sound when beaten with a stick or the human hand. The verse may refer to a stage in the process of creation from dust or clay, or it may simply be a reference to the fact that man and the earth are made of the same material.
现代科学已经证明，人体所含的元素与地球相同，包括碳、氧、氢、磷、硫、氮、钙、钾、钠、氯、镁、铁、锰、铜、碘、氟、钴、锌、硅和铝。这些正是构成尘土的元素。它们在每个人身上的比例各不相同。
Modern science has proven that the human body contains the same elements as the earth, including carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, nitrogen, calcium, potassium, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, iodine, fluorine, cobalt, zinc, silicon and aluminium. These are the same elements that form dust. Their proportions differ from one person to another.
不言而喻，他们在由尘土造成的人身上各有不同，然而他们的构成要素是相同的。1
Needless to say, they differ in man from dust. Yet they are the same elements.1
科学所证明的内容，不应被视为对古兰经文的最终诠释。古兰经所指的事实，可能是科学已经证明的含义，也可能是完全不同的含义。它或许指向众多方面中的另一个，这些方面都印证了人是由泥土、或湿黏土、或干黏土所造的这一含义。
What science has proven should not be taken as the ultimate interpretation of the Quranic text. The fact to which the Qur’an refers may mean what has been scientifically proven, or it may mean something totally different. It may refer to another of the numerous aspects that endorse the meaning of mans creation out of dust, or wet or dry clay.
我们最为坚决地强调：不可将《古兰经》经文的含义局限于某一项可能出错、或可能随人类进步而改变的科学发现。一些怀有真诚意图的学者，试图指出《古兰经》的表述与科学发现在含义上完全相符，无论这些发现已获证实还是仍在观察之中，并以此作为《古兰经》具有奇迹性质的证明。我们的观点是：《古兰经》之所以是奇迹，无论其表述是否得到科学发现的证实。《古兰经》所包含的内容，在范围上比科学在任何一个时期所说的更为广博。科学发现总是可以修正和改变的，有时还会被证明是错误的。当《古兰经》经文涉及人类和宇宙的某些奇妙之处，科学能够解释其中某些方面时，我们当然可以借助科学来拓展对经文的理解。但是，我们不可说某段经文仅指某一特定的科学发现。我们所能说的只是：该科学发现可能是这段经文所指涉之内容的一部分。
We stress, most emphatically, that we must not limit the meaning of a Quranic text to a scientific discovery that admits the possibility of error, or the possibility of change with human progress. Some scholars with sincere intentions try to highlight that Quranic statements give identical import to scientific discoveries, proven or still under observation. They cite this as a proof of the miraculous nature of the Qur’an. What we say is that the Qur’an is miraculous, whether its statements are confirmed by scientific discoveries or not. What the Qur’an says is broader in scope than what science says at any one time. Scientific discoveries are always subject to amendment and change, and sometimes they are proven erroneous. We can certainly use science to broaden our understanding of Quranic texts, whenever it explains some aspects of the wonders pertaining to man and the universe. We must not, however, say that a certain Quranic text refers only to a particular scientific discovery. All that we can say is that the scientific discovery may be part of what the Quranic text refers to.
关于jinn由炽热火焰所造的说法，这属于人类知识范围之外的事。关于此事唯一的来源是《古兰经》，它由全知其所造之物的真主所降示。经文用marij来描述这火，其含义是燃烧并像在有风的地方的火焰那样流动。
真主赋予jinn在这片大地上与人类共同生活的能力。然而，我们并不知道jinn是如何生活的。但可以确定的是，《古兰经》也对他们发出了训诲；它既是给人的启示，同样也是给他们的启示。我们在第十五卷中，讨论经文“我曾派遣一群jinn到你这里来，聆听《古兰经》。他们听了之后，相互说：‘你们静听吧！’诵读完毕，他们便回到自己的族人那里去警告他们。”（46：29）时已作过解释。本章也证实了这一点。
As for the creation of the jinn from raging flames of fire, this is something beyond human knowledge. The only source on this is the Qur’an, given by God who knows what He has created. The fire is described here as marij, which means lit and moving like flames in a windy place. The jinn have been given the ability to live on this earth, together with man. However, we do not know how the jinn live. What is certain, though, is that they are also addressed by the Qur’an; it is as much a message to them as it is to man. We explained this in Volume XV, when discussing the verse that says: “ We sent to you a group if jinn to listen to the Qur'an. When they heard it, they said to one another, ‘Listen in silence!' When the recitation ended, they returned to their people to warn them. " (46: 29) This is also confirmed in this surah.
这段经文的称呼同时指向精灵和人类，提醒二者想一想，他们是从各自的本源被造，这是神的恩典。这是最核心的恩典，其他一切恩典都由此而来。因此，接着便是这句表明让他们作证的话：“那么，你们两者否认你们主的哪一种恩典呢？”（第16节）不言而喻，否认是毫无意义的。
The address here is to both jinn and humans, reminding both of God’s blessing in their creation out of their respective origins. This is the central blessing, which brings with it all other blessings. Therefore, it is followed by the comment that signifies putting their testimony on record: “ Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verse 16) Needless to say, denial is pointless.
“他是两个东升之主，也是两个西落之主。那么，你们两个还要否认你们主的哪一种恩惠呢？”（第17-18节）这段经文让我们的心中充满对真主临在的深切感受：无论我们转向何方、行至何处，无论目光投向广阔地平线的哪一端，真主都与我们同在。凡有升起与落下之处，便有真主——万有的主宰，以光明与引导惠及一切的至尊主宰。“两个东升”与“两个西落”可以指太阳与月亮的升起和落下，因为本章前文已将二者列为主的恩惠。这节经文也可以理解为指夏季与冬季太阳升落的两个不同位置。
“He is the Lord of the two risings and the Lord of the two settings. Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?" (Verses 17-18) This reference fills our hearts with great feelings of God’s presence, wherever we turn or move, and wherever we look on the wide horizon. Wherever something rises or sets, there is God, the Lord of all, the Sovereign who extends His light and guidance to all. The two risings and two settings may refer to the rising and setting of the sun and the moon, considering that both have already been mentioned in the surah as part of God’s blessings. The verse may also be understood as a reference to the two different positions of sunrise and sunset in summer and winter respectively.
尽管如此,这一提法的意义更值得重视。它指向这样一个事实:上帝的手掌控着星辰、行星以及宇宙中的一切。祂的主宰在地平线上显得更为清晰。当我们思索宇宙间的种种现象,注视星辰的升起与落下时,我们的心灵、理智和灵魂便会充满更深的安宁。
Be that as it may, the import of this reference is more worthy of attention. It points to the fact that God’s hand controls stars, planets and everything else in the universe. His Lordship is seen more clearly on the horizon. When we contemplate universal phenomena and look at the stars rising and setting, our hearts, minds and souls are filled with greater reassurance.
真主对两个升起点和两个落下点的主宰，体现了祂的一些恩典。因此，本章中熟悉的那句话被重复了出来：
Gods Lordship of the two risings and the two settings reflects some of His blessings. Hence, the comment familiar in this surah is repeated:
"你们两个[精灵与人类]还要否认你们主的哪一项恩典呢？"（第18节）两次日出与两次日落不仅是指向真主的迹象，也是祂赐予人类与精灵的恩典。它们为地球上的所有居民带来了许多益处。我们看到，生命随着太阳升起而开始，它也确实需要日落。倘若其中任何一个，或两者都出现某种失常，生命本身就会被扰乱。
“Which, then, of your Lord's blessings do you both deny?” (Verse 18) The two risings and settings are not only signs pointing to God, but are also part of His blessings granted to humans and jinn. They bring much good to all inhabitants of the earth. We see how life begins with the sun rising. It certainly also needs the sunset. Should either one of them, or both, suffer some dysfunction, life itself would be disrupted.