这一章开头的几节经文，是在波斯人战胜拜占庭帝国、夺取其在阿拉伯地区统治领土的时候降示的。那时，麦加的早期穆斯林与阿拉伯多神教徒之间的争论也十分激烈。

The first few verses of this sūrah were revealed when Persia overpowered the Byzantine Empire in the Arab areas that were under its rule. This was also a time when arguments in Makkah raged between the early Muslims and Arab idolaters.

由于当时的拜占庭人是基督徒，而波斯人是拜火教徒，麦加的不信道者利用了这一事件，宣扬多神教对一神教的胜利，并将波斯人的胜利视为他们战胜信士的预兆。

Since the Byzantines at that time were Christians, and the Persians were Magians, the unbelievers in Makkah exploited the event, drumming up the victory of polytheism over monotheism, and seeing in this Persian victory an omen for their own victory over the believers.

因此,本章开头预示着有经人(即拜占庭人)将在数年之内取得胜利。经文说,这一胜利将使信士们非常欢喜,因为他们喜爱一切天启宗教的信奉者能够占据上风。

Therefore, the opening of this sūrah heralds a victory for the people of the Scriptures, the Byzantines, within a few years. It says that this victory will bring much rejoicing to the believers for they love for believers of any divine religion to gain the upper hand.

《古兰经》并不止于做出这一应许，也不局限于所提及的这一事件。事实上，它借此事件，向信士和反对者展示更为广阔的视野；实质上，它在他们与宇宙之间建立起联系。它还把神的权能所支持的神圣信仰，与统御天地及其间万物的伟大真理联系起来，也与人类的过去、现在和未来联系起来。随后，它又引领人们走向后世和这个世界之外的境界。的确，《古兰经》带领我们进行一次伟大的巡游，让我们看见宇宙的奇妙、人的灵魂、人的处境以及大自然的奇迹。由此，我们得以审视更为广阔的知识视野，因为我们的生命得到了提升和拓展。此外，我们从时间、地点和事件的严格束缚中解脱出来，能够审视宇宙、它运作的法则、历史、现在与未来。

The Qur’ān does not, however, stop at making this promise, nor does it confine itself to the event mentioned. In fact, it uses the event to show the believers and their opponents wider horizons; in essence, it establishes a link between them and the universe. It also relates God’s rule to support divine faith to the great truth that regulates the heavens, the earth and all that is between them, as well as to the past, present and future of humanity. It then moves on to the life to come and the world beyond this earth. Indeed, the Qur’ān takes us on a great round in which we see the marvels of the universe, the human soul, people’s situations and the wonders of nature. We are, thus, able to look at the wider horizons of knowledge, for our lives have been elevated and broadened. Furthermore, we are released from the strict confines of time, place and event, and are able to look at the universe, its operative rules, history, present and future.

因此,人们对这个伟大宇宙中各种联系与关系之真实本质的认识,便被提升到了更高的层次。他们开始感受到支配宇宙与人性的法则之真正伟大,并且懂得欣赏那些规范人类生活及其事件的法则。如此一来,胜利与失败的位置得以确定,用以衡量人们在今世的行为与活动的公正标准也得以确立,从而使他们在今世与来世都能得到应有的公正报偿。

Thus, people’s concept of the true nature of the bonds and relations in this great universe is set on a higher platform. They begin to feel the real greatness of the laws that govern the universe and human nature, and appreciate those that regulate human life and its events. In this way, positions of victory and defeat are defined, and fair measures to judge people’s actions and activities in this life are set, so as to give them just reward both in the present life and in the life to come.

在这一广阔的理念之光下,伊斯兰讯息的普世性得到了清晰的体现。即便在其尚处于萌芽阶段、仅局限于麦加及周围山谷之时,它与事件和世界局势的互动便已显得十分积极。它的范围超越了这个地球,从而将其与宇宙的本质及其主要法则、人性及其深邃之处,以及今世与后世中人类生活的过去与现在联系起来。

In the light of this broad concept, the universality of the Islamic message is clearly shown. Its interaction with events and world situations, even when it is still in its infancy and confined to Makkah and the surrounding valley, appears to be very positive. Its scope is broadened beyond this earth so as to link it to the nature of the universe and its major rules, human nature and its profound depths, as well as to the past and present of human life both in this world and in the world beyond.

因此,穆斯林的心灵与思想与这些视野紧密相连,从而影响他的情感,以及他看待生命与价值的方式。他仰望天国和后世,思索宇宙的奇妙与奇迹。他领会自己在这广阔天地中的位置,以及他所在的群体的位置。他认识到自己的价值,以及自己信仰的价值,无论是按照人的衡量,还是按照真主的衡量。如此,他便以清醒的头脑、充满信心与安定地履行自己的角色,尽到自己的责任。

Thus, a Muslim’s heart and mind are linked to these horizons, so as to influence his feelings and the way he looks at life and values generally. He looks up to heaven and the life to come and contemplates the wonders and marvels of the universe. He appreciates his own position, and that of his community, in this great expanse. He realizes his own value and the value of his faith both in people’s and God’s measures. He thus fulfils his role and does his duties with a clear mind and with confidence and reassurance.

在本sūrah阐述这些联系及其在宇宙整体体系中的意义，以及它们对人心的影响时所采用的方法中，可以将此章视为由两个相互关联的部分组成。第一部分，它建立了信士所获得的胜利与真理之间的联系：真理为宇宙的建立提供了坚实的基础，今世与后世都与之密切相关。它引导人们注意真主在前代民族与世代中所施行的法则，并在此背景下运用了一个关于复活的比喻。此处，本章描绘了审判日的景象，以及信士与不信者在那时的遭遇。随后是对宇宙及真主置于其中的种种迹象的更多描绘，并着重指出这些景象对人心产生的影响。接着，本章以人们自身及其与奴仆之间的关系为例，说明多神观念的荒谬，证明其建立在没有真理与知识根据的私欲与臆想之上。这一部分以指示先知遵循真理的明确道路作结，那是正直天性的道路，既不随私欲而改变，也不分裂为宗派或歧异的群体。

In the method it follows in outlining these links and their significances in the overall system of the universe, as well as their effects on people’s hearts, the sūrah may be thought of as consisting of two interlinked sections. In the first, it establishes a link between the victory granted to the believers and the truth that provides the firm basis on which the universe is established and with which this life as well as the next are closely associated. It directs people’s attention to God’s laws as they applied to earlier communities and generations, and in this context makes use of an analogy about resurrection. Here the sūrah depicts a scene from the Day of Judgement and what happens then to believers and unbelievers. This is followed with further scenes of the universe and the signs God has placed in it, highlighting the effects these scenes have on people’s hearts. The sūrah then gives an example drawn from themselves and their relations with their slaves to show the stupidity of the idea of multiple deities, proving that it is based on whims and desires that are devoid of truth and knowledge. This section concludes with a directive to the Prophet to follow the clear path of truth, which is the path of an upright nature that neither alters to suit desires nor divides into sects or divergent groups.

在该sūrah的第二部分,经文描述了人们的关切与利益是如何反复无常的,这些东西并不适合作为建立人类生活的基础。人们应当寻求的,是一个恒定的标准,它不会为迎合邪恶的利益而弯曲。经文描述了这类人在享受上主的慈悯时、在遭受苦难时,以及在富足与贫困的情境中的样子。接着经文谈到应当如何使用并增加所拥有的给养。随后,经文从这一角度讨论上主所谓的同伴的问题,说明这些所谓的神明永远不能提供给养,也不能开始或终止生命。经文将大地和海洋上腐败的蔓延与人们的所作所为联系起来,并指示人们走遍大地,思考过去那些以上主之外另有同伴的不信者群体所遭遇的结局。然后,经文指示先知遵循纯正人性的宗教,直到那一天来临,届时每个人都将因其所为而获得报酬。与第一部分一样,该sūrah随后呈现了宇宙的一些景象,并指出真正的引导是上主所赐予的,而先知的任务只是传达他的使命。使盲人看见、使聋人听见,并不在他的能力之内。 随后,该sūrah带领我们进入人类自身构造的新一轮思考,提醒我们人从开始到终结的各个发展阶段,从童年时期的极度软弱开始,然后提到死亡、复生和审判,并给出那一日的一幅新景象。本部分以及整个sūrah的结尾,指示先知在逆境中保持忍耐,承受他所遇到的任何艰难。他应当始终坚信上主的应许必将实现。因此,他不应让自己为那些缺乏信仰的人所扰乱。

In the second section the sūrah depicts the fickleness of people’s cares and interests and how these are unsuitable as a basis for building human life. What people should look to instead is a constant measure that does not bend to suit nefarious interests. It describes such people when they enjoy God’s mercy and when they are afflicted by hardship, as well as in situations of affluence and poverty. It moves on to speak of how provisions should be used and increased. It then discusses the question of God’s alleged partners from this angle, showing how such alleged deities can never provide sustenance, initiate or terminate life. It links the spread of corruption on land and sea with what people do, and directs them to go about the earth reflecting on the ends met by past communities of unbelievers who associated partners with God. It then directs the Prophet to follow the religion of pure human nature before a day comes when everyone will be rewarded for what they do. Like it did in the first section, the sūrah then provides some scenes of the universe, commenting that true guidance is that given by God, while the Prophet’s task is only to deliver his message. It is not in his power to make the blind see or the deaf hear. The sūrah then takes us on a new round within the human constitution, reminding us of the stages of man’s development from beginning to end, starting with utter weakness in childhood, before it mentions death, resurrection and judgement, giving us a new scene of that day. This section and the sūrah itself conclude with a directive to the Prophet to remain patient in adversity and to bear whatever difficulties he meets. He should always remain confident that God’s promise will be fulfilled. Hence, he must not let himself be disturbed by those who lack faith.

这一章的氛围与整体脉络共同指向其核心主题：人的境况与生活中的事件之间有着紧密的联系；人类生活与宇宙律则中的过去、现在与未来相互关联。这表明，每一个细微的行为、事件、成长、结果、挫折与胜利，都彼此紧密相连，并受制于一条精确的律则。在这一切之中，最终的决定权归于真主：“万事的决定权，无论在以前或以后，都属于真主。”（第4节）这一真理在《古兰经》中一再得到印证，因为它是伊斯兰信仰中的根本真理，由此衍生出一切观念、价值与准则。

Both the ambience of the sūrah and its general flow contribute to its main theme, namely the close relation between people’s situations and life’s events; the past, present and future in human life and universal laws. This shows that every little action, event, growth, consequence, setback and victory are all closely linked, and subject to an accurate law. In all these, the final decision rests with God: “All power of decision belongs to God before and after.” (Verse 4) This truth is confirmed time after time in the Qur’ān, because it is the basic truth in the Islamic faith which gives rise to all concepts, values and standards.