本节经文延续该章的主线，将视野投向宏大的宇宙空间，人的生命与事件都与之相关。正是在这一广阔的空间里，我们看到支配生命与宇宙的规律，与真信仰的律例和谐运行，彼此之间没有任何冲突或矛盾。

This section of the sūrah follows its main line, looking at the universal expanse to which people’s lives and events are related. It is in this great expanse that we see how the laws governing life and the universe operate in harmony with the laws of the true faith, suffering no conflict or contradiction.

这一段描绘了人的欲望常常变化，而真主的律法与准则始终不变的景象。它说明，与真正信仰的力量相比，偶像崇拜的信念是多么脆弱。它描述了人们在顺境与逆境、丰裕与匮乏时的态度。除非人们依靠真主的尺度（这尺度从不变动），除非他们接受真主的意志——祂依照自己的意愿或多或少地赐予——否则他们的价值观与标准将始终不稳定。由于经文提到了给养的供给，本章指引人们去寻求那能净化财富并使之增长的途径，这与真正的信仰相一致。如此，它向他们阐明：赐予给养、creating生命并使之死亡的造物主究竟是谁。他们妄称为真主同伴的那些假神，并不做这些事。它也警示人们：偶像崇拜与虚假信仰所散播的腐败无处不在。

This section draws an image of how human desires frequently change while God’s rules and laws remain constant. It shows how flimsy idolatrous beliefs are compared with the power of true faith. It describes people’s attitudes in times of ease and hardship, when provisions are plentiful and stinted. Unless people rely on God’s measure, which never fluctuates, and unless they accept God’s will who gives as He pleases, in plenty or in small measure, their values and standards will remain unstable. Since it mentions the provision of sustenance, the sūrah directs them to the means that purifies money and makes it grow, which is in line with true faith. In this way, it makes clear to them who the Creator that gives sustenance, initiates life and causes death is. The false deities they allege to be God’s partners do nothing of the kind. It alerts them to the corruption that idolatry and false beliefs spread everywhere.

本章指示先知和穆斯林坚守正确的信仰,趁那一天尚未来临——那一天,任何行为都将无益。那是清算人们所做一切、并给予他们应得报酬的日子。在真主所赐予的范围内,本章将他们的注意力引向这些赐予的某些方面,其中一些与人类的生存有关,例如从天空降下的雨水,使死去的大地重新焕发生机。同样,真主的启示被赐予先知ﷺ,以使心灵和灵魂重获生命。然而他们既不聆听,也不遵循引导。本章还带领我们巡览人类的造化过程及其一生,直至他们回归主那里。

The sūrah directs the Prophet and Muslims to remain steadfast in following the true faith before there comes a day when no action is of any use. It is the day when everything people have done is reckoned and when they receive their fair reward for it all. Within the context of what God provides, the sūrah directs their attention to certain aspects of such provisions, some of which relate to their existence, such as the rain that comes from the skies, giving life to the earth after it was dead. Likewise, God’s revelations are given to the Prophet to bring life to hearts and souls. Yet they neither listen nor follow guidance. The sūrah also takes us on a round in which we look at the stages of creation of humans and their lives until they return to their Lord.

在那时，任何借口或辩解都无益于不义之人。随后，本章以安慰先知作结。它指示他要更加忍耐，直到真主的应许得以实现，而这一应许必定会实现。

At that time, no excuse or justification will benefit the wrongdoers. The sūrah then concludes with reassuring the Prophet. It directs him to show more patience until God’s promise is fulfilled, as it certainly will be.

当灾祸临到世人身上时，他们便向他们的主祈祷，转而归向他。但当他赐给他们恩惠的滋味时，他们中有一些人便把伙伴归于他们的主，仿佛要以此表明他们对我所赐予他们的恩典不知感恩。那么，你们尽情享受今世的生活吧，不久你们就会知道。我是否曾向他们降下过一份凭证，来印证他们所归于神的那些同伴？当我使世人尝到恩典的滋味时，他们便为此欢欣；但如果因他们自己的双手所造作的，有灾祸临到他们身上，他们便彻底绝望。

When harm touches people they call out to their Lord for help, turning to Him in repentance. But when He gives them a taste of His grace, some of them associate partners with their Lord, [as if] to show their ingratitude for what We have given them. Enjoy, then, your life [as you may]; before long you will come to know [the truth]. Have We ever sent down to them a warrant to confirm what they associate as partners with God? When We give people a taste of grace, they rejoice in it; but if evil befalls them as an outcome of what their own hands have wrought, they lose all hope.

难道他们不知道，真主为他所意欲的人而扩充给养，也为他所意欲的人而限制给养吗？信道的民众啊，这里面确有许多迹象。

Are they not aware that God gives in abundance, or in scant measure, to whom He wills? In this there are clear signs indeed for people who believe. (Verses 33-37)

这些经文描绘出一幅人类灵魂的图景：这种灵魂不依靠稳固的观念，也不遵循清晰的轨迹，因此会根据相互冲突的影响或事件而突然反应，动摇不定。于是，当灾难降临到这样的人身上时，他们便转向真主，意识到只有祂能拯救他们。然而，当苦难过去，生活重新安适，真主赐予他们恩典之后，“他们中有人要以物配主”（第33节）。这些人没有遵循真正的信仰，也没有从信士所得的光明中获益。安逸与舒适消除了使他们转向真主寻求支持与庇护的紧迫处境，他们忘记了先前的艰难。于是，他们不但没有坚持转向真主、感恩真主的道路，反而背弃了祂的引导和祂所赐予他们的恩典。

These verses draw a picture of the human soul that does not rely on solid concepts, or follow clear lines. It thus vacillates between sudden reactions, in response to conflicting influences or events. Thus, when harm touches such people, they turn to God, realizing that only He can save them. Yet when the affliction is over, and things are comfortable again, with God bestowing His grace on them, “some of them associate partners with their Lord.” (Verse 33) These are they who do not follow true faith and who do not benefit from the light it gives to the faithful. Ease and comfort remove the emergency that made them turn to God for support and protection. They forget their earlier hardship. Thus, rather than maintain the path of turning to God and of being grateful to Him, they disbelieve in His guidance and the grace He has bestowed on them.

首先向那些反对先知ﷺ使命的不信道者发出警告，明确表明他们属于这一群体："你们且尽情享受吧，不久你们就会知道。"（第34节）这是一句严厉的威胁，足以使他们内心充满恐惧。人们畏惧统治者或总统发出的威胁，那么，当威胁来自创造这个宇宙的主，即以一句"有"便使它存在的那一位时，他们又将作何反应呢？

A warning is given in the first instance to those unbelievers who opposed the Prophet’s message, making it clear that they belong to this group: “Enjoy, then, your life [as you may]; before long you will come to know.” (Verse 34) It is a serious threat that sends terror into their hearts. People fear threats issued by rulers or presidents. How then will they react to a threat from the Creator of this universe, He who brought it into existence by merely saying to it, ‘Be’?

随后，本章从供给与谋生的角度讨论了以物配主的问题，并说明这一问题如何影响人们的生活，正如它曾影响在他们之前的各世代那样。本章还展示了前代民族的结局，以及那些废墟见证着这些结局：

The sūrah then discusses the issue of polytheism from the viewpoint of providing sustenance and earning a living, and how this affects their lives as it affected the lives of generations before them. It also shows the end of earlier communities and the ruins standing witness to such ends:

是真主创造了你们，然后供给你们生计，然后会使你们死亡，然后会使你们复活。你们所以为祂的配偶的那些神灵，能做这些事情中的任何一件吗？愿真主超绝万物，至高无上，超越人们所妄指的与祂并列的一切。由于人们双手所作的恶行，陆地和海洋上都出现了败坏，所以祂要让他们尝到他们某些行为的恶果，好让他们悔悟。你说：“你们去大地上周游，看看在你们以前的人，结局如何。他们大多数都是以物配主的。”（第40-42节）

It is God who has created you, and then has provided you with sustenance, and then will cause you to die, and then will bring you to life again. Can any of those whom you associate as partners with Him do any of these things? Limitless is God in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything which people may allege to be partners with Him. Corruption has become rife on land and sea in consequence of what people’s hands have wrought; and so He will let them taste the consequences of some of their doings, so that they might mend their ways. Say: ‘Travel around the world and see what was the fate of those who lived before you. Most of them did associate partners with God.’ (Verses 40-42)

该章经文向他们呈现了他们生活中的种种实情，这些实情是他们无法否认的，都出自真主的创造，他们也无法声称他们所谓的神明在其中有份。经文告诉他们，是真主创造了他们，供给他们给养，使他们死亡，然后又使他们复活。他们承认真主创造了他们这一事实。至于给养，他们也无法声称他们所谓的神明供给了他们任何一份。对于《古兰经》所陈述的使人死亡之事，他们提不出任何反驳。他们所争执的是复活的问题。该章将复活与其他已被承认的实情并列陈述，使复活在他们的良知中确立起来。《古兰经》这种劝诫的方式具有独特的效力，它直接触及人的天性，避开了一切偏离正道的思想。人的天性无法否认复活的事实。

The sūrah puts before them the realities of their lives which they cannot dispute to be of God’s own making and in which they cannot claim a share for their alleged deities. It tells them that it is God who has brought them into existence, provides them with sustenance, causes them to die, and then brings them back to life. They acknowledge the fact that it is God who creates them. As for sustenance, they cannot claim that their alleged deities provide them with any of it. They have no argument against what the Qur’ān states about causing death. It is the question of resurrection that they dispute. The sūrah includes this with other acknowledged realities so that resurrection becomes established in their consciences. The method employed in this Qur’ānic address is uniquely effective. It speaks directly to their nature, sidestepping all deviant thinking. Human nature cannot deny the fact of resurrection.

然后有人问道:“你们所崇拜以为与祂同列的那些神灵,能做这些事情中的任何一件吗?”(第40节)这个问题并不期待回答。事实上,这节经文以斥责的方式给出了唯一可能的否定答案,因此无需直接作答。接着是对真主的赞颂,否认祂有任何形式的同伴:“至圣的真主,超绝于他们所妄称的一切伙伴之上。”(第40节)

They are then asked: “Can any of those whom you associate as partners with Him do any of these things?” (Verse 40) No answer to this question is expected. Indeed, the verse puts forward the only possible and negative response in the form of a rebuke, thus doing away with the need for a direct answer. This is followed by a glorification of God which denies partnership with Him in any form: “Limitless is God in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything which people may allege to be partners with Him.” (Verse 40)

本章开始了新的一段，展示真主的一些迹象，以及这些迹象如何体现祂的恩典：祂赐予他们给养，并引导他们。他们只承认其中的一部分，却否认另一部分。尽管如此，他们既不感恩，也不遵从祂的引导。

The sūrah begins a new round showing some of God’s signs and how they reflect His grace as He provides them with sustenance and guidance. They recognize only parts of this, denying others. Nevertheless, they do not give thanks or follow His guidance:

{وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ يُرْسِلَ الرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَلِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ * وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ رُسُلًا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَاءُوهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَانتَقَمْنَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا ۖ وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ * اللَّهُ الَّذِي يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابًا فَيَبْسُطُهُ فِي السَّمَاءِ كَيْفَ يَشَاءُ وَيَجْعَلُهُ كِسَفًا فَتَرَى الْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَالِهِ ۖ فَإِذَا أَصَابَ بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ * وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِ لَمُبْلِسِينَ * فَانظُرْ إِلَىٰ آثَارِ رَحْمَتِ اللَّهِ} 其迹象之一是：祂派遣风作为报喜的使者，让你们尝到祂的慈恩，使船只奉祂的命令航行，使你们寻求祂的恩惠，以期你们感恩。我确已在你之前，派遣使者到他们各自的民族，他们便把明证带给他们。于是，我惩罚了那些作恶的人。扶助信士是我应尽的责任。真主是派遣风的，风便激起云层，祂随意把云铺展在天空，并把它分割成块，于是你看见雨从云中降落。当祂使雨降临到祂所意欲的仆人身上时，他们便欢欣起来；而在雨降临到他们身上之前，他们原本已经绝望。那么，你且看真主慈恩的痕迹吧！

And among His signs is that He sends forth the winds bearing good news, so that He might give you a taste of His grace, and that ships might sail at His bidding; so that you might go about in quest of some of His bounty, and that you might have cause to be grateful. We have certainly sent before you messengers to their own peoples, and they brought them clear evidence of the truth. Therefore, We inflicted punishment upon those who deliberately did evil. It is incumbent upon Us to give support to the believers. It is God who sends forth the winds so that they raise clouds, whereupon He spreads them as He wills across the skies, and causes them to break up so that you can see the rain issuing from within it. As soon as He causes it to fall upon whomever He wills of His servants, they rejoice, even though a short while ago, before it was sent down upon them, they had abandoned all hope. Behold, then, the effects of God’s grace:

他如何使大地在死寂之后重新焕发生机！那确实是使死者复活的主；因为他对万物都有权能。（经文 46-50 节）

how He gives life to the earth after it had been lifeless! It is indeed He, the One who can bring the dead back to life; for He has power over all things. (Verses 46-50)

这里所说的真主的迹象包括：作为报喜使者的风、携带明证的使者、对信士的扶持、降下雨水使死地复活，以及使死者重生。这种组合意义非常重大。所有这些都是真主慈悯与恩典的体现，也都是真主所设定运行的法则的一部分。确实，宇宙的运行体系、真主的使者所传达的神圣引导的讯息，以及真主赐予信士的胜利之间，存在着紧密的联系。所有这些都是真主的迹象，也是祂恩典的体现。它们对人类的生活至关重要，并且与宇宙的普遍体系密切相关。

God’s signs here include the winds as heralds bearing good news, sending messengers with clear signs, giving support to believers, sending rain to give life to dead land and bringing the dead back to life. This combination is very significant. All these are aspects of God’s mercy and grace, and they are all part of the laws God has set in operation. Indeed there are close links between the system of the universe, the messages of divine guidance preached by God’s messengers, and the victory granted to the believers. All these are among God’s signs, and aspects of His grace. They are important to human life, and they are closely related to the universal system.

因此，这一章描述了人们欲望的反复无常，他们无法从周围宇宙中所见的真主的迹象中获益，也无法认识到生命中各种事件背后真主的智慧。接着，经文转向先知，安慰他：他未能说服许多人遵循神圣的指引。经文告诉他，这是由于他们的本性和蒙蔽所致，而他永远无法医治这种状况。ﷺ

Thus the sūrah describes the fluctuation of people’s desires, their inability to benefit by God’s signs that they see in the universe around them, and their failure to recognize God’s wisdom behind life’s events. It then addresses the Prophet consoling him for not being able to persuade many of them to follow divine guidance. It tells him that this is due to their nature and blindness, which he can never cure.

诚然，你无法使死人听见；当聋子转身离去时，你也无法使他们听到你的呼唤。你也无法引导盲人走出他们的迷误。

Indeed you cannot make the dead hear; and you cannot make the deaf hear your call when they turn their backs and go away. Nor can you lead the blind out of their error.

只有那些相信我的迹象的人才会听从；他们之后将顺服[真主]。（第52-53节）

You can only get those who believe in Our signs to listen; and they will then submit themselves [to God]. (Verses 52-53)

该章节表明，他们如同没有生命、聋且瞎，失去了动作、听觉和视觉。他们把自己与周围的世界隔绝开来，因此无法理解影响这个世界的普遍法则。所以，他们的生命不过如同动物，甚至更糟。动物受其本性引导，而这种本性很少让它失望。相比之下，一个人尽管天启对心灵和思想有着强大的影响，却仍不回应真主的启示，那么即使他有能听见的耳朵，他也是聋的。

The sūrah shows them to be lifeless, deaf and blind, devoid of motion, hearing and sight. They have isolated themselves from the world around them and thus they are unable to understand the universal laws affecting it. Hence, they have no more than an animal life, or even less. An animal is guided by its nature, which rarely lets it down. By contrast, a person who does not respond to God’s revelations despite its powerful effect on hearts and minds is deaf even though he may have ears that hear.

同样，那些看不到遍布世界各处的上帝迹象的人，即便拥有能够视物的眼睛，也依然是盲人。

Similarly, the one who does not see God’s signs placed everywhere in the world around him is blind, even though he may have functioning eyes.

“你们只能使那些信奉我们的迹象的人倾听；然后他们将顺服（真主）。”（第53节）这些人倾听神圣的启示，是因为他们拥有活跃的思想和心灵，以及健全的理解力。当他们倾听神圣的启示时，便会认识到它是真理，并宣告自己顺服于祂。他们所需要的，只是自己的天性被唤醒，他们便会回应。

“You can only get those who believe in Our signs to listen; and they will then submit themselves (to God].” (Verse 53) These are the ones who listen to the divine message because they have active minds and hearts, as well as sound understanding. When they listen to the divine message, they realize that it is the truth and they declare their submission to Him. They only need that their nature be alerted, and they respond.

随后，这一章又带我们进入新的一轮思考，这一次是审视我们自身，观察我们在世间生命的不同阶段，然后再谈及后世，以及今世与后世之间紧密的联系：

然后这一章描述了不信道者如何固执于自己的行为,此前已经阐明了这种顽固不信的结局。

The sūrah then describes how the unbelievers persist in their ways, after having explained the fate of such persistent unbelief:

我们在这部《古兰经》中为世人设立了各种各样的比喻。然而，如果你们向他们展示任何一个迹象，那些不信道的人就会说：“你们不过是在制造谎言。”真主就这样封闭了那些不愿求知真理之人的心。（第58-59节）

We have set for people in this Qur’ān all sorts of illustrations. Yet if you present them with any sign, the unbelievers will say: you are but making false claims.’ Thus does God seal the hearts of those who do not want to know [the truth]. (Verses 58-59)

虽然时间和地点之间有很大的跨度，但在这一章中听来却仿佛近在咫尺；事实上，时间与地点都被倒卷回去了。人们再次被提醒《古兰经》所提供的种种譬喻、各样的称呼方式、用以唤醒心智与心灵的精妙笔触，以及激发人心的生动意象。它向每一个心智与心灵发出呼唤，无论其身处何种社会环境，也向人类灵魂的各种心境直接说话。然而他们仍然否认每一个迹象。他们并不止于此，反而辱骂那些拥有真知的人，指责他们说虚假之言：“即使你们向他们呈现任何一个迹象，不信道者也会说：”

There is a wide gap here in time and place, but it sounds in the sūrah as if it is ever so near; indeed both time and place have been rolled back. People are again reminded of what the Qur’ān provides by way of illustrations, modes of address, fine touches meant to alert minds and hearts, and inspiring images. They listen to it as it addresses every mind and heart in every social environment and speaks to the human soul in all its moods. Yet they continue to deny every sign. Nor do they stop at this, but rather insult those endowed with true knowledge describing them as making false assertions: “Yet if you present them with any sign, the unbelievers will say:

“……你们只是在编造谎言。”（第58节）经文评论他们的不信，说道：“真主就这样封闭了那些不愿求知真理之人的心。”（第59节）真主正是以这种方式、出于这种缘故而封闭他们的心。他们确实是盲目的，看不见真主的迹象，因不信而傲慢，不愿反思。因此，他们理应受到真主封闭视听与心灵的惩罚。

you are but making false claims.” (Verse 58) The sūrah comments on their disbelief, saying: “Thus does God seal the hearts of those who do not want to know [the truth].” (Verse 59) It is in this way and for this reason that God seals their hearts. They are indeed blind, unable to see God’s signs, arrogant in their disbelief, unwilling to reflect. Hence, they deserve that God should seal their sight and their hearts.

本章的最后一句话以指示的形式向先知和信士们发出：“故你应当忍耐。真主的应许必定实现。那些不信的人，不要让他们扰乱你的心。”（第60节） Note: the original text says "God" (not "Allah"), so I used 真主 as the Chinese word for God per the rules, and I kept the verse in the quoted form.

The final note in the sūrah comes in the form of a directive to the Prophet and the believers: “Therefore persevere patiently. For certain, God’s promise will come true. So, let not the ones deprived of certainty trouble your mind.” (Verse 60)

对于信士而言，坚忍是最好的策略。他们走在艰难而漫长的道路上，有时这条路似乎没有尽头。他们必须坚信真主的应许必将实现。这将使他们保持坚定，不忧不疑。