这部经章所讨论的主要主题——信仰，贯穿于伊斯兰初期在麦加降示的所有经章之中。该主题从各个主要方面得到阐述，从真主的独一性开始：“你们不可以祈祷真主以外的任何神明，否则你们必将受刑罚。”（第213节）；到敬畏末日审判：“在众人复活的那一日，求你不要使我蒙受羞辱。那一日，财产和子女都无益处，只有怀着纯洁心灵来见真主的人才会得救。”（第87-89节）；到对降示给穆罕默德ﷺ的启示的信仰：“这确是全世界的主所降示的启示。忠实的天使把它带下来，降在你的心上，使你成为警告者。”（第192-194节）；并阐明否认信仰者所面临的风险，包括可能在今世降临的毁灭性惩罚，以及为不信道者在后世等待的刑罚：“他们确已否认了真理，他们将来必会知道他们所嘲笑的是什么。”（第6节）“那些作恶的人，将来必知道他们的归宿是何等恶劣。”（第227节）

Faith, the main theme discussed in this sūrah, pervades all sūrahs revealed in Makkah during the early period of Islam. The subject is examined in all its major aspects from God’s oneness: “Do not invoke any other deity side by side with God, lest you find yourself among those suffering punishment.” (Verse 213), to fearing the Day of Judgement: “Let me not suffer disgrace on the Day when all shall be raised from the dead; the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit; but only the one who comes to God with a sound heart [will be happy].” (Verses 87-89); belief in the revelation bestowed from on high to Muhammad (peace be upon him): “Most certainly, this [Qur’ān] has been bestowed from on high by the Lord of all the worlds. The trustworthy Spirit has brought it down into your heart — so that you may give warning.” (Verses 192- 194), and explaining the risks to which anyone who denies the faith exposes himself including a destructive punishment that may take place in this world, or punishment in the hereafter that awaits the unbelievers: “They have indeed denied [the truth of revelation]; and they will in time come to understand what it was they were wont to deride.” (Verse 6) “Those who are bent on wrongdoing will in time know what an evil turn their destiny will surely take.” (Verse 227)

该章也是对先知的安慰，因为他面对人们对其讯息和天启的顽固否认。经文说："他们不信，你或许会因此而忧伤至死吗？"（第3节）它也使信士安心，坚定他们承受所遭遇一切磨难的决心，并向他们举出先前信士在类似困难面前坚定不移的例子。

The sūrah also consoles the Prophet as he faces the determined denials of his message and divine revelation: “Would you, perhaps, torment yourself to death [with grief] because they would not believe?” (Verse 3) It reassures the believers and strengthens their resolve to endure all the hardships they faced, presenting them with examples of earlier believers who remained steadfast when confronted with similar difficulties.

该章的主体部分致力于叙述历史故事，这些故事共占去了180

The main body of the sūrah is devoted to historical accounts that take up 180

…227节经文。除这些历史叙述外，该章还包含简短的引言和结语，这三个部分构成一个连贯的整体，以不同的风格呈现同一主题，服务于同一目标。因此，只呈现与每一历史情境相关的片段。

verses of the sūrah’s total of 227. Apart from these historical accounts, the sūrah includes a short introduction and final comments, but the three elements form a single coherent unit that presents the main theme in different styles, serving a single objective. Hence, only those episodes that are relevant to each historical situation are presented.

整篇经文都贯穿着一种警告的基调,针对的是拒绝真主启示的人,以及真主将降下的惩罚。这是合乎情理的,因为本章是对古莱氏的不信道者的回应。他们否认先知穆罕默德ﷺ,嘲笑他的警告,背弃真主的启示,催促那已被威胁的惩罚,并把启示和《古兰经》说成是巫术,或是受恶魔启发的诗歌。

An air of warning, for those who reject God’s messages, and the subsequent punishment He will inflict prevails throughout. This is only logical since the sūrah provides a response to the Quraysh unbelievers who denied the Prophet Muhammad, derided his warnings, turned their backs on God’s revelations, hastened the threatened punishment and described revelation and the Qur’ān as either sorcery or poetry inspired by devils.

尽管整个苏拉（章）构成一个整体，我们仍将按照其顺序，将其划分为若干简短的段落。

Although the entire sūrah forms one unit, we will divide it into short passages according to the order it follows.