“诺亚的族人也否认了真主的使者。”（第105节）这是故事的结尾，但先行提出，以加强语气，然后再转而叙述故事的细节。
“The people of Noah, too, denied God’s messengers.” (Verse 105) This is the end of the story, but it is given at the beginning so as to add extra emphasis, before moving on to give the details of the story.
事实是，努哈的族人只否认了他一人，但经文在此将他们描述为否认真主的众使者，因为使命是一致的，其核心在于宣认真主的独一，唯独崇拜祂，不以任何物与祂并列。因此，凡拒绝这一使命的人，就等于否认了真主的一切使者，因为他们所宣扬的是同一个使命。《古兰经》在多处以不同的形式强调这一事实，因为它是伊斯兰信仰的基本原则。由此，它将人类历史上的天启信仰归于同一个框架之下，把自人类历代以来的人群划分为两类：信士与不信者。穆斯林认为，从人类生命之初直到伊斯兰这一最后天启的降示，每一个天启宗教中的信士群体，都是自己的群体。信士接纳真主的一切使者，信仰他们所传达的讯息，并以最崇高的敬意看待他们所有人，因为他们都传达了同一个关于真主独一的使命。
The fact is that Noah’s people denied him only, but they are described here as denying God’s messengers, because the message is one, summed up in the call to acknowledge God’s oneness and to worship Him alone, associating no partners with Him. Therefore, whoever rejects it denies all God’s messengers as they advocated one and the same message. The Qur’ān stresses this fact in several places and in different forms, because it is a basic principle of the Islamic faith. It, thus, brings the divine faith throughout human history under one umbrella, dividing mankind throughout all generations into two groups: believers and unbelievers. A Muslim considers that the community of believers in every divine religion, from the beginning of human life to the advent of the final divine message of Islam, as his own community. A believer accepts all God’s messengers, believes in their messages and looks upon them all with the highest respect, because they all preached the same message of God’s oneness.
从穆斯林的角度看，人类并不是按种族、肤色和国籍来划分的，而是分为追随真理的人与追随虚妄的人。穆斯林自己的立场，站在追随真理的人一边。这让穆斯林拥有一个适用于全部历史的标准。他的价值远高于种族、肤色、语言、国家以及当下或过去的血缘纽带。这些价值体现在信仰的纽带之中，而信仰正是人类承担责任的基础。
From a Muslim’s perspective, mankind are not divided into races, colours and nationalities. They are divided into the people of the truth and the people of falsehood. His own stand is with the people of the truth. This gives Muslims one criterion that applies to all history. His values are much higher than bonds of race, colour, language, country and present or past kinship. His values are embodied into the bond of faith which is the basis of mankind’s accountability:
努哈的族人也否认了真主的使者，他们的兄弟努哈对他们说：
Wait — the rules say God, not Allah, and to write the Chinese word for God. Corrected:
努哈的族人也否认了安拉的使者……
Let me give the final answer correctly, using the Chinese word for God:
努哈的族人也否认了上帝的使者。他们的兄弟努哈对他们说：
The people of Noah, too, denied God’s messengers. Their brother Noah said to them:
"你们难道不敬畏真主吗？我确是你们可以信赖的使者。故你们应当敬畏真主，服从我。我不为此向你们索取报酬，我的报酬只在众世界的主那里。故你们应当敬畏真主，服从我。"（第105-110节）
‘Will you have no fear of God? I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust. So, fear God and pay heed to me. No reward whatever do I ask of you for it: my reward is only from the Lord of all the worlds. So, fear God and pay heed to me.’ (Verses 105-110)
这就是努哈的信息，他的族人却否认了它，尽管他是他们的兄弟。这样的兄弟情谊本应保证彼此和睦相处，并促使他们信仰他和他的信息。然而他的族人对这种兄弟情谊毫不在意，当他对他们说：时，他们也没有因为他们的兄弟的呼吁而变得柔和。
Such was Noah’s message which his people denied, despite his being their brother. Such brotherhood should have ensured a peaceful relationship, leading to their belief in him and his message. But his people had no time for this bond of brotherhood, and they did not soften to their brother’s call when he said to them:
"你们难道不敬畏真主吗？"（第106节）你们难道不担心自己的态度和行为将导致怎样的结局吗？
“Will you have no fear of God?” (Verse 106) Will you not worry about the end to which your attitudes and actions lead you?
这一训诫和对敬畏真主的提醒，在本章中是一贯的。我们在法老和他的people身上看到了这一点，当时真主将使命告知穆萨。随后，努哈之后的每一位先知都对自己的民众说了同样的话："我是你们可信赖的使者。"（第107节）他不会欺骗、诈取或行为不诚实。他也不会增减他奉命传达给民众的任何内容："所以，你们应当敬畏真主，并服从我。"（第108节）在此，努哈再次提醒他的民众敬畏真主，这一次给出了更明确的定义。他诉诸他们的良心，要求他们服从自己，同时呼吁他们向真主完全顺服。
This directive and reminder to fear God is consistent in this sūrah. We saw it with Pharaoh and his people as God informed Moses of his assignment. Then every prophet that succeeded Noah said the same thing to his community: “I am a Messenger [sent by Him] to you, worthy of all trust.” (Verse 107) He would not cheat, defraud or act dishonestly. He would not add to, or withhold anything from what he was required to deliver to his people: “So, fear God and pay heed to me.” (Verse 108) In this case, Noah again reminds his people to fear God, giving it a more express definition this time. He appeals to their consciences to obey him as he calls on them to surrender themselves to God.
他接着向他们保证，他既不是为了任何世俗的利益，也不是为了在宣扬神圣的信息、引导他们走向主的过程中谋取报酬。他只寻求真主的回赐，因为正是祂赋予了他这一使命。这种不求利益、不求报酬的保证，似乎始终是真诚传播信仰所必需的。因此，它与宗教被教士和修会利用、借以谋取私利和敛财的常见模式形成了鲜明的对比。
He then reassures them that he was neither looking for any worldly gain nor seeking any wage in return for advocating the divine message and guiding them to their Lord. He seeks only God’s reward, because it was He who gave him his message. This assurance of seeking no gain or wage seems to have always been necessary for sincere advocacy of faith. It is, thus, distinguished from the familiar pattern of religion as exploited by clerics and religious orders for personal gain and enrichment.
现在他已向他们表明自己没有任何个人野心,努哈再次命令他们敬畏真主,并提醒他们应当服从他:"你们应当敬畏真主,服从我。"(第110节)他们的回应是一个唯一的反对意见,这也是所有使者都曾遭遇的:"他们说:'难道我们要信仰你,而跟随你的却是最卑贱的人吗?'"(第111节)
Now that he has reassured them of having no personal ambition, Noah again tells them to fear God, reminding them that they should obey him: “So, fear God and pay heed to me.” (Verse 110) Their response, a singular objection, was the same given to all messengers: “They said: Are we to believe in you, even though only the lowest of the low follow you?” (Verse 111)
他们的意思是，只有穷人跟随他，因为穷人通常最先接受神的启示和使者。他们很快就相信真主，并顺服于祂，因为他们不会被任何虚浮的地位所阻拦，也不担心因此失去任何利益或地位。社会上的首领和贵族往往担心自己建立在错误考量之上的利益受损，也担心那些被赋予宗教地位的谬论和传说受到冲击。此外，他们不愿因为信仰独一的真主而与普通民众完全平等。在这样的信仰体系下，只有信仰和善行才被赋予应有的崇高价值，结果是，人们只凭借与善行相辅相成的信仰这一唯一标准，有人因此升高，有人因此降低。
What they meant was that it was only the poor who followed him, because the poor are normally the first to accept divine messages and messengers. They are quick to believe in God and submit themselves to Him, because they are not deterred by any hollow status or fear of losing any interest or position as a result. The chiefs and nobles of society often fear for their interests that are based on false considerations, as also myths and legends that are given religious status. Moreover, they are unwilling to accept complete equality with the masses as a result of believing in God’s oneness. Under such a belief system only faith and good action are given an appropriately high value, with the net result that some people rise and others fall by the single standard of faith that is complemented by good action.
因此，努哈的回答确立了正确的价值观，界定了真主使者的使命，并将对人的审判交给最知晓其意图、思想和行为的真主。
Noah’s reply, therefore, establishes true values, defining the mission of God’s messenger and leaves judgement on people to God who knows best their intentions, thoughts and actions:
他说:"我对于他们过去所做的事,有什么知识呢?他们的清算,只在于我的主。假如你们能理解的话。我不是要驱逐信士的人,我只是一个明白的警告者。"(第112-115节)
Said he: What knowledge do I have as to what they used to do in the past? Their reckoning rests with none other than my Lord, if you could but understand. I am not one to drive away the believers. I am only a plain warner. (Verses 112-115)
贵族们总是用轻蔑的口吻谈论穷人。他们说，穷人的习惯和价值观不为社会上层所接受，穷人也没有他们那样的高雅教养。努哈告诉他们，他不向人们索取任何东西，只要求他们信奉真主。至于他们的行为，则交由真主去评判，并决定相应的报酬。真主的评判才是正确的。随后，努哈阐明了自己的使命："我只是一个明白的警告者。"（第115节）
The nobility always speak in a derogative manner about the poor. They say that their habits and values are not acceptable to those who are in the higher echelons of society. They have nothing of their refinements. Noah tells them that he does not ask of people anything other than that they believe in God. Their actions are left to God to evaluate and to determine their appropriate reward. His, God’s, is the right evaluation. Noah then defines his own mission: “I am only a plain warner.” (Verse 115)
有了如此清晰的论证和朴实的逻辑,努哈的族人已无言以对,找不到有分量的回应。于是,他们采取了暴政在走投无路时惯用的手段:以武力相威胁。他们说:"努哈啊!你若不停止,你必被石头砸死。"(第116节)暴政就这样露出了它可怕而残酷的面目。
With such clear argument and plain logic, Noah’s people were silenced. They had no meaningful reply to offer. Hence, they resorted to the same method to which tyranny resorts every time it finds itself cornered; they threatened him with brute force: “Said they: Noah! If you will not desist, you will surely be stoned to death.” (Verse 116) Thus tyranny reveals its ghastly and cruel face.
挪亚意识到他们的心已经硬化，不会软化。因此，他转向那唯一始终可以依靠、永不让信士失望的支持之源：
Noah realized that their hardened hearts would not soften. Therefore, he turned to the One source of support that is always available to believers, never failing them:
他祈祷说："我的主啊！我的民众否认了我，所以，请你在我和他们之间作出明确的裁决，并拯救我和与我同在的信士。"（诗节117-118）他的主当然知道他的民众否认了他，并指责他说谎，但努哈需要向真主申诉自己的冤屈，恳求祂给予公正。因此，他将此事交托于祂："请你在我和他们之间作出明确的裁决。"（诗节118）这样的明确裁决将终结暴政与不公："并拯救我和与我同在的信士。"（诗节118）
“He prayed: My Lord! My people have denied me. So, judge decisively between me and them, and save me and those of the believers who are with me.” (Verses 117-118) His Lord certainly knew that his people had denied him and accused him of lying, but Noah needed to address his complaint to God, appealing to Him for justice. Thus, he puts the matter in His hands: “Judge decisively between me and them.” (Verse 118) Such decisive judgement will put an end to tyranny and injustice: “And save me and those of the believers who are with me.” (Verse 118)
真主确实回应了祂的使者的恳求："于是我救了他和同他在满载的船中的人，并使留下的其他人都被淹死了。"（经文119-120）于是，人类历史上这场关于信仰与不信之间的早期争战的结局，便以极为简练的几句话呈现出来；这几句话也同样道出了人类历史上两方之间此后每一场争战的结局。
God certainly responded to His messenger’s plea for help: “So We saved him, and those with him, in the laden ark, and We caused the others who stayed behind to drown.” (Verses 119-120) Thus, the end of this very early battle in human history between faith and unfaith is described in a very quick sequence of words, which also tell of the outcome of every subsequent battle between the two sides in human history.
我们接下来看到的是这一章经文中已经熟悉的一句话，它跟在真主每一个迹象之后：“这其中确有一个明证，但他们大多数不信道。你的主确是至尊的，确是特慈的。”（第121-122节）
We then have the sūrah’s now familiar comment that follows every one of God Almighty’s signs: “Indeed, there is in this a sure sign; yet most of them will not believe. And indeed it is your Lord who is the Mighty One, the Merciful.” (Verses 121-122)