本章几乎完全围绕真主的独一性展开。它变换着对人心的称呼，弹奏出各种音调，从而产生持久而深刻的效果。它这样做，是为了牢固确立真主独一性原则的根基，洗净人心中可能玷污其真相的一切。因此，从头至尾，本章始终只围绕一个主题展开。

This sūrah deals almost exclusively with the issue of God’s oneness. It varies its address to the human heart, striking the full range of tones on its instrument so as to produce a sustained and profound effect. This it does to firmly establish the roots of the principle of God’s oneness, purging the heart of anything that could mar its image. Thus, from start to finish, the sūrah variously deals with just one subject.

从一开始，这个问题就被置于显著位置：“这部经典是由全能、至睿的真主从天降下的。是我降示你这部含有真理的经典。故你当诚心地崇拜真主。纯正的宗教只属于真主。”（第1-3节）此后，这一主题又频繁出现，有时明确陈述，有时以需要思考的概念出现。第一类的例子如：“你说：‘我奉命诚心地崇拜真主，我奉命首先归顺。’你说：‘如果我违抗我的主，我实在怕遭受重大日子的刑罚。’你说：‘我只诚心地崇拜真主，你们可以舍弃他，而崇拜你们所愿意崇拜的。’”（第11-15节）“你说：‘你们这些愚昧的人啊！你们叫我崇拜真主以外的物吗？’已经启示你和你以前的众使者：如果你以物配主，你的善功必定无效，你必定是亏折者。你应当崇拜真主，并当感谢者。”（第64-66节）现在举出第二类的两个例子：“真主设了一个譬喻：一个人同时服事几个互相争执的主人，另一个人只服事一个主人，这两个人的情况相同吗？”

From the very outset, this issue is given immediate prominence: “This book is bestowed from on high by God, the Almighty, the Wise. It is We who have bestowed on you this revelation from on high, stating the truth. Therefore, worship God alone, sincere in your faith in Him. True devotion is due to God alone.” (Verses 1-3) It comes again with regular frequency, either expressly stated or as a concept to contemplate. Examples of the first type are: “Say: lam commanded to worship God, sincere in my faith in Him alone; and I am commanded to be the first to submit myself to Him.’ Say: ‘Indeed I would dread, were I to disobey my Lord, the suffering of an awesome day.’ Say: ‘God alone do I worship, sincere in my faith in Him alone. You can worship whatever you please instead of Him.’“ (Verses 11- 15) “Say: ‘You ignorant people! Would you bid me worship anyone other than God?’ It has been revealed to you, and to those before you, that if you ever associate partners with God, all your works shall certainly come to nothing, and you shall certainly be among the lost. You shall worship God alone, and be one of those who give thanks Ito Him].” (Verses 64-66) Two examples now follow of the second type: “God cites the case of a man who has for his masters several partners at odds with each other, and a man belonging wholly to one person?

他们能被视为平等的吗？{一切赞颂，唯独归主安拉}，但他们大多数并不理解（第29节）。{难道真主不足以保护祂的仆人吗？他们却要用祂之外的那些神明来恐吓你。真主使谁迷误，谁就没有引导者；真主引导谁，谁就没有迷误者。难道真主不是万能的、能够施行报应的吗？}（第36-37节）

Can they be deemed equal? All praise is due to God alone, but most of them do not understand” (Verse 29) “Is not God sufficient for His servant. Yet they would try to frighten you with those [they worship] other than Him. He whom God lets go astray can never find any guide; whereas he whom God guides aright can never be led astray. Is God not mighty, capable of inflicting retribution?” (Verses 36-37)

除了阐明真主独一的真理之外,该章还提供了许多指导和启发性的内容,以唤醒我们的心灵。这有助于调整我们的回应,使我们能够对神圣的训谕作出正确的回应。例如:

Alongside stating the truth of God’s oneness the sūrah provides numerous guidelines and inspiring touches to alert our hearts. This serves to fine tune our responses so that we can make the right response to the divine address. For example:

“对那些远离崇拜伪神、归向真主的人，有喜讯。所以你要向我的仆人报喜，他们倾听言语，并遵从其中最美的。他们是真主引导的人，他们是有理智的人。”（第17-18节） “真主降下了最美的言辞，那是一部内容一致、反复陈述（真理）的经典，它使敬畏其主的人的皮肤战栗；然后当提到真主时，他们的皮肤和心灵又变得柔和。这就是真主的引导。他借此引导他所意欲的人；而真主使其迷失的人，则永远找不到任何引导者。”（第23节） “人遭遇苦难时，便向他的主呼求，求主相助；但当主以恩典赐予他福惠之后，他便忘记了先前所呼求和祈祷的，并宣称有others与真主同等，从而使人偏离祂的道路。你说：‘你暂且在你的不信中享受吧，你确是注定要进入火狱的人之一。’”（第8节）

“There is good news for those who shun the worship of false deities and turn to God, so give good news to My servants, who listen carefully to what is said and follow the best of it. These are the ones whom God has graced with His guidance, and these are the ones endowed with insight.” (Verses 17-18) “God has bestowed from on high the best of all teachings: a book that is consistent within itself repeating its statements [of the truth] in manifold forms. It causes the skins of those who stand in awe of their Lord to shiver, but then their skins and hearts soften at the mention of God. Such is God’s guidance.. He guides with it him that wills, whereas the one whom God lets go astray can never find any guide.” (Verse 23) “When man suffers affliction, he cries out to his Lord, turning to Him for help; but once He bestows upon him a favour by His grace, he forgets what he cried and prayed for earlier, and claims that others are equal to God, thus leading others astray from His path. Say [to him]: ‘Enjoy yourself for a while in your disbelief for you are one of those destined to the fire.” (Verse 8)

整个章节的一个突出特点，是来世的氛围贯穿始终。每一段短小的经文都将我们带向那里，事实上，来世就是它的舞台。同样，仅举几例即可说明：“那在夜间叩头和站立，恭敬地礼拜，顾虑后世、希望主的慈悯的人，（岂能与不信者相等）呢？”（第9节）“你说：

A prominent feature of the whole sūrah is the way in which the air of the life to come spreads over it. Every short passage takes us there. Indeed, the hereafter is its stage. Again, a few examples suffice by way of illustration: “How about one who devoutly worships God during the hours of the night prostrating himself or standing in prayer, ever mindful of the life to come, and hoping for his Lord’s mercy?’ (Verse 9) “Say:

“我确实会害怕，如果我违抗我的主，那将遭受一个可怕日子的刑罚。”（第13节） “那么，对于已经被判决受罚的人呢？难道你能拯救那些已经身在火中的人吗？”（第19节） “那么，对于那些在复活日除了一张裸露的脸之外别无遮蔽、要遭受可怕刑罚的人呢？”（第24节）

Indeed I would dread, were I to disobey my Lord, the suffering of an awesome day.” (Verse 13) “How about one on whom God’s sentence of punishment has been passed? Can you rescue those who are already in the fire?” (Verse 19) “How about one who shall have nothing but his bare face to protect him from the awful suffering on Resurrection Day.” (Verse 24)

“然而，如果他们知道，来世的痛苦将更加严重。”（第26节）“难道地狱里没有不信道者的归宿吗？”（第32节）“如果不义者拥有大地上的一切，甚至加倍，他们在复活日必定会拿来赎取那可怕的刑罚。因为真主将向他们显示他们从未料想到的事情。”（第47节）“你们应当归向你们的主，应当在刑罚降临你们之前顺服他，因为那时你们将得不到任何援助。你们应当遵循你们的主降示给你们的至善之言，在刑罚突然降临、而你们毫无察觉之前。以免有人说：‘哀哉！我竟疏忽了对真主应尽的义务，我竟是嘲笑者中的一员。’或者说：‘如果真主引导了我，我必定是敬畏者中的一员。’或者当他面临刑罚时说：‘但愿我能再回到世间，我必定成为行善者。’”（第54至58节）此外，本章的大部分篇幅描绘了后世的完整景象，从而增添了整章的氛围。

“Yet much greater will be the suffering of the life to come, if they but knew it.” (Verse 26) “Is not there in hell a proper abode for the unbelievers?” (Verse 32) “If the wrongdoers possessed all that is on earth, and twice as much, they would surely offer it all as ransom from the awful suffering on the Day of Resurrection. For God will have made obvious to them something they have never reckoned with.” (Verse 47) “Turn towards your Lord and submit to Him before the suffering comes upon you, for then you cannot be helped. Follow the best that has been revealed to you by your Lord before the suffering comes upon you of a sudden, without your being aware of it, lest anyone should say: ‘Woe is me for having neglected what is due to God, and for having been one of those who scoffed [at the truth]’; or lest he should say: If God had but guided me, I would surely have been among the God-fearing; or lest he should say, when faced by the suffering [that awaits him]: If only I could have a second chance in life, I will be among those who do good.’” (Verses 54-58) Moreover, a large part of the sūrah draws complete scenes of the hereafter, thereby adding to its overall ambience.

在麦加篇章中，描绘宇宙景象的段落多而频繁，而在这里却为数不多。开篇有一处："他依真理创造了天地，使黑夜融入白昼，使白昼融入黑夜；他使太阳和月亮服从他的法度，各自运行至规定的期限。他确是全能的，至恕的。"（第5节）经文中段还有另一处此类景象："你没有看见吗？真主从天上降下雨水，然后使水在大地中流动而形成泉源。他借此水生出各色的植物，然后它枯萎了，你看见它变黄了。"

Scenes of the universe which are varied and frequent in Makkan sūrahs are few here. We have one at the opening: “He has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the truth. He causes the night to flow into the day, and the day to flow into the night; and He has made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws]: each running its course for a set term. He is indeed the Almighty, the All-Forgiving.” (Verse 5) One more such scene is given in the middle of the sūrah: “Have you not considered how God sends down water from the skies, and then causes it to travel through the earth to form springs? He then brings with it vegetation of different colours; and then it withers and you can see it turning yellow.

最终，他使它化为尘土。这其中确有教诲，给有见识的人。」（第21节）除此之外，经文中还有许多简要提及天地创造的地方。

In the end He causes it to crumble to dust. In all this there is indeed a reminder for those endowed with insight.” (Verse 21) Apart from these expressions we have a number of other quick references to the creation of the heavens and the earth.

该章还涉及实际生活和人性。因此，章节前部提到了人类的起源："他从一个人创造了你们，又从他创造了他的配偶，并为你们赐下八对牲畜；他在你们母亲的子宫里一步步造化你们，置于三重黑暗之中。这就是真主——你们的主，统治权属于他。除他之外，别无应拜之主。你们怎么会背离真理呢？"（第6节）关于人在逆境和安逸时的反应本性，有以下两个例子："人遭遇苦难时，就向他的主祈祷求助；但他一旦蒙受恩典，便忘记了先前所祈求的。"（第8节）"人遭遇苦难时，就向我祈求；但我一旦以恩惠赐予他，他便说：'这些都是因我的学识而得的。'不然！这只是一种考验。"（第49节）章节还强调，人的灵魂始终在真主的掌握之中："真主在人死亡时摄取灵魂，在人睡眠时摄取其灵魂。他留下那些已被判定死亡的灵魂，并将其余的送回，直到既定的期限。这其中对于深思的人有许多迹象。"（第42节）

The sūrah also includes references to practical life and human nature. Thus, early in the sūrah there is a reference to the origins of humanity: “He has created you all from a single soul, and from it He fashioned its mate; and He has bestowed on you four kinds of cattle in pairs; and He creates you in your mothers’ wombs, one act of creation after another, in threefold depths of darkness. Such is God, your Lord: to Him belongs all dominion. There is no deity other than Him. How, then, can you lose sight of the truth?” (Verse 6) On the nature of human reactions in situations of both adversity and pleasant ease there are the following two examples: “When man suffers affliction, he cries out to his Lord, turning to Him for help; but once He bestows upon him a favour by His grace, he forgets what he cried and prayed for earlier.” (Verse 8) “When man suffers affliction, he cries out to Us; but once We bestow upon him a favour by Our grace, he says: I have been given all this by virtue of my knowledge.’ By no means! It is but a test.” (Verse 49) The fact that people’s souls are always in God’s grasp is also highlighted: “God takes away people’s souls upon their death, and the souls of the living during their sleep. He keeps with. Him the souls of those whose death He has ordained and sends back the others until their appointed time. In all this there are signs for people who reflect.” (Verse 42)

然而，该章的整体氛围源自其对审判日和后世的论述。这种氛围贯穿全章，直至结尾，以一幅虔诚崇拜的场景作结，使我们清晰地感受到那一日的景象：

However, the ambience of the sūrah is derived from its discourse on the Day of Judgement and the life to come. This permeates the sūrah until its conclusion with a scene of devoted worship giving us a clear impression of the atmosphere on that day:

你将看到天使环绕着宝座，赞颂他们的主，称扬他的荣耀与赞美。

“You will see the angels surrounding the Throne, extolling their Lord’s glory and praise.

届时，众人将被公正地审判，并且有声音说：“赞颂全归真主，众世界的主。”（第75节）

Judgement will have been passed on all in justice, and it will be said: All praise is due to God, the Lord of all the worlds.” (Verse 75)

这一印象与该章的氛围以及它对心灵所产生的影响完全契合。它强调敬畏之情、对真主的畏惧，以及对自身在后世命运的忧虑。因此，它向我们呈现的画面，是一颗战栗、焦虑而惶恐不安的心。以第9节的画面为例。

This impression fits perfectly with the ambience of the sūrah and the effect it has on our hearts. It emphasizes feelings of awe, fear of God and apprehension over one’s fate in the hereafter. Hence, the images it presents to us are those of a trembling, anxious and apprehensive heart. Take for example the image in verse 9

描绘一位虔诚的信徒夜间长时间礼拜的画面，他心中专注于后世的命运，盼望获得真主的慈悯。又如第23节所描绘的景象：善良的信士聆听《古兰经》，身体战栗，然而不久，当提到真主时，他们的心和皮肤便都变得柔软。整部章节充满了训诫，引导人们注意敬畏真主的必要，并充分意识到复活日可能会发生的事情：“信道的众仆啊！你们应当敬畏你们的主！”（第10节）“你说：‘如果我违抗我的主，我实在畏惧一个可怕之日的刑罚。’”（第13节）“他们的上面有层层的火，他们的下面也有层层的火。真主以此使他的仆人们心生畏惧：”

painting a devout worshipper spending hours at night in prayer with his mind fixed on his destiny in the life to come, hoping for God’s mercy. Or take the image in verse 23 depicting good believers listening to the Qur’ān, yet they are shivering, though it is not long before their hearts and skins soften at the mention of God. The sūrah is full of directives drawing people’s attentions to the need to fear God and to be fully aware of what may happen to them on the Day of Resurrection: “You servants of Mine who believe! Fear your Lord!” (Verse 10) “Say: Indeed I would dread, were I to disobey my Lord, the suffering of an awesome day.” (Verse 13) “Above them there shall he layers of fire, and layers of fire shall he beneath them. In this way God puts fear into His servants’ hearts:

“我的仆人们啊！敬畏我吧！”（第16节）此外，还有一些关于审判日的情景，能唤起我们的敬畏与忧惧之心。

My servants! Fear Me!’“ (Verse 16) Additionally there are scenes of the Day of Judgement which emphasize our feelings of awe and apprehension.

该章以简短的段落依次阐述其主旨,每一段都以对复活日的描绘作结。由于很难将其划分为若干主要段落,我们将按照章节中的呈现方式,分别讨论这些内容。事实上,每隔几节经文都可以视为一个独立的单元,因为它们都在阐述同一个根本真理:真主的独一性。

The sūrah deals with its main theme in quick, short rounds, each one of which concludes with an image of the Day of Resurrection. We will discuss these separately, as they are presented in the sūrah, because it is difficult to break this down into main passages. Indeed every few verses can he treated as a distinct entity for all address one major truism, God’s oneness.