凡是真主为人开启的恩惠，无人能够阻止；凡是祂所扣留的，除祂以外无人能够释放。祂是万能的，是至睿的。（第2节）
Whatever grace God opens up to man, none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds, none other than Him can release. He alone is Almighty, Wise. (Verse 2)
这节经文所提及的，是真主大能的一个方面，这一方面正是第一节经文末尾所提到的。当这一方面深深植根于人的内心与思想之中时，他的观念、情感、价值标准以及整个生活都会发生彻底的转变。它使人不再认为天地之间还有任何其他力量能够掌控诸天与大地，并使他与真主自身的大能建立联系。它让他放弃从任何他者那里寻求恩惠的念头，而将一切都归于真主的恩典。它为他关闭了宇宙中的每一扇门与每一条道路，却为他开启了通向真主的那扇门与那条道路。
What we have in this second verse of the sūrah is an aspect of God’s power mentioned at the end of the first verse. When this aspect is instilled in a person’s heart and mind, he undergoes a complete transformation in his concepts, feelings, values, standards and life generally. It invalidates any thought of any other power having any control over the heavens and earth, and puts him in touch with God’s own power. It makes him abandon any thought of receiving grace from anyone else and links all to God’s grace. It closes before him every door and way in the universe yet opens for him the door and the way leading to God.
真主的恩典可以体现在无数方面，人根本无法将其一一记录。它们存在于人自身之中，存在于他被造的方式里；存在于他所获得的尊贵地位上；存在于环绕他、从他四面八方、从他上方与下方降临的种种恩惠里。它也体现在施予他的各种恩赐之中。
God’s grace can be reflected in countless aspects. Indeed man cannot even begin to record these. They are within him and the way he is created; the position of honour he is given; the blessings that are all around him from every side and from above and beneath him. It is also to be found in the favours showered on him.
真主的恩典，既体现在人所获得的之中，也同样体现在人所被剥夺的之中。当真主向某人敞开恩典之门时，那人便能在每一种境遇、每一件事物、每一种状况、每一个地方中寻见它。他甚至能在自身之中、在自己的感受里、在周围的一切之中找到它，无论他身处何地、处于何种状况，即便他被剥夺了世人视为重要的一切。反之，若真主对某人收回恩典，那人便会在每一件事物、每一种境遇、每一个地方、每一种状况中都与之失之交臂，即便他拥有世人所认为与财富和幸福相关的一切。
God’s grace is reflected in what man has been denied just as much as it is reflected in what he has been granted. When God opens it up to anyone, that person finds it in every situation, thing, condition and place. He even finds it within himself, his feelings, all around him, wherever and however he happens to be, even though he may be deprived of everything people consider to be important. Conversely, should God withhold His grace from anyone, that person will miss it in every thing, situation, place and condition, even though he may have at his disposal everything people associate with wealth and happiness.
任何恩惠，若与神的恩典被收回相伴，便会变成苦难；而任何苦难或考验，若与祂的恩典相伴，便会变成恩惠。一个人可以躺在荆棘的床上，但因有神的恩典，他会觉得十分舒适；而如果这份恩典被剥夺，丝绸床垫和靠垫也会像硬钉一样扎人。有了神圣的恩典，最困难的问题会变得容易，危险会变成安全；而没有它，原本容易的事情会变得无法解决，安全的道路和途径反而导向毁灭。
Whatever favour a person is granted becomes a hardship if it is associated with the withholding of God’s grace; and whatever hardship or trial he undergoes becomes a favour once it is coupled with His grace. A man may lie on a bed of thorns, but, with God’s grace, he finds it very comfortable; while silk mattresses and cushions feel like hard nails if that grace is denied him. With divine grace the most difficult problem becomes easy and danger becomes safety, but without it, what is normally easy becomes insoluble and safe roads and ways lead to ruin.
若蒙真主的恩典，即便你身处单独囚禁之中、遭受酷刑或面临危险，你也不会感到悲惨；而若恩典被收回，即便你身处最奢华、最富丽的环境，痛苦也必将降临在你身上。幸福、满足与安宁，都是由真主的恩典从内心深处涌现出来的；而当恩典被拒绝时，你的内心便会感到痛苦、忧虑与困扰。
Should you be granted God’s grace, you will not feel miserable even though you may be in solitary confinement, enduring torture or facing danger; while misery will be your lot if it is withheld, even though you are in the most luxurious and splendid of surroundings. It is from deep inside that happiness, contentment and reassurance flow by God’s grace, and deep inside you feel misery, worry and affliction when it is denied.
如果真主的恩典之门敞开着，那么即便所有的门窗都关闭了，你也不会在意：你会找到安宁、慰藉与幸福；而如果那扇门关闭了，即便其他所有的门窗都敞开着，你也毫无所得。
If the door of God’s grace is open, you will not care if all doors and windows are locked: you will find ease, comfort and happiness; and if it is closed, you will benefit nothing if all other doors and windows are left wide open.
真主可能赐予任何人丰厚的财富,这人会觉得这财富是一种享受、一种安慰,也是在来世获得良好地位的途径,前提是这财富伴随着真主的恩典。若这恩典被收回,他的财富就会成为忧虑、嫉妒和仇恨的来源。若这富人吝啬或身患疾病,财富还可能意味着匮乏;若他挥霍无度、粗心大意,财富甚至可能导致毁灭。
God may give anyone plentiful wealth, and that person will find it a source of enjoyment, comfort and a means to a good position in the life to come, provided that it is coupled with God’s grace. If that grace is withheld, his wealth becomes a source of worry, envy and hatred. It may also mean deprivation, if the wealthy person is stingy or ill; and it may bring ruin if he is wasteful and careless.
同样的道理也适用于子女、健康和崇高的地位。蒙受真主的恩典时，这些都可以成为善行、享受、喜悦、幸福与欢乐的来源，也能成为增加来世回报的途径。若失去真主的恩典，这些同样会带来痛苦、忧虑、彻夜难眠，或使其拥有者遭受他人的嫉妒、憎恨与敌意。同样，知识、长寿和安逸既可能与幸福相伴，也可能与苦难相连。所学甚少，却可能带来有益的效果；生命短暂，却可能享有大量的福分；所得安逸不多，却可能意味着幸福与欢愉。在所有这些方面，无论处于何种状况、何种境遇、何种情形，社群都与个人相似。
The same can be said about children, health and high position. With God’s grace, any of these can be a source of goodness, enjoyment, delight, happiness and joy, as also a means to increase one’s reward in the life to come. Should God’s grace be denied, any of these will bring misery, distress, sleepless nights, or expose their owner to other people’s envy, hatred and hostility. Likewise, knowledge, long life and comforts can be associated with either situation of happiness or misery. Yet little knowledge could bring about beneficial effects; a short period of life could enjoy much blessing; and little comfort may mean happiness and delight. In all these respects, communities are like individuals, in all conditions, situations and circumstances.
真主恩慈的一个方面，在于人能够感受到它。真主的恩慈普及我们每一个人，但使你感到它降临在你身上，使你怀有期待、希望与信靠，相信它正在到来，这本身就是慈悯与恩典。相反，怀疑它、对它绝望，才是纯粹的困苦；然而信士不会遭受这种困苦："唯有不信道的人，才对真主的慈恩绝望。"（12：87）
One aspect of God’s grace is to feel it. God’s grace abounds for every one of us, but it is your feeling that it is bestowed on you, your expectation, hope and trust that it is coming that is mercy and grace. By contrast, to doubt or despair of it is pure misery, but this is something that a believer will not suffer: “None but unbelievers can ever despair of God’s mercy.” (12: 87)
真主的恩典不会拒绝任何在任何地方、任何处境下寻求它的人。易卜拉欣被投入火中时找到了它；优素福被兄弟们扔进的井里，后来又在监狱中找到了它；尤努斯在鲸鱼的腹中，在三层黑暗之下找到了它；穆萨还是无助的婴儿时在河中找到了它，当法老想要杀他时，他又在法老的王宫里找到了它。第18章中所述那些退居山洞的青年，在洞中找到了它，而在家中和宫殿里却找不到。他们彼此说道："你们既然已经离开他们和他们舍真主而崇拜的一切，那就到洞中去避难吧。真主或许会将他的恩典普降于你们，并为你们的事务作出妥善的安排。"（18：16）先知穆罕默德ﷺ和他的同伴艾布·伯克尔在萨尔山的洞穴中找到了它，他们在那里躲避追捕者。的确，任何人只求这恩典而舍弃其他一切，并且懂得只有真主赐予力量、权能与慈悲，他都不会一无所获。
God’s grace will not be denied anyone who seeks it at any place and in any condition. Abraham found it when he was thrown in the fire; Joseph found it in the well where his brothers threw him and later in prison; Jonah found it in the whale’s belly, under three covers of darkness; Moses found it in the river when he was a helpless infant, as also in Pharaoh’s palace when Pharaoh sought to kill him. The young men who retreated to a cave, as told in Sūrah 18, found it there in the cave when it was not to be found in homes and palaces. They said to one another: “Now that you have withdrawn from them and all that they worship instead of God, take refuge in the cave. God may well spread His grace over you and make fitting arrangements for you in your affairs.” (18: 16) The Prophet Muĥammad and his Companion, Abū Bakr found it in the cave of Mount Thawr, where they hid from their pursuers. Indeed no one who sought it to the exclusion of everything else, aware that only God grants strength, power and mercy, has been left lacking.
同样重要的是要认识到，当真主为某人敞开恩典之门时，没有任何力量能够阻挡；而当祂将其关闭时，也没有任何力量能够开启。
It is also important to realize that when God opens the gates of His grace to anyone, nothing can withhold it; and when He withholds it, nothing can release it.
因此，不应畏惧任何人或任何事物，也不应将希望寄托于任何人或任何事物。我们不应因可能失去某物而恐惧，也不应依赖任何手段。一切都取决于真主，取决于祂的旨意。祂所命定的，必会成就。祂是全能的，是明哲的。祂所命定的任何事，都有明确的目的。
Therefore, no one and nothing should be feared, while hope should never be pinned on anyone or anything. We should never fear to miss out on something, and never trust to any means. It all depends on God and what He wills. Whatever He determines will be done. It is He who is Almighty, Wise’. Nothing He determines is without clear purpose.
“无论真主向世人开启何种恩典，无人能够阻止。”（第2节）世人若要确信真主的慈悯，只需直接向祂祈求，无需中介：“祂所扣留的，除祂以外无人能够释放。”（第2节）
“Whatever grace God opens up to man, none can withhold it.” (Verse 2) All that people need to be assured of God’s mercy is to request it from Him directly, without intermediaries: “And whatever He withholds, none other than Him can release.” (Verse 2)
这一节经文描绘了一幅截然不同的人生图景。它确立了一套新的价值观和标准，不受任何轻重压力或考虑的影响。当这种观念在人的心中牢牢扎根时，此人便能在一切事件、人物、境遇、权势与种种考虑面前坚定屹立。即便全世界的人与众精灵都联合起来与他对立，他也能够抵挡他们所有人，因为他知道，他们无法掌控真主的恩典。
This single verse paints a totally different picture of life. It gives a new set of values and standards that are unaffected by any consideration or pressure, be it light or heavy. When this vision is firmly settled in a person’s heart, that person can stand firmly in the face of all events, people, situations, powers and considerations. Even if all people on earth as well as the jinn were to range themselves against him, he would be able to resist them all knowing that they cannot control God’s grace.
正是凭借这样的经文与意象,《古兰经》在伊斯兰教初期造就了那个独特的信士群体。这是一个在上主亲自关怀之下、借着《古兰经》塑造而成的群体,使其成为实现上主旨意的工具,并在世间建立上主所愿建立的信仰、价值与制度。在那第一代群体中,我们看到了一种独特的人类生活范例,在今天看来,它仿佛属于传说与梦境的范畴。那个群体对待《古兰经》,不是把它当作文字、句子和一段段意义精深的经文,而是把这些经文所代表的真理当作生活的准则,并在现实生活中加以实践。时至今日,《古兰经》依然能够借助其经文,培养出个人与群体,使他们凭借上主的许可,达成上主所欲使他们达成的一切。
It was with verses and images like this that the Qur’ān produced that unique community of believers in the early days of Islam. It was a community moulded under God’s own care, and through the Qur’ān, so as to function as a means of God’s will and establish on earth the faith, values and systems He wanted to establish. In that first community we have a unique example of human life that seems to us today to belong to the realm of legends and dreams. That community did not deal with the Qur’ān as words, sentences and verses with superb meanings, but dealt with the truth those verses represented. Furthermore, they practised it in real life. Yet, still today, the Qur’ān is able to produce, by means of its verses, individuals and communities that can achieve, by God’s leave, whatever God wills them to achieve.
我们所有人都可以认真地诵读《古兰经》，全面地遵行它，并让它的含义成为我们生活中真实可感的现实。
All of us can read the Qur’ān seriously, implement it fully and live its meanings as though they are a tangible reality.