这一章麦加时期的古兰经章节，在主题与文体上都别具特色。它在通篇运用一种引人入胜、富于变化的节奏来触动人心，最贴近的比较对象或许是第13章《雷霆》。它引导人们沉思浩瀚的宇宙，以及遍布于每一个角落的种种迹象。由此，人会想起真主的恩典，体会祂赐予万物的慈惠与恩惠。人也会设想先前各民族所遭受的结局，以及审判日的情景。于是，当他注视真主创造中那无数的奇迹时，心中便生起谦卑之情。

This Makkan sūrah possesses a special character both in its subject and style. It perhaps best compares with Sūrah 13, Thunder, in the way in which it addresses the human heart, using, from start to finish, a fascinating rhythm employing various beats. It moves us into contemplation of the great universe and the numerous signs to be found in every nook and cranny. Man thus remembers God’s blessings and appreciates the grace and favour He bestows on all His creatures. He also visualizes the end suffered by earlier communities and their fate on the Day of Judgement. He thus feels humility as he looks at the countless marvels that constitute God’s work.

他也认识到，贯穿整个存在的只有一个真理和一个规律，而这一切都在真主的掌控之下。这章经文以一种风格和韵律传达了所有这些内容，使我们的心灵受到深刻而有力的震撼。

He also recognizes that there is only one truth and one law running through all existence, and that this is controlled by God’s hand. The sūrah imparts all this in a style and rhythm that leaves a profound and powerful effect on our minds.

这一章经文是一个完整的整体，各部分环环相扣，很难将其划分为讨论不同主题的若干部分。事实上，它只有一个主题，但它在人心的弦上奏响它的节律，以充实我们的灵魂，呼唤我们信仰，并让自己顺服于真主。

The sūrah is a complete unit with interlinked rings, making it hard to divide into parts addressing separate subjects. In fact it has only one subject, but it plays its rhythm on the strings of the human heart so as to fill our souls, calling us to believe and submit ourselves to God.

该章最显著的特点是，它把所有这些线都置于真主的掌控之中，展示它们如何运作：被拉动或伸展，被分开或合并，不受任何限制，也不受任何影响。我们在开篇即指出这一显著特点，它贯穿整章直至结尾。

The most distinctive feature of the sūrah is that its puts all these strings in God’s hand, showing how they work, being pulled or stretched, separated or combined, without restriction or influence. We note this distinctive feature at the outset, and it runs through the sūrah to its very end.

宇宙浩瀚无垠，是真主依照祂的安排所创造的：“一切赞颂，都归于真主，天地的创造者，祂使天使成为使者，他们有两翼、三翼或四翼。”

The great universe, with its limitless expanse, has been brought into existence by God, according to His design: “All praise is due to God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, who assigns angels to be messengers, endowed with wings, two, or three, or four.

「祂将祂所意欲的加入祂的创造之中。」真主确实对万物有全能。」（第1节） Wait: the rule says the original says "God", so write the Chinese word for God, never "Allah". Corrected: 「祂将祂所意欲的加入祂的创造之中。」真主确实对万物有全能。」（第1节）

He adds to His creation what He pleases. Indeed God has power over all things.” (Verse 1)

这只有力的手，是神的手。它张开时，将不受限制的怜悯倾注给我们；它收拢时，便从源头上阻止这怜悯。无人能够改变这一点："神向人开启的任何恩典，无人能够留住；神所留住的，除祂以外无人能够释放。祂是全能的，是至睿的。"（第2节）

This strong hand of God opens up to send us flowing mercy without restriction, and then clinches to stop it at source. No one can alter this: “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)

追随正道与陷入迷误，是怜悯的两个相反端点：前者顺畅流淌，后者则被扣留。"真主使他所意欲的人迷误，也引导他所意欲的人遵循正道。" （第8节）"真主能使他所意欲的人听见，而你不能使坟墓中的人听见你。你只是一个警告者。" （第22-23节）

To follow guidance and to be in error are two opposite ends of the mercy spectrum: the first is flowing, the other withheld: “God lets go astray him that wills Ito go astray!, just as He guides him that wills Ito be guided].” (Verse 8) “God can make hear whoever He wills, whereas you cannot make those who are in their graves hear you. You are only a warner.” (Verses 22-23)

正是这只极其有能力的手，先赋予生命，又在后世使死者复活。真主说：“真主派遣风，风便吹起云，我把云驱向一个死寂的地方，借此使大地在死后复活。”

It is this very able hand that makes life in the first place, and then brings the dead back to life in the hereafter: “It is God who sends forth the winds, so that they raise clouds, and We drive them to a dead land and thereby give life to the earth after it had been lifeless.

这样，复活也将如此。”（第9节）

Thus shall resurrection be.” (Verse 9)

权能与荣耀唯独属于祂。凡欲求其中任何一样的人，都应唯独从祂那里获取：“谁想要权能与荣耀，那就应当知道，一切权能与荣耀都唯独属于真主。”（第10节）

Power and glory belong to Him alone. Whoever wants any of this must derive it from Him alone: “Whoever desires might and glory should know that all might and glory belong to God alone.” (Verse 10)

创造万物、赋予受造物以形体与样式、使其繁衍后代、决定其寿命长短，这一切都在真主的掌握之中，从未有所松懈："真主用泥土创造了你们，然后用精液造你们，然后使你们成为雌雄两性。任何雌性怀孕或生产，都不出于祂的知识；任何人得以长寿或短寿，也都记录在天命之中。这一切对真主而言都是轻而易举的。"（第11节）

Creation and giving shape and form to creatures, giving them offspring and determining their life duration are all within God’s grasp, never let loose: “It is God who creates you all out of dust, then out of a gamete. He then makes you into two sexes. No female conceives or gives birth without His knowledge. No one attains to old age or has his life cut short unless it be thus laid down in [Gods] decree. All this is easy for God.” (Verse 11)

同样，天地和其他天体的一切主宰权也都在他的掌握之中："他使黑夜转入白昼，又使白昼转入黑夜；他使太阳和月亮为他所驱使，各自运行到一个既定的期限。这就是真主——你们的主。国权是他的。你们舍他而祈祷的那些，连一枚枣核的薄膜都不拥有。"（第13节）

Also in His grasp are all the controls to the heavens, the earth, and other celestial bodies: “He causes the night to pass into the day, and the day to pass into the night; and He has made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws], each running its course for an appointed term. Thus is God, your Lord: to Him belongs all dominion, while those whom you invoke instead of Him do not own even the skin of a date-stone.” (Verse 13)

真主那大能之手，以其自身令人赞叹的方式在这个宇宙中运行，为人类、动物、植物乃至无生命之物增添色彩："你难道没有看见吗？真主从天上降下雨水，我借它生出各种颜色的果实。"

God’s able hand works in this universe according to its own inspiring fashion, adding colour to man, animals, plants and inanimate objects: “Are you not aware that God sends down water from the skies, with which We bring forth fruits of different colours?

山中有各种深浅不一的白色和红色条纹，也有漆黑的条纹。同样，人类、野兽和牲畜也有各种颜色。”（第27-28节）

In the mountains there are streaks of white and red of various shades, as well as others jet- black. Similarly, human beings, beasts and cattle have various colours.” (Verses 27-28)

同一只手推动人类前行，使一代接替一代："我已将此经典传给了我所拣选的仆人。"（第32节）"正是他使你们继承大地。"（第39节）它托起这个宇宙，护持它，免于偏离："真主独自托住诸天与大地，免得它们偏离。如果它们偏离，除他之外，没有谁能够维系它们。"（第41节）他掌控一切，没有任何事物能违抗他的旨意："天地之间的任何事物，都不能使真主无能为力。"（第44节）

The same hand puts human beings on the move, making one generation succeed another: “We have given this Book to such of Our servants as We chose.” (Verse 32) “It is He who made you inherit the earth.” (Verse 39) It holds this universe, protecting it lest it deviate: “It is God alone who holds the celestial bodies and the earth, lest they deviate [from their courses]. If they should ever deviate, no one else could uphold them after Him.” (Verse 41) He holds everything in control, nothing stands in defiance of His will: “God can never be foiled by anything whatever in the heavens and the earth.” (Verse 44)

在整个章节中,反复强调真主的各种属性:祂是全能者;是至尊者;是至睿者;是万物的归宿;是知晓他们一切所为的;是拥有一切主权的;是无所需、当受一切赞颂的;是一切旅程的终点;是至饶恕者;是至感谢者;是全知者;是全见者;是知晓天地间一切隐秘的;是完全知晓人心所藏的;是至宽容者;是大能无穷的,并且祂洞察着所有的仆人。

Throughout the sūrah God’s different attributes are emphasized. He is the One who has power over all things; the Almighty; the Wise; to whom all things return; who knows all that they do; to whom all dominion belongs; who is free of all wants, worthy of all praise; with whom all journeys end; much-forgiving; most appreciative; all-aware; all-seeing; who knows all that is hidden in the heavens and earth; fully aware of what is in people’s hearts; ever-forbearing; infinite in His power and who has all His servants in His sight.

这些经文以及每段末尾的评注，营造出了这一章独特的氛围，也构成了它对我们心灵的整体影响。尽管它是一个完整的整体，节奏连贯不断，我们仍选择将其分为六个部分，以便于更容易地讨论。

These verses and the comments at the end of each create the special ambience of the sūrah and the overall effect it has on our hearts. Despite its being a single whole, with continuous beats, we have chosen to divide it into six sections to enable easier discussion.