本章是麦加启示的经文。其主题，即信仰、启示与天启的使命、真主的独一、复活、清算与报酬，贯穿于麦加章中。正如古兰经中的每一章都有其独特的风格，本章也以独特的方式呈现其内容，通过重点与层次的烘托，突出其所阐明的原则与问题。这些原则与问题未必与其他章所阐述的不同，但在这里是从另一个角度加以论述，以产生特别的感染力和强调效果。

This sūrah is a Makkan revelation. Its subject matter, namely faith, revelation and the divine message, God’s Oneness, resurrection, reckoning and reward permeate Makkan sūrahs. Just as every sūrah in the Qur’ān has its distinctive character, this sūrah adopts a unique approach in presenting its material, with highlights and shading that accentuate the principles and issues it tackles. These may not be different from the principles and issues other sūrahs illustrate, but they are tackled here from a different angle so as to generate special effect and emphasis.

此外，某些方面被增加，另一些被删去，使读者和听众产生一种印象：他们所面对的是全新的问题和原则。

Furthermore, certain aspects are added and others omitted, giving the reader and the listener the overall impression that they deal with new issues and principles.

本章的总体氛围源于其名称,即易卜拉欣,他是此后所有先知之父。他是一位蒙福之人,极其感恩真主,极其宽厚,心肠柔软,且虔诚敬拜。这些品质的内涵贯穿于本章的主要议题、整体论述方式、表达风格乃至其韵律之中。

The general ambience of the sūrah derives from its title, namely Abraham, the father of all prophets who came after him. He was a blessed man, most grateful to God, most clement, tender-hearted, and devout. All the connotations of these attributes are felt throughout this sūrah, in its main issues, general approach, mode of expression as also in its rhythm.

本章涉及许多与信仰有关的问题,但其中有两个主题贯穿全章。这两个问题与易卜拉欣本人关系最为密切。第一个是天启讯息的统一性以及真主的使者们的统一性:尽管他们生活在不同的时代、不同的地方,却作为同一个共同体,共同站在反对蒙昧无知(jāhiliyyah)状态的立场上。第二个是真主赐予人类的恩惠,真主对感恩者的增加,以及大多数人仍然忘恩负义的事实。本章显然还包含其他议题,但正是这两个主题赋予了本章独特的氛围。

The sūrah addresses a number of issues relating to faith, but two of these permeate the whole sūrah. These are the two issues most relevant to Abraham himself. The first is the unity of the divine message and God’s messengers, and their united stand, despite their different times and places, as one community against the state of ignorance, or jāhiliyyah. The other is God’s favours bestowed on mankind, the increase He grants to those who are grateful and the fact that most people remain ungrateful. The sūrah definitely includes other issues, but these two give the sūrah its special ambience.

该章以概述真主的使者的使命和启示给他的经典开篇："这是我降示你的经典，借你的主的许可，使人类从重重黑暗走向光明，引导他们走上全能、可颂者之主的正道。"（第1节）结尾则重申同一主旨，强调真主独一，这是天启信息的核心："这是对全人类的通告，让他们因此而得到警诫，并让他们知道，真主只有一位。有理智的人当引以为戒。"（第52节）

The sūrah begins with an outline of the mission of God’s Messenger and the book revealed to him: “This is a book which We have bestowed on you from on high so that you might bring forth all mankind, by their Lord’s leave, from darkness into the light, to the path of the Almighty, the One to whom all praise is due.” (Verse 1) It concludes with the same point, highlighting the truth of God’s oneness which is at the heart of the divine message: “This is a message to all mankind. Let them be warned thereby, and let them know that He is the One and only God. Let those who are endowed with insight take heed.” (Verse 52)

其间,该章还提到穆萨(摩西)所承担的使命与穆罕默德ﷺ的使命几乎相同,措辞也大体一致:“我确已派遣穆萨携带我的迹象,(对他说):你要把你的民众从黑暗引领到光明中。”(第5节)该章还阐明,派遣真主使者的总体目的在于把道理讲明:“我从未派遣使者,除非是用他本族的语言,以便他向他们阐明(真理)。”(第4节)此外,该章还说明,既然真主的使者是人类,这就必然为他的使命划定了范围:他的职责是传达、解释、警告和给予良好的劝诫。然而,他不能行使奇迹,除非经真主的许可,并在真主所定的时间行之。这些事他自己和他的民众都无权决定。他也不能强迫他的社群遵循正道或陷入迷途,因为这些事遵循真主依其自由意志所设立的一套既定法则。

In between, the sūrah mentions that Moses was sent to do the same task as Muĥammad, using practically the same wording: “We have sent forth Moses with Our revelations, saying, lead your people out of darkness into the light.’“ (Verse 5) It also explains that the general purpose behind sending God’s messengers was to make things clear: “Never have We sent a messenger otherwise than speaking the language of his own people, so that he might make [the truth] clear to them.” (Verse 4) In addition, it explains that because God’s Messenger is human, this inevitably provides the parameters for his mission: he is to inform, explain and give warning and good counsel. He cannot, however, perform a miracle except by God’s permission, and at a time God determines. Neither he nor his people have any say in this. Nor can he oblige his community to follow guidance or sink into error, for these things follow a certain rule God has set in operation according to His own free choice.

所有过去的无知民族都曾反对神的使者都是人类这一点。这章经文概括了所有这些反对意见，以及神的使者给出的回答，仿佛这些反对和回答都是在同一时间提出的：

That God’s messengers were all human was a matter objected to by all past ignorant communities. The sūrah sums up all these objections and the reply given by God’s messengers, as if the objections and the reply were made all at the same time:

“他们回答说：‘你们不过是和我们一样的凡人。你们想使我们离开我们祖先所崇拜的，那么，你们拿一种明证来给我们看吧！’他们的使者回答说：‘我们确实只是和你们一样的凡人，但真主将恩典赐予他在仆人中所意欲的人。非经真主允许，我们无权给你们拿来任何明证。信士们都应当托靠真主。’”（第10-11节）

“They replied: ‘You are but mortals like ourselves. You want to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship. Bring us, then, a clear proof’ Their messengers replied: ‘We are indeed but mortals like yourselves. But God bestows His grace on whomever He wills of His servants. It is not within our power to bring you any proof except by God’s leave. It is in God that all believers must place their trust.’“ (Verses 10-11)

该章还阐明，将人类从黑暗引向光明，只能“凭他们主的许可”才能实现。每一位使者都会为他的民众阐明事理，然后：“真主使他所意欲者迷误，也引导他所意欲者。他是万能的，是至睿的。”（第4节）

The sūrah also explains that taking mankind from darkness into light can only be accomplished ‘by their Lord’s leave’. Every messenger makes the issues clear to his people, then: “God lets go astray whomever He wills, and guides whomever He wills. He is Almighty, truly Wise.” (Verse 4)

这些是界定上帝所遣使者之本质及其所担负使命的主要要点。上帝使者的本质与其品质，绝不可与上帝的本质和属性相混淆。如此，上帝的独一性便得以在其完整光辉中显现，不带丝毫与任何人或任何事物相似的痕迹。

These are the main lines defining the nature of a messenger sent by God, and the mission assigned to him. Nothing of the nature of God’s messengers or their qualities can be confused with God’s nature and attributes. Thus God’s oneness is shown in its full light, with no hint of similarity to anyone or anything.

本章还讲到真主对祂的使者以及真正信仰他们的人所作承诺的兑现。这一承诺在今世得以实现，他们获得胜利与权势；在后世，信士将得到丰厚的赏赐，不信者则将遭受严厉的惩罚。这一点体现在本章结尾处，描绘了真主的使者们与他们各自民众之间的较量，双方在今世也同样彼此对立：“不信道者对他们的使者说：‘我们一定要把你们逐出我们的土地，除非你们回归我们的道路。’他们的主便启示他们的使者：‘我们必将毁灭不义者，并必使你们在他们灭亡之后居住于那片土地。这是为那些敬畏我的立场、畏惧我的警告的人所设的。’”他们祈求真主相助，使真理获得胜利。

The sūrah also speaks about the fulfilment of God’s promise to His messengers and to those who truly believe in them. This promise is fulfilled in this present life when they are given victory and power, and in the life to come with generous reward given to the believers and severe punishment to the unbelievers. This is shown at the end of the scene showing the battle between God’s messengers standing together and their different communities also standing together in this world: “The unbelievers said to their messengers: ‘We shall most certainly expel you from our land, unless you return to our ways.’ Their Lord revealed this to His messengers: Most certainly shall We destroy the wrongdoers, and most certainly shall We cause you to dwell in the land long after they are gone. This [I promise] to all who stand in awe of My presence, and stand in awe of My warnings.’ And they prayed for God’s help and victory [for the truth].

“每一个强横、顽固的真理之敌，终将遭受毁灭。”（第13-15节）这一点也通过对末日的描绘得以展现：“信道并行善的人，将被引入下临诸河的乐园，他们将永居其中，因他们主的许可。他们的问候是：和平！”（第23节）“在那日，你将看见罪人们被铁链成对地锁在一起，身穿沥青制成的衣服，脸被火焰覆盖。”（第49-50节）

And every powerful, obstinate enemy of the truth shall come to grief” (Verses 13-15) It is also shown in the images drawn from the Day of Judgement: “Those who believe and do righteous deeds will be admitted to gardens through which running waters flow, wherein they will abide, by their Lord’s leave. Their greeting shall be: Peace:” (Verse 23) “On that day you will see the guilty chained together in fetters, wearing garments of black pitch, and their faces covered with flames.” (Verses 49-50)

同样的事实也体现在为两类人所作的譬喻之中:"你难道没有看见真主怎样以好言比作好树吗?它的根深扎于地,枝条伸向天空。它凭主的许可,时时结出果实。真主这样为世人设譬,以便他们省悟。而恶言好比一棵坏树,被连根拔起,抛在地面上,无法立足。真主以坚定不移的真言使信道者在今世和后世都站稳脚跟;而不义者,真主使他们迷误。真主所欲行的,必定行之。"(第24至27节)"那些不信其主的人,他们的善功好比灰烬,在暴风的日子,被狂风猛吹。他们所获得的一切,都无法从中得到任何益处。这种迷误,确实极其遥远。"(第18节)

The same fact is also emphasized in the analogies given for both groups: “Do you not see how God compares a good word to a good tree? Its roots are firm and its branches reach to the sky. It yields its fruits at all times by its Lord’s leave. Thus does God set parables for people so that they may reflect. And an evil word is like a corrupt tree, torn up onto the face of the earth. It cannot have a stable position. God will strengthen the believers through the true, unshakeable word in both this life and the life to come; but the wrongdoers God lets go astray. God does whatever He wills.” (Verses 24-27) “The works of those who disbelieve in their Lord are like ashes which the wind blows about fiercely on a stormy day. They cannot achieve any benefit from all that they might have earned. This [disbelief] is indeed going very far astray.” (Verse 18)

这部经章贯穿始终的两大主题之一，是所有真主的使者所传之训信息的统一性。本章以一种独特的方式呈现这一点。其他经章则通过这样的方式来展示：每位使者都对自己的民众作出相同的宣告。每一位都宣述同样的真理，完成其使命后离世，之后由其他使者接续，他们同样宣述相同的真理，使用相同的言辞，并得到相同的回应。否认真理的不信者，无论在今世遭受何种境遇，其中一些人虽获得宽限，但他们终将在审判日面对自己的结局。在那些经章中，每位使者都出现在独立的场景里，就像电影回放不同的事件一样。这种手法最好的例子见于第7章

The first of the two major issues that run through the whole sūrah is the unity of the divine message preached by all God’s messengers. This is presented here in a unique way. Other sūrahs demonstrated this through the fact that every messenger made the same address to his people. Every one of them would state the same truth, complete his work and pass away, to be followed by other messengers, each of whom stated the same truth in the same words, receiving the same reply. The unbelievers who deny the truth suffer whatever they may suffer in this life, although some of them are given respite, so as to face their fate on the Day of Judgement. In those sūrahs every messenger was shown in a separate scene, like we see a film playing back different events. The best examples of this method are seen in Sūrahs 7

和第11章《胡德》、第7章《高处》，分别如此。

and 11, The Heights and Hūd, respectively.

在这一章中,所有的先知被集合在一边,他们偏离正道的民族则在另一边。这场斗争在今世持续进行,但不会在此终结。相反,我们会一直追随它的进程,直到审判日。尽管时间与地点相隔甚远,我们仍看到在我们面前,真主使者的群体及其追随者作为一个整体站立在一起。确实,时间和地点都是短暂的因素,而信仰与不信的伟大真理远比时间和地点更加伟大:

In this sūrah, all the prophets are grouped together on one side and their erring communities on the other. The battle goes on between them in this life, but does not come to an end here. On the contrary, we follow its progress until the Day of Judgement. Despite the great difference in time and place, we see in front of us the community of God’s messengers and their followers standing together as a single group. Indeed time and place are two transitory factors, while the great truth of faith and unbelief is far greater than both time and place:

你们难道没有听说在你们之前那些民族的消息吗？努哈的民族、阿德人和萨莫德人，以及在他们之后的人们的消息吗？除真主外，没有人知道他们。他们的使者带着明证来到他们那里，他们却把手放在口中，说："我们不信你们所奉派而来的，我们对于你们所号召我们的事，确实怀有令人疑惑的怀疑。"他们的使者说："对于创造天地的真主，岂能有怀疑吗？他召唤你们，是为了赦免你们的罪过，并让你们延缓到一个规定的期限。"他们说："你们不过是和我们一样的凡人，你们想把我们从我们祖先所崇拜的东西上引开。那么，你们就拿一个明显的证据给我们看吧。"他们的使者说："我们确实只是和你们一样的凡人，但真主把恩惠赐予他所意欲的仆人。没有真主的允许，我们无权给你们拿来任何证据。信士们都应当托靠真主。我们为何不托靠真主呢？他已经引导我们走上了正道。我们必定忍耐你们对我们的迫害。信士们都应当托靠真主。"不信道者对他们的使者说："我们必定把你们逐出我们的土地，除非你们回到我们的道路上来。"他们的主启示他的使者说："我必定毁灭不义的人，并且必定让你们在他们之后住在那片土地上。这是为那些敬畏我的立足之地、畏惧我的警告的人准备的。"

Have you not received accounts of what befell those who lived before you? The people of Noah, the `Ād and Thamūd, and those who came after them? None knows them all but God. Their messengers came to them with clear evidence of the truth, but they put their hands to their mouths, and said: ‘We disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and we are in grave doubt about that to which you call us.’ Said the messengers sent to them: ‘Can there be any doubt about God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He calls you, so that He may forgive you your sins and grant you respite for an appointed term.’ They replied: ‘You are but mortals like ourselves. You want to turn us away from what our forefathers used to worship. Bring us, then, a clear proof’ Their messengers replied: ‘We are indeed but mortals like yourselves. But God bestows His grace on whomever He wills of His servants. It is not within our power to bring you any proof except by God’s leave. It is in God that all believers must place their trust. And why should we not place our trust in God, when He has guided us on our paths? Hence we will bear with patience all your persecution. In God let all the faithful place their trust.’ The unbelievers said to their messengers: ‘We shall most certainly expel you from our land, unless you return to our ways.’ Their Lord revealed this to His messengers: Most certainly shall We destroy the wrongdoers, and most certainly shall We cause you to dwell in the land long after they are gone. This [I promise] to all who stand in awe of My presence, and stand in awe of My warnings.

对神为我们所赐之恩的感恩，贯穿整个章节。神列举了祂赐予全人类的恩惠，无论信士与不信者，正直者与不义者，敬畏者与行恶者皆在其中。神将这些恩惠赐予不信者、悖逆者和不义者，与赐予为祂的事业而奋斗的信士一样，这无疑显示了神的仁慈与慈悲。感恩本是他们应尽的本分。在这里，神的恩典以一幅宏大的宇宙图景展现，延伸至最广阔的视野：“创造诸天和大地，并从天上降下雨水，借以生出果实供你们食用的，正是神。祂为你们驯服了船只，使其奉祂的旨意航行于海上；祂为你们的利益驯服了江河；祂为你们的利益驯服了太阳和月亮，二者都勤勉地运行；祂也驯服了黑夜和白昼。你们向祂祈求的一切，祂都赐予你们。你们若要计算神的恩惠，是数不胜数的。然而人类仍然执迷于不义，忘恩负义。”（第32-34节）

Gratitude to God for what He bestows on us animates the whole sūrah. God enumerates His favours, which He grants to all mankind, believers and unbelievers, righteous or unrighteous, God-fearing and wrongdoers. God is most certainly compassionate and merciful when He grants such favours to unbelievers, disobedients and wrongdoers in the same way as He grants them to the faithful who strive for His cause. It is their place that they should be grateful. Here God’s grace is shown extending across the widest horizon, within a framework of universal imagery: “It is God who has created the heavens and the earth, and who sends down water from the sky with which He brings forth fruits for your sustenance. He has placed under your service ships which by His leave sail through the sea, and He has made the rivers subservient to [His law] for your benefit. And for your benefit He has made the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses, subservient to [His law]; and has made the night and the day subservient to [His law]. And He gives you of everything you ask of Him. Should you try to count God’s blessings, you will never be able to compute them. Yet man is persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ungrateful.” (Verses 32-34)

诚然，派遣使者到人类中间，是同样重大、甚至更大的恩典："这是一部我降示给你的经典，好让你借你主的许可，把世人从黑暗引向光明。"（第1节）光明或许是真主在宇宙中最为尊贵的恩典，但这节经文所说的光明，是穿透我们整个身心、并使我们周围世界变得光亮的至大光明。经文中已清楚阐明，同样的使命也托付给了穆萨及其民众，实际上也托付给了所有使者，本章对此有明确的解释。我们还注意到，真主的使者所说的话中也包含着一种恩典："他召唤你们，以便他宽恕你们的罪过。"（第10节）

Indeed, sending messengers to mankind is an equal, if not greater favour: “This is a book which We have bestowed on you from on high so that you might bring forth all mankind, by their Lord’s leave, from darkness into the light.” (Verse 1) Light is perhaps God’s most majestic favour in the universe, but the light referred to in this verse is the greatest light that shines through our whole beings and which makes the world around us shine. The same task was assigned to Moses with his people, and indeed to all messengers, as clearly explained in the sūrah. We also note a favour in what God’s messengers say: “He calls you, so that He may forgive you your sins.” (Verse 10)

人们被召唤去宽恕，这是一项伟大的恩典，几乎与光明的恩典相当。

That people are called to forgiveness is a great favour almost equal to that of light.

在神的恩典这一语境中,穆萨对他的people提醒了神所赐予他们的恩惠:"穆萨对他的people说:'你们当记念神所赐予你们的恩惠:当初祂拯救你们脱离法老的people,他们曾让你们受严酷的刑罚,宰杀你们的儿子,留下你们的妇女。那确是你们的主所降的大考验。'"(第6节)在同一语境中,本章也提到了神对祂的使者们的应许:"他们的主启示祂的使者们说:'我必定要毁灭不义者,我必定要让你们在他们之后住在这片土地上。这是为那些敬畏我的立足之地、畏惧我的警告的人所应许的。'"(第13-14节)这同样应当被视为神众多伟大恩典中的一项。