《古兰经》以其自身的逻辑与人的本性对话。它是从至高处、由创造人性的那位降示的。祂知道什么适合人性，能够引导人性发挥出最好的一面。祂也知道如何与人性对话，知道什么会影响人的内心思想与情感。《古兰经》向人性阐明那深植于其中的真理——这真理人性在被《古兰经》触及之前早已知晓，因为它原本就是与此真理一同被创造的。这真理便是：承认真主是创造者、独一者、至尊者，并且唯独向祂崇拜。同样，整个宇宙时时刻刻都在赞颂祂、赞美祂。问题在于，地上生活的某些方面、一些肉体的冲动、欲望、私念与贪求，可能会蒙蔽人性的视野，或迫使它偏离正道。因此，《古兰经》以人性所熟知的逻辑与之对话，向它呈现它所忽略的真理。如此，《古兰经》便依据其生活准则塑造人性，引导它去追求创造者、掌管万物者的喜悦。

The Qur’ān addresses human nature with its own logic. It was revealed from on high by the One who created human nature. He knows what suits it and brings the best out of it. He also knows how to address it and what affects its inner thoughts and feelings. The Qur’ān explains to human nature the truth that is deeply ingrained in it, which it knew long before it was addressed by the Qur’ān, because it was initially created with it. This is the truth of acknowledging God as the Creator, the One, the Supreme, and offering worship to Him alone. Similarly, the entire universe glorifies and praises Him at all times. The problem is that certain aspects of life on earth, some physical impulses, desires, whims and cravings may cloud human nature’s vision or force its deviation from the right path. Therefore, the Qur’ān addresses our nature with the logic it knows, presenting to it the truth that it has overlooked. In this way, it moulds human nature on the basis of its code for living, leading it to earn the pleasure of God, the Creator who controls everything.

这一章在麦加降示,它展示了《古兰经》如何触动人心。它论及那些偏离真理的多神教徒的信仰问题。这确实是所有麦加降示的章节所论述的核心问题,只是角度与方式各不相同。《古兰经》运用如此多样的方法,正是其保持人心警觉的重要方法之一。

Revealed in Makkah, this sūrah provides an example of how the Qur’ān addresses our hearts. It tackles the question of faith among the idolaters who had deviated from the truth. This is indeed the overall issue that all sūrahs revealed in Makkah tackle, albeit in a variety of ways and from different angles. That the Qur’ān employs such different means is an essential part of its method to keep our hearts on the alert.

这一章的核心信仰主题聚焦于真主的独一性。它阐明了我们应当如何只向祂一人祈求崇拜，感恩祂所赐予的恩典，坚定地相信后世，以及后世所包含的审慎清算与公正报偿。信士还应遵循真主所启示的律法，摒弃一切与之相悖的观念。

The central issue of faith focuses in this sūrah on God’s oneness. It demonstrates how we should address worship to Him alone, express gratitude for His blessings, establish firm belief in the hereafter and what this involves of careful reckoning and just reward. Believers should also follow what God has revealed and abandon all notions that are at variance with this.

这一章以一种值得深思的方式呈现了整个问题，让人体会到《古兰经》非凡的叙述方法。它触及我们的天性与内心。所有倡导信仰的人都应当认真研读这一方法。

The sūrah presents this whole issue in a way that invites reflection on the remarkable approach of the Qur’ān. It addresses our natures and our hearts. All who advocate faith should study this approach carefully.

关于信仰的议题，在此被置于整个宇宙的宏大背景之中：天空、大地、太阳和月亮、昼与夜、海洋与大气、波浪与雨水、植物和树木等等。《古兰经》频繁运用这一宏大的背景，使宇宙成为环绕在我们周围的一系列清晰的迹象，与我们的心灵和理智对话，使它们重新焕发生机。

The issue of faith is presented here against the backdrop of the entire universe: its skies, earth, sun and moon, night and day, seas and atmosphere, waves and rain, plants and trees, etc. This colossal background is frequently employed in the Qur’ān, so as to make the universe a host of clear signs placed all around us, speaking to our hearts and minds, bringing them alive.

虽然主题只有一个，背景也相同，但本章在四个段落中以四种方式呈现它。每一段都带领我们遍览宇宙的广阔空间，融入新的影响，运用新的表达方式。仔细审视这四种呈现，以及每一段如何以非凡的方式开始和结束，尤其令人愉悦，也能激发积极的回应。

Although the issue is one, and the background is the same, it is presented in this sūrah four times in four sections. In each the sūrah takes us around the great expanse of the universe, picking up new influences and using new styles. Looking carefully at these four presentations, and how each starts and finishes in a remarkable way is especially pleasant and encourages a positive response.

第一个(诵读)紧接在该章开头的三个独立字母之后。

The first begins immediately after the three separate letters that begin the sūrah.

这些表明该章由这样的字母构成，而本经的各节正是由这些字母构成，并蕴含着智慧与神圣的指引。

These indicate that the sūrah is composed of such letters, and that it is from these that verses of this book are presented packed with wisdom and divine guidance.

此外，它也保证，那些行善之人必将获得真主的慈悯。他们便是“坚持礼拜、缴纳天课，并且确信后世”的人。（第4节）因此，它确认了后世的确定性，以及崇拜真主的责任。这些又与一种明显的心理作用相结合：

Furthermore, it assures those who excel in goodness of receiving God’s mercy. These are the ones who “attend regularly to prayers, give in charity and are indeed certain of the hereafter.” (Verse 4) Thus it confirms the certainty of the hereafter and the duty of offering worship to God. These are coupled with a clear psychological influence:

“这些人遵循他们主的指引，他们才是成功的人。”（第5节）

“Those are the ones who follow their Lord’s guidance, and they are the ones who will be successful.” (Verse 5)

另一方面，也有人会花钱购买无聊的言谈，以此使他人偏离神的道路，讥笑这些经文。对这些人，等待他们的是一种可怕的前景，恰与他们的嘲讽相称："对这等人，将有可耻的刑罚。"（第6节）经文描述了这些人的举动："我的启示被诵读给他听的时候，他傲慢地转身离去，好像没有听见一样。"（第7节）接着又以一个心理层面的描写，显示这些人是多么可鄙："好像他的两耳重听一般。"（第7节）另一处描写则让他们心中生出恐惧，尽管其语气带着讥讽："你应当以痛苦的刑罚报告他。"（第7节）经文中用来表示"报告"的阿拉伯语词"bashshirhu"，通常用于向人传达好消息和令人欣喜的喜讯。然而，在这里使用它，明显带有嘲弄之意。

On the other hand there are those who would pay for idle talk in order to divert others from the path of God, ridiculing these verses. These are faced with a fearsome prospect that suits their ridicule: “For such people there is shameful suffering in store.” (Verse 6) It describes the movements of these people thus: “When Our revelations are conveyed to such a person, he turns away in his arrogance as though he had not heard them.” (Verse 7) This is coupled with a psychological touch showing how contemptible such people are: “as though there were heaviness in his ears.” (Verse 7) Another touch sends fear into their hearts although this is given mockingly: “Give him, then, the news of painful suffering.” (Verse 7) The Arabic term, bashshirhu, used for ‘giving news’ is always employed when people are given good and happy news. Its use here, however, denotes a clear sense of mockery.