接下来,这一章提到了另一种被不同信仰者反复提出的骇人听闻的说法。过去阿拉伯的拜偶像者宣称天使是真主的女儿,而犹太教徒中的不信者宣称以斯拉是真主的儿子,基督徒中的不信者则对耶稣作出同样的主张。当这些虚假的说法被提出时,整个宇宙都为之震颤,因为一神论正是整个宇宙本性所固有的。
The sūrah then refers to another monstrous claim often made by different unbelievers. The Arab idolaters of the past used to claim that the angels were God’s daughters, while the unbelievers among the Jews claimed that Ezra was the son of God, and the unbelievers among the Christians made the same claim for Jesus. The whole universe shudders as such false claims are alleged, because monotheism is inherent in the nature of the whole universe.
他们说:"至慈主已经收养了一个儿子!"你们确已说出了一句骇人听闻的谎言,天因此几乎崩裂,大地因此几乎分裂,山岳因此几乎崩塌!人们竟将儿子归于至慈主,而至慈主不应收养儿子。(第88-92节)
They say: ‘The Most Merciful has taken to Himself a son!’ Indeed you have said a most monstrous falsehood, at which the heavens might be rent into fragments, and the earth be split asunder, and the mountains fall down in ruins! That people should ascribe a son to the Most Merciful, although it is inconceivable that the Most Merciful should take to Himself son. (Verses 88-92)
这些经文的声音与节奏本身,也增添了对这一虚假说法的愤怒之气。事实上,整个宇宙都极其强烈地拒斥这一说法。当它听到这种针对至高真主的谎言时,便颤抖、战栗,充满憎恶。这种反应,就如同一个人觉得自己的正直遭到攻击,或是他所爱之人的诚实遭到诋毁时的反应。这种震颤为天空、大地和山脉所共有。经文的节奏中,这些词语展现出一场剧烈地震般的震动。
The very sound of these verses and their rhythm add to the air of anger at this false claim. In fact the whole universe rejects this claim most vehemently. It shudders and quivers with abhorrence as it hears this falsehood against God Almighty. It is a reaction similar to that of a person who feels that his very integrity is attacked, or that the honesty of someone he loves is assailed. The shudder is common to the heavens, the earth and the mountains. In their beat, the words here show the movement of a violent quake.
一旦那句冒犯的话被说出——“他们说:至仁主已经收养了一个儿子”——随即便是惊骇的表达:“你们确已说出一句极其恶劣的谎言。”(第89节)于是,一切原本稳固安定的事物都被震动了。整个宇宙都因这项针对造物主真主的虚假指控而愤怒。这一论断对自然界中的万物都是骇人听闻的。宇宙是基于真主独一的根本原则而被创造并运行的:“你们确已说出一句极其恶劣的谎言,几乎因此天空要崩裂,大地要裂开,群山要崩塌!竟有人把儿子归于至仁主,而至仁主是不应当收养儿子的。”(第89至92节)
As soon as the offensive word is uttered, “They say: The Most Merciful has taken to Himself a son,” the expression of horror immediately follows: “Indeed you have said a most monstrous falsehood.” (Verse 89) Everything that is settled and stable is thus shaken. The whole universe is in anger at this false allegation against God, the Creator. The statement is shocking to everything in nature. The universe is created and functions on the basis of the basic principle of God’s oneness: “Indeed you have said a most monstrous falsehood, at which the heavens might be rent into fragments, and the earth be split asunder, and the mountains fall down in ruins! That people should ascribe a son to the Most Merciful, although it is inconceivable that the Most Merciful should take to Himself a son.” (Verses 89-92)
在这种普遍的愤怒之中,一份明确而坚定的声明发表了。
In the midst of this universal anger, a clear and definitive statement is issued:
无论天上地下的一切,都必以仆人的身份来到至仁主面前。(19:93)他确已尽知他们,并且精确地统计了他们的数目。(19:94)复活日,他们每一个都将独自来到他面前。(19:95)
Not one of all [the beings] that are in the heavens or on earth but shall appear before the Most Merciful as a servant. Indeed, He has full cognizance of them. He has kept a strict count of their numbers, and, on the Day of Resurrection, every one of them will appear before Him all alone. (Verses 93-95)
天地之间一切生灵,无论身在何处,皆是真主的仆人,服从祂的意志,甘心顺服祂。祂没有儿子,也没有同伴。万物都是祂的受造物和仆人。
All beings that live anywhere in the heavens and on earth are servants of God, subject to His will, submitting to Him willingly. He has neither son nor partner. All are His creatures and servants.
当我们思考至高的真主这句话的意义时,恐惧便悄然爬进了我们的心里:"诚然,他full知晓他们,并且精确地统计了他们的数目。"(第94节)没有一人被遗忘,也没有一人能够逃脱。"在复活日,他们每一个人都将独自来到他面前。"(第95节)真主监察着每一个人。他们在复活日都将各自来到他面前,无一人能得到别人的支持或鼓励。的确,届时一切群体的情感都已消逝,因为在真主面前,每个人都只为自己说话。
Fear creeps into our hearts as we contemplate the significance of this statement by God, the Most High: “Indeed, He has full cognizance of them. He has kept a strict count of their numbers.” (Verse 94) None is forgotten and none will be able to escape. “On the Day of Resurrection, every one of them will appear before Him all alone.” (Verse 95) God watches everyone. They will all come to Him on the Day of Resurrection, each on his or her own. None will have the support or encouragement of anyone else. Indeed, all community feeling is gone, for in front of God, everyone speaks for oneself.
与这种孤独与隔绝形成对比的是,信士们被赐予一个温暖、友善的环境:"至仁主必为信道并行善的人赐予爱。"(第96节)这里提到的爱,必然能抚慰人心、触动人心。这种爱在天堂中流布,并溢满大地,慰藉世人。整个宇宙都分得了其中的充分份额。
In contrast with this loneliness and isolation, the believers are given a comforting, friendly surrounding: “God will certainly bestow love on those who believe and do righteous deeds.” (Verse 96) The mention of love in this context is bound to comfort and penetrate people’s hearts. It is a type of love that spreads in heaven and spills over to fill the earth and comfort people. The whole universe is given a full share of it.
艾布·胡莱赖(Abū Hurayrah)是先知的同伴,他转述说,真主的使者ﷺ说:
Abū Hurayrah, a companion of the Prophet, reports that God’s Messenger said:
“当真主爱某人时,祂召唤加百列,说:‘加百列啊,我爱这个人,所以你也要爱他。’加百列便爱那人,并呼唤天上所有的居民,说:”
“When God loves a human being, He calls in Gabriel and says to him: ‘Gabriel, I love this person, so you love him too.’ Gabriel then loves that person and calls out to all those living in heaven, saying:
“真主喜爱这个人,所以你们大家也都要爱他。”于是天上所有的居住者都开始爱这个人。他在大地上也会受到喜爱。但如果真主厌恶某人,祂也会召唤吉卜利勒,说:“吉卜利勒,我厌恶这个人,所以你也要恨他。”吉卜利勒便恨这个人,并向天上所有的居住者呼喊:“真主厌恶这个人,所以你们大家也都要恨他。”于是天上所有的居住者都开始恨这个人。他在大地上也会遭人憎恨。”[由布哈里、穆斯林和艾哈迈德转述]
这份对信士的喜讯,以及对否认真理并与之争辩者的警告,正是《古兰经》所传达的讯息。真主使《古兰经》便于阿拉伯人诵读和理解,因为祂将其置于祂的使者自己的语言之中:“我确已使它(《古兰经》)用你们的语言易于理解,以便你借此向敬畏者报喜,并向好争辩者警告。”(第19章第97节)
‘God loves this person, so you all love him too.’ Thus all those who live in heaven start to love that person. He will also be loved on earth. But if God dislikes someone, He also calls in Gabriel and says: ‘Gabriel, I dislike this person, so you hate him too.’ Gabriel then hates that person and calls out to all those living in heaven, saying: ‘God dislikes this person, so you all hate him too.’ Thus all those who live in heaven start to hate that person. He will also be hated on earth.” [Related by al-Bukhārī, Muslim and Aĥmad] This happy news to the believers and this warning to those who deny the truth and argue against it are the message the Qur’ān gives. God has made the Qur’ān easy for the Arabs to read and understand, as He has put it in His Messenger’s own language: “And so have We made [the Qur’ān] easy to understand, in your own tongue, so that you may give good tidings to the God-fearing and give warning to those who are given to futile contention.” (Verse 97)
这一章以一幅场景作结,我们在心中久久默想,几乎无法移开目光:
The sūrah concludes with a scene that we contemplate in our minds for a long time, hardly able to shift our gaze:
有多少世代,我在他们之前已经毁灭了!你现在能找到他们中的一个吗?或者能听到关于他们的一丝耳语吗?(第98节)
How many a generation have We destroyed before their time! Can you find a single one of them now, or hear so much as a whisper of them? (Verse 98)
这一场景始于一阵剧烈的震动,随之而来的是一片彻底而深沉的寂静。它仿佛把我们带到了死亡之谷,向我们展示先前的人们是如何迎来他们的命运。在那广阔的山谷中,它延伸得远超肉眼所及,我们的思绪想象着昔日在大地上繁盛的生命,那些四处往来的人们,他们的情感、希望与志向。然而,这一切都已逝去。
This scene begins with a violent shock before overwhelming us with a total and deep silence. It is as though it takes us to the valley of death to show us how earlier people met their fate. In that great valley which stretches much further than the eyes can see, our minds imagine the life that used to prosper on earth, the people that moved about everywhere, their feelings, hopes and aspirations. But all that is gone.
寂静笼罩一切。死亡已经降临于万物,只剩下一具具腐朽的尸体。没有一个动弹,没有一点声响,甚至连一丝呼吸也没有。"你现在能看见他们中的任何一个吗?"(第98节)环顾四周,看看吧。"或者你能听到他们哪怕一丝细微的声音吗?"(第98节)尽管你可以尽情去听,所听到的只有死一般的寂静。除了那永不死亡的主,再无一物存留。他永恒长存,他的荣耀无限无边。
Complete silence pervades. For death has overtaken all, leaving only a host of rotting cadavers. Not a single one stirs, not a single sound, not even a breath. “Can you find a single one of them now?” (Verse 98) Look around and see. “Or can you hear so much as a whisper of them?” (Verse 98) Listen as much as you wish. There is nothing but a deadly silence. None remain except the One who never dies. Eternal He is and limitless in His glory.