不信道、阻止人遵循真主之道，并在正道的光明显现之后仍与使者为敌的人，绝不能损害真主分毫；真主必使他们的一切善功归于无效。（第32节）
Those who disbelieve and debar others from the path of God, and take a hostile stand against the Prophet after they have seen the light of guidance, can in no way harm God; but He will surely make all their deeds come to nothing. (Verse 32)
这节经文陈述了真主的一个真实承诺,针对那些不信道、阻挠真理的人。这些人运用自己的权势、财富和其他手段,企图阻止真理传达给世人。他们在先知在世时敌视先知,对他发动战争、公然反对他;在他去世之后,则压制他的信仰和生活准则,迫害他的信息的倡导者。然而,这些人明明已经看到了正道的光明,也认识到了伊斯兰讯息所蕴含的真理,却固执地选择对此视而不见,并且认为这种态度能够维护他们眼前的利益。
This verse states a true promise by God in relation to those who disbelieve and oppose the truth, trying to prevent it from being delivered to people, using their power, money and other means for the purpose. Such people are hostile to the Prophet, waging war against him and physically opposing him during his lifetime or suppressing his faith and code of life and persecuting the advocates of his message after his death. Yet such people have seen the light of guidance and recognized the truth embodied in the Islamic message, but they stubbornly choose to remain blind to it and feel that their immediate interests are served by such an attitude.
真主的真实应许是，这些人“绝不能伤害真主分毫”。他们渺小而软弱，根本不足以被提及、去对真主造成任何不利影响。这里显然不是这个意思。
Gods true promise is that such people “can in no way harm God” They are far too small and weak to be mentioned in the context of adversely affecting God. This is certainly not what is intended here.
这节经文的意思是：他们不能伤害真主的信仰，即祂为人类生活所确立的律法，也不能伤害那些宣扬祂的使命的人。
What the verse means is that they cannot harm God’s faith, the code He laid down for human life, or those who advocate His message.
尽管这些人可能变得强大，他们也无法影响或扰乱祂所设立运行的自然法则。他们或许能在一段时间内伤害一些穆斯林，但这只是为了实现神所希望达成的目的而进行的考验。这对神的法则以及那些倡导祂的信仰和制度的仆人并不构成真正的伤害。此外，这些怀有敌意的不信者所做的一切努力，最终结果早已明确注定："祂必使他们的善功归于无有"（第32节）。
Powerful as such people may become, they cannot affect or disturb the laws of nature He has set in operation. They may be able to harm some of the Muslims for a period of time, but this is merely a test that takes place for a purpose God wants to be fulfilled. It constitutes no real harm to God’s laws or to His servants who advocate His faith and system. Moreover, the ultimate result of all the efforts of such hostile unbelievers is clearly set in advance: “He will surely make all their deeds come to nothing” (Verse 32)
与此同时,信士们也被警告不要做出可能导致类似下场的事情。他们被敦促要继续服从真主和祂的使者:"信道的人们啊!你们当服从真主,服从使者,不要使你们的功修归于无效。"(33节)这一训令表明,穆斯林社群中可能有一些人并未完全顺从,或者可能难以履行反抗伊斯兰各种强大敌对势力所要求的一些职责与牺牲。有些人可能与对立一方的人存在血缘关系或共同利益的纽带,因而很难割断这些联系。
At the same time, the believers are warned against doing anything that could lead them to a similar fate. They are urged to remain obedient to God and His messenger: “Believers, obey God and obey the messenger, and do not let your deeds come to nothing” (Verse 33) This directive suggests that within the Muslim community there were some who might not have been fully obedient, or who might have found it hard to fulfil some of the duties and sacrifices that combating the different powerful groups opposing Islam required. Some might have been tied by bonds of kinship or common interests with others on the opposing side and found it hard to sever such ties.
这一指令对真正的信士产生了深远的影响。他们担心自己可能会做出某些事，使自己的善功被取消、化为乌有，这种暗含的警告令他们深感震动。有几段传述提到了人们对这节经文的反应。其中一段说：“先知的同伴们过去认为，当一个人真正信仰真主的独一性时，他所犯的任何罪过都不会伤害他，正如以物配主者所做的任何善功都毫无益处一样。然而，当这节经文降示后，他们担心罪过会毁坏他们的善功。”
This directive had a profound effect on true believers. They were shaken by the implied threat that they might do something that would do away with their good deeds and bring them to nothing. Several reports speak of the way this verse was received. One of them mentions that “the Prophet’s Companions used to think that when a person truly believed in God’s oneness, then no sin he committed would harm him, in the same way as no good deed is of any use when done by a person who associates partners with God. However, when this verse was revealed, they feared that sins might ruin their good deeds:
“信道的人们啊！你们当服从真主，服从使者，不要使你们的善功归于无效。”
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar 传述说：“我们圣门弟子曾认为，每一件善功必然会被真主接受，直到这节经文降示。我们不知道是什么事情会使我们的善功变得毫无价值。我们以为那一定是重大的罪过和大罪。然而，真主降示了这节经文：‘真主绝不宽恕以物配主的罪过，但除此以外的罪过，祂愿宽恕谁就宽恕谁。’（4:116）”
“Believers, obey God and obey the messenger, and do not let your deeds come to nothing” ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar is quoted as saying: “We, the Prophets Companions, used to think that every good deed would inevitably be accepted by God until this verse was revealed. We wondered what thing could render our deeds worthless. We thought that it must be cardinal and grave sins. However, God revealed this verse: “For a certainty, God does not forgive that partners should be associated with Him, but He forgives any lesser sin to whomever He wills” (4: 116)
“我们不再谈论这个问题了。我们只是害怕那些犯下大罪的人，并希望那些远离大罪的人能得到丰厚的回报。”这些记载清楚地表明，真正的穆斯林当年是如何接受古兰经经文的。他们深受触动，畏惧每一句警告，唯恐其针对的是自己，并热切地去做古兰经所要求的事情。凭借这样的敏感，他们达到了卓越的标准。
We stopped speaking about this issue. We only feared for those who committed cardinal sins and hoped for good reward for those who avoided them.” Such reports clearly show how true Muslims used to receive Quranic verses. They were profoundly affected by them, fearing every warning, careful lest it applied to them and keen to do what the Qur’an required of them. With such sensitivity, they achieved superb standards.
下一节经文解释了那些敌视先知的人将面临怎样的结局。他们坚决不服从他，并持续拒绝真理，直到死亡降临到他们身上：
The next verse explains what fate awaits those who are hostile to the Prophet. These are they who are determined not to obey him and who continue in their rejection of the truth until death overtakes them:
“那些不信道、并阻止人走上神之道的人，最终死于不信的状态，神绝不会宽恕他们。”（第34节）悔罪而获得宽恕的机会，只存在于今世。无论是不信者还是罪人，直到死亡来临之前，悔改之门始终向他们敞开，借此可以获得宽恕。当灵魂即将离开身体的那一刻，悔罪并获得宽恕的机会便已失去，且永远无法再次获得。
“ Those who disbelieve and debar others from the path of God, and in the end die unbelievers shall not be granted forgiveness by God.” (Verse 34) The chance to ensure forgiveness of sins is available only in this present life. The gates of repentance, which ensure forgiveness, are open for both unbelievers and sinners up to the moment of death. When the spirit is at the point of departing the body, then the chance to repent and earn forgiveness is lost and can never be regained.
这类经文同时针对信士与不信者。它警告后者，趁为时未晚，应当采取正确的行动，悔罪并归向真主，免得机会错失、大门关闭。它也提醒前者要谨慎，以避开一切使他们走向这种不幸道路的诱因。从下一节经文所告诫信士的事项，可以清楚地看出这一点：那些事项被视为通向前一节经文所提及的不信者同样结局的原因。
Verses like this one address both believers and unbelievers. It warns the latter to take the right action before it is too late, to repent and turn back to God before the chance is lost and doors are closed. It tells the former to take care so as to avoid all causes that bring them nearer to such ill-fated ways. This is clearly understood from the fact that what the believers are cautioned against in the next verse are seen as reasons leading to the same fate of the unbelievers mentioned in the preceding verse:
因此，你们不要丧气，也不要求和。你们才占优势，真主（上帝）与你们同在，祂绝不会使你们的善功徒劳无益。（第35节）
Therefore, do not lose heart or sue for peace. It is you who have the upper hand, and God is with you. He will never let your deeds go to waste. (Verse 35)
这些都是信士们被告诫要警惕的事情。经文向他们展示了敌视先知的不信道者的下场,以使他们谨慎行事,不做任何可能使自己走向那种结局的事。这一警告暗示,穆斯林中可能有一些人觉得圣战的负担和压力过于沉重。他们或许已经动摇,并主张通过某种和约来避免战斗。其中一些人可能曾寄望于不信道者阵营中的亲属,或与他们有某些经济利益往来。所有这些原因都可能使人倾向于和平的安排。人性始终如一,伊斯兰以其自有的方式应对这类软弱和天性倾向,并已证明极为成功。然而,这并不排除在当时的麦地那初期,仍残留着某些此类倾向与软弱的痕迹。
Such are the things believers are cautioned against. They are presented with the fate of the unbelievers who are hostile to the Prophet, so that they take care not to do anything that brings them nearer to such an outcome. This warning suggests that there might have been some individuals among the Muslims who felt the burden and strain of jihad to be too heavy. They might have weakened and advocated making some sort of a peace deal in order to avoid fighting. Some of them might have looked to their relatives in the ranks of the unbelievers, or had some financial interests with them. All such reasons may make a person prefer peaceful arrangements. Human beings are always the same and Islam deals with such weaknesses and natural tendencies in its own way, which has proven to be remarkably successful. This, however, does not preclude that there remained, particularly in that early period in Madinah, some traces of such tendencies and weaknesses.
本节经文旨在论述这类内容。让我们仔细审视《古兰经》如何循序渐进地教育世人、提升他们达到其标准:"你们不要懈怠,不要求和,你们必定获胜,真主与你们同在。"
The present verse aims to deal with such elements. Let us look carefully at how the Qur’an progresses with its method of educating people and raising them to its standards: “ Therefore, do not lose heart or sue for peace. It is you who have the upper hand, and God is with you.
他永不使你们的善功白费。35) 你们在信仰和生活观上是高人一等的,因为你们与至高无上的主有着紧密的联系。你们在生活方式、目标、宗旨、情感、道德、礼仪和行为上都有更高的标准。因此,你们不可灰心丧气,也不可因在力量、地位和支持方面占据优势而求和。至高的权能赐予你们支持:“真主与你们同在。” 你们并不孤单。全能的真主以祂的全部大能保护你们,并给予你们帮助。当真主是帮助你们的主时,你们的敌人显得何等微不足道?而且,你们所付出的每一份努力、所花费的每一分钱财和所作出的每一次牺牲,都会被记在你们的账上。没有任何一样会被浪费:“他永不使你们的善功白费。” 你们所行的每一点善功,其报酬必定归于你们。当真主已保证你们必占上风、必得祂的扶持、你们的每一份努力必得报偿时,谁还会灰心呢?当真主告诉他他是尊贵的、必得胜的、必得报酬的时候,他又怎会软弱呢?
He will never let your deeds go to waste* 35) You are the ones who are superior in faith and concept of life, because of your close link with the One who is the Most High. You have higher standards in your way of life, goals, objectives, feelings, morality, manners and behaviour. Therefore, you must not lose heart or sue for peace because you have the upper hand in strength, position and support. The Supreme Power grants you support: “God is with you* You are not alone. God Almighty, with all His power, defends you and gives you help. How insignificant do your enemies appear when God is the One who helps you? Moreover, every effort you exert, everything you spend and every sacrifice you make is credited to you. Nothing is lost: “He will never let your deeds go to waste* The reward for every iota of good work you do will certainly be yours. Why would anyone assured by God to have the upper hand, to be supported by Him and to have every effort rewarded lose heart? Why would he weaken when God tells him that he is honoured, victorious and rewarded?
今世的生活微不足道。信士在今生的尘世中或许需要做出一些牺牲，但他们在后世将获得完满的回报。而且，他们并不需要付出沉重的代价，就能获得这样的回报：
The life of this world is of little importance. Believers may have to make some sacrifices during their lives on earth, but they will have their reward in full in the life to come. Moreover, they are not asked to pay heavily in order to ensure such rewards:
这个世界的生活，不过是游戏和娱乐；如果你们信仰并敬畏真主，祂将赐给你们应得的报酬。祂不会要求你们舍弃全部财产。（第36节）
The life of this world, is but play and amusement, but if you believe and are God fearing, He will grant you your reward. He does not ask you to give up all your possessions. (Verse 36)
当生活没有崇高的目标可以追求，人们在漠视神圣律法的情况下度过一生时，它不过是一场游戏和消遣。
When life has no noble goal to achieve, and when people go through it heedless of the Divine code, it is no more than play and amusement.
正是真主所确立的法则，使今世成为来世更美好、更长久之生活的前奏；使今世成为一段行动的时期，其结果在来世显现。因此，来世的成功取决于今世的善行。这正是经文中第二句所强调的信息："如果你们信道而且敬畏，他就会赐给你们报酬。"（第36节）今世信仰真主，并基于敬畏真主而行动，这些品质赋予了今世一种严肃的意义，使它不再是游戏、娱乐和物质享受的时光，而是上升为履行真主赋予人类之使命的标准，而真主已为此提供了恰当而完备的指引。人若以这种方式履行其使命，他便是敬畏真主的信士。他为此事业而花费的世俗财物，不会失去，实际上，它将在永恒的后世带来更大的回报。
It is the code laid down by God that makes this life a prelude to a better and longer lasting life, makes of this life a period of action that yields its results in the life to come. Success in the life to come is, therefore, conditional upon good works in this present life. This is the message emphasized in the second sentence in the verse: “If you believe and are God fearing, He will grant you your reward." (Verse 36) Belief in God during this life and action based on fearing Him are the qualities that gives this present life an air of seriousness elevating it from being a time of play, amusement and material enjoyment to a standard fulfilling the assignment God has given man and for which He has provided proper and complete guidance. When man attends to his assignment in this way, he is a God-fearing believer. What he spends of worldly possessions to serve this cause will not be lost to him. In fact, it produces a far greater reward in the everlasting second life.
即使如此,真主也并不要求人们牺牲全部财产。
Even then, God does not require people to sacrifice all their property.
他知道人的本性是吝啬于自己所拥有的东西。他不会要求人去做对他而言过于艰难的事。事实上，他不会让任何人承担超出其力所能及范围的责任。他极其仁慈，不会要求人们奉献所拥有的一切。如果他这样要求，人们就会感到苦恼，他们的不满情绪也会显露出来。
He knows that by nature, man is tight-fisted with what he owns. He does not require him to do what is too hard for him. In fact, He does not charge anyone with more than what that person can reasonably attend to. He is too kind to ask people to sacrifice all they possess. If He were to ask them this, they would be troubled and their ill feelings would become apparent.
他并没有要求你们交出全部财产。如果他要求你们全部交出，并且再三逼迫，你们就会变得吝啬，他也会将你们的怨恨暴露出来。（第36-37节）
He does not ask you to give up all your possessions. If He were to ask you all and press you hard, you would grow tight-fisted, and He would bring your malice to light. (Verses 36-37)
我们在此看到真主对人类是何等仁慈，祂以无限的智慧，只要求人们做力所能及的事，并充分考虑到人性的各个方面。伊斯兰教是一种神圣的信仰，旨在以神圣的根基建立一套人的制度。奠定其基础和根本原则的是真主，但在确定其责任时，应当考虑的是人的能力与需要。是真主创造了人，祂最清楚自己所创造的一切。祂是全知的主。
We see here how kind God is to man and how, in His infinite wisdom, He only requires people to do what they can, taking human nature, with all its facets, into consideration. Islam is a Divine faith which aims to establish a human system on a Divine basis. It is God who lays down its foundation and fundamental principles, but it is human abilities and needs that should be considered in determining its responsibilities. It is God who created man and He knows best what He has created. He is the One who knows all.