《古兰经》有时以一种人类心智绝不会去尝试的方式，解释信仰中的基本常识，因为这些事物的性质使其不会占据人的注意力，也不会吸引人的注意。一个明显的例子是描述真主无限知识的经文：“真主掌握着幽玄的钥匙，除他之外，无人知道。他知道陆地和海洋里的一切；每一片落叶，他都知道；地下黑暗中的每一粒种子，以及任何鲜活或干枯的东西，都记录在明白的典籍之中。”（6：59）这些广阔的场所和情境，无论可见还是隐秘，通常并不会以这种方式进入人的思维，当人试图表达包罗万象的知识时，也不会如此去想。下面，让我们引述我们对这节经文的注释中的几段文字。
The Qur’ān sometimes explains the basic truisms of faith in a way that the human mind would never attempt, because, by their nature, these are not things which preoccupy or attract human attention. A clear example is the verse which describes God’s infinite knowledge: “With Him are the keys to what lies beyond the reach of human perception: none knows them but He. He knows all that the land and sea contain; not a leaf falls but He knows it; and neither is there a grain in the earth’s deep darkness, nor anything fresh or dry but is recorded in a clear book.” (6: 59) These broad places and situations, visible and hidden, are not normally frequented by human thought in this way, when it tries to express knowledge that embraces everything. Let us quote here a few paragraphs of what we stated in our commentary on this verse.
每当我们细读这段简短的经文,都不能不认识到它那奇妙的文体,它昭示着《古兰经》的作者。只看其主题,就足以让我们完全确信:这不是任何人类所能说出的话。人类的智慧在描述完美、无所不知的知识时,无法延伸到无限的境界。相反,人类的理智有其自身的特点和一定的局限,因为它所呈现的图景反映的是它自身的关切。人类为什么要关心世界各地树上落下的叶子有多少片?为什么要在意埋藏在大地深处黑暗角落里的谷粒?了解一切鲜活的与干枯的事物,与他们又有什么相干?人们本就不在乎落叶,更不必说去数它们了。他们关心的是自己播下的种子,希望获得丰收。否则,他们也不会在意埋在地下的谷粒。他们当然喜欢利用手边鲜活与干枯的东西,但这些事物都不被视为完美知识的证据。只有造物主才知道并关注每一片落叶、每一粒埋藏的谷物以及诸如此类的事物,正如祂也关注其他鲜活或干枯的事物一样。
Every time we look at this short verse, we cannot fail to recognize its miraculous style which tells of the author of the Qur’ān. One look at its subject matter is sufficient to make us absolutely certain that this is something no human being would say. Human intelligence does not stretch to limitless horizons when it describes perfect, unfailing knowledge. Instead, the human intellect has different characteristics and certain set limits, because its images reflect its own concerns. Why should human beings care about the number of leaves falling from trees all over the globe? Why should they bother about grains buried in the deep dark recesses of the earth? What concern is it to them to know everything that is fresh or dry? People simply do not care about falling leaves, let alone about counting them. They care about the seeds they plant, hoping to have a good harvest. Otherwise, they would not care about the grains buried in the earth. They certainly like to use what they have of fresh and dry things, but none of these matters is thought of as evidence of perfect knowledge. It is only the Creator who knows and cares about every falling leaf, buried grain and the like, as He does about other things, fresh or dry.
没有人能够想象，每一片飘落的叶子、每一粒埋入土中的种子、每一样新鲜的东西，以及每一样干枯的东西，都被记录在一本清晰的书中。他们看不出记录这些对自己有什么益处。然而，整个宇宙的主宰却记录了这一切，因为宇宙中的每一样事物，无论大小、可见与隐藏、远近、显露还是未知，都在祂的主权之内，因此都被计算在内。
No human being could ever contemplate that each falling leaf, buried grain, every fresh object and also every dry one should be recorded in a clear book. They cannot see any benefit to them from keeping such a record. But the Sovereign of the whole universe is the One who has all that recorded because everything in the whole universe, large or small, visible or hidden, distant or close, apparent or unknown, is part of His dominion and, as such, is accounted for.
这是一个宏大的场景,它深深地触动人心。人类的理智甚至不会试图去描绘这样一幅画面:世界上每一棵树落下的每一片叶子,埋藏在土壤中的每一粒种子,以及地球上每一样鲜活与干枯的事物。事实上,我们的眼睛和想象力原本也不会去想象它。然而,这是一个有力的场景,它向我们揭示了真主的全知,提醒我们真主监察并记录着一切。祂的意志照管着大与小、极为重要与微不足道、显见与隐秘、遥远与切近、明显与未知的一切。
This is an expansive scene, one which leaves a profound effect on the human mind. The human intellect does not even try to paint such a scene comprising the leaves falling from every tree throughout the world and every grain hidden in the soil and every fresh and dry thing on earth. Indeed, neither our eyes nor our imagination care to visualize it in the first place. Nevertheless, it is a powerful scene that tells us much about God’ s knowledge, reminding us that God oversees and records everything. His will takes care of what is large or small, highly important or infinitely insignificant, visible or hidden, distant or close, apparent or unknown.
那些对所经历的事物有所感触、并且具备表达天赋的人，都清楚地意识到人类在描绘与表达事物方面的局限。我们凭借亲身体验知道，没有任何人的头脑会想到去描绘这样的场景，也没有任何人能够运用这样的表达方式。我邀请任何对此提出异议的人，去查阅人类曾经写下的一切作品，看看人类的文学才华是否曾朝这个方向尝试过。事实上，这节经文以及《古兰经》中类似的经文，就足以让我们认识这部光辉典籍的作者。
Those of us who react to what we experience and have the talent of expression are keenly aware of our human limitations to visualize and express things. We know from personal experience that it does not occur to any human mind to paint such a scene and that no human being can use such a mode of expression. I invite anyone who disputes this to look into everything that human beings have ever written in an attempt to see if human literary talent has ever ventured in this direction. Indeed, this verse and similar ones in the Qur’ān are sufficient for us to know the Author of this glorious book.
如果我们审视这节经文的艺术卓越之处，很快就会发现它超越了人类曾经尝试过的一切：“幽玄之钥皆在主那里，除祂之外无人知晓。”（第59节）这节经文首先将我们带入那不可测度的彼岸世界，延伸至时间与空间，既包括过去、现在与未来，也包括今世所发生的事以及我们想象所及的一切。
If we look at the artistic excellence in this verse, we soon realize that it surpasses everything that human beings have ever attempted: “With Him are the keys to what lies beyond the reach of human perception: none knows them but He.” (Verse 59) The verse takes us first into the unfathomable reaches of the world beyond, stretching into time and place, as well as the past, present and future and into what takes place both in this life and in our imagination.
“他知道陆地和海洋中所有的事物。”（第59节）。这里描绘的是可见的世界，它向地平线无限延伸，使我们所看到的世界仿佛延展为无限的存在，从而与超越其外的无限世界相互协调。
“He knows all that the land and sea contain.” (Verse 59). The picture here is of the seen world, stretching infinitely over the horizon so that the world we see is stretched into an infinite existence to provide harmony with the limitless nature of the world beyond.
“没有一片叶子落下，他不知道。”（第59节）这描绘了死亡的运行，即生命终结后从高处坠落并消失的过程。
“Not a leaf falls, but He knows it.” (Verse 59). This depicts the movement of death, the fall from above and disappearance after the end of life.
“地底深处的黑暗之中，也没有一粒种子不被记录。”（第59节）这描绘了生长与生命的运动：从深处开始，向上升至地表。我们看到死的东西复活，静止的东西充满活力地向前涌动。
“Neither is there a grain in the earth’s deep darkness.” (Verse 59). This depicts the movement of growth and life, starting in the deep and going up onto the surface. We see how the dead quickens and the idle moving forward with vigour.
“也没有任何新鲜或干枯的东西，不被记载在明白的经典里。”（第59节）这是一个总括性的概述，涵盖了生命与死亡，以及大地上一切有生命之物的繁荣与凋零。除了真主，还有谁能以如此素材开篇，描绘出如此宏大的图景？又有谁能赋予它如此的美妙与和谐，增添其卓越之处？除了真主，还有谁能做到这一点？13
“Nor anything fresh or dry but is recorded in a clear book.” (Verse 59) This is an overall generalization that comprises both life and death, the thriving and the withering away of everything that lives on earth. Who other than God would begin with such material in order to paint such an expansive scene? And who would give it such beauty and harmony to add to its excellence? Who other than God can do that?13
他知道那进入大地的，和从大地出来的，以及从天降下的，和升入天空的。他是至慈的，至恕的。
Let us now take another example expressing the same idea: “He knows all that enters the earth, and all that comes out of it, as well as all that descends from the skies, and all that ascends to them. And He alone is the Most-merciful, Truly forgiving.” (34: 2)
请稍作思考这幅仅用寥寥数语勾勒出的画面,你便会看到无穷无尽的事物、运动、形状、大小、形态与抽象之物,它们超出了人的想象。即便世上所有人终其一生,将全部注意力都用来观察并计算某一瞬间所发生的事情,也就是这节经文所指的一切,他们也无法编制出一份他们能够确信其完整的清单。
Reflect for a moment on this image drawn with the use of only a few words and you will see an endless number of things, movements, shapes, sizes, forms and abstractions that defy the imagination. Should all the people on earth dedicate their entire attention throughout their lives to monitoring and enumerating what takes place in a single moment, of all that to which this verse refers, they would not be able to compile a comprehensive list of which they would be certain.
在一瞬之间,有多少东西进入大地?有多少颗谷粒被埋入大地的每一个角落,又有多少找到了通往其中的路?请想一想,全球各处有多少虫子、昆虫、微粒和爬行动物钻入地表之下。请想一想,在大地广阔的每一寸,有多少水滴、气体分子,以及射线和辐射进入大地。想想这一切,并记住:这一切都在被真主注视着,祂的眼睛从不眨动。
How many things enter the earth in a single moment? How many grains are buried into all corners of the earth, and how many find their way into them? Think for a moment of the number of worms, insects, particles and crawlers that go underneath the surface of the earth throughout the globe. Think of the number of drops of water, gas molecules as well as rays and radiation that go into the earth at every point of its vast expanse. Think of all this and remember that it is all watched by God whose eyes never blink.
那么,从大地中涌现出来的东西有多少呢?有多少植物破土而出,有多少泉水喷涌而出,有多少火山喷发,有多少气体四散开来?有多少被埋藏的东西显露出来,又有多少昆虫从藏身之处爬了出来?在一瞬之间,从大地中涌现出来的事物,无论是可见的还是不可见的,为人所知的还是未知的,究竟有多少?这个数目是人类无法计算的。
Then how many things come out of the earth? How many plants shoot up, springs issue forth, volcanoes erupt, and gases spread out? How many buried things reveal themselves, and how many insects come out of their hiding places? How many are those things, visible or invisible, known to humans or unknown, that come out of the earth in a single moment? The number is beyond human reckoning.
请思考从天空降下的种种事物：雨滴、流星、灿烂的光芒，以及其他带给我们光明的光线。也请思考真主为成就祂的旨意所降下的每一道命令，以及真主赐予整个宇宙或特定受造物的慈悯；再想想真主赐给祂仆人的种种给养，有的丰盈充足，有的则有所限制。这一切都从天空降下，还有许多只有真主自己才知道的事物，同样如此。
Reflect on the number of things that come down from the skies: the drops of rain, the meteors, the blazing rays and other rays that bring us light. Think also of every divine command brought down to accomplish God’s will, and the mercy God bestows on the whole universe or on particular creatures; and think of all the provisions God grants to His servants in abundance or in restricted measure. All this comes down from the skies, as do numerous other things known only to God Himself.
请也思考一下那些升上天空的事物：每一株植物、每一只动物、每一个人，或其他任何造物，呼出了多少口气息飘向空中？有多少祈祷，无论是公开的还是私下的，被献给真主，只有真主听见？再想想那些被聚集到真主面前的造物灵魂；那些传达真主命令的天使，以及其他除真主之外无人知晓、四处游行的灵体。还要想想，从海洋中升起了多少水汽微粒，又有多少来自各类造物的气体分子升向高空。
Reflect also on what ascends to the skies: how many breaths of air come out of every plant, animal, human or other creature? How many supplications are addressed to God in public or in private, heard only by God? Think of the spirits of creatures that are gathered to God; the angels carrying God’s orders, and other spirits that go about totally unknown to anyone other than God. Think also how many particles of vapour ascend from the seas, and how many gas molecules ascend from different types of creation.
有多少事情是在同一瞬间发生的？人类需要多少知识才能记录下某一瞬间所发生的一切？
How many of all these take place in a single moment? How much knowledge do human beings need to make a record of all that takes place in a single moment?
即便他们穷其一生去做这样的计算与记录，难道能够做到吗？然而，真主的知识圆满而完善，无时无刻、无处不在地涵盖着这一切。确实，每一颗心、每一个念头、每一个意图、每一次举动与每一次停顿，都在真主的注视之下。然而，祂的恩慈使这些事情保持隐秘，并且祂也常常宽恕，因为“祂确是至慈的，至宥的”。（34：2）
Would they come close even if they devoted a lifetime to such counting and recording? But God’s knowledge, which is complete and perfect, encompasses all that at every moment and every place. Indeed every heart and mind, every intention and thought, every movement and stoppage is under God’s watchful eye. Yet His grace ensures that they remain private, and He also often forgives, for “He alone is the Most-merciful, Truly forgiving.” (34: 2)
诚然，古兰经中有许多类似的经文表明，它并非人类所作。
Indeed many similar verses of the Qur’ān indicate that it is not of human writing.
这样宏大的宇宙性思想，并非人类自身所能产生，因为人的天性中并不存在引发此类思想的根源。而且，那些以简练笔触涵盖无垠宇宙的表达，表明它们出自宇宙的创造者，其风格是任何人都无法效仿的。
Such cosmic thoughts do not occur to human beings, because there is nothing in human nature that gives rise to them. Moreover, the simple touches that serve to encompass a universal expanse indicate that they come from the Maker of the universe, whose style no one can emulate.
有些在我们看来似乎微不足道的事物与事件，《古兰经》却常常用它们来证明重大的道理。在这里，它们以另一种面貌呈现，表明它们实际上非常重要，并且最适合用来证明所要阐明的道理。例如：“是我创造了你们，你们为何不信真理呢？你们可曾想过你们所射出的精液？是你们造出了它，还是我是它的创造者呢？我确已注定死亡将在你们中间存在；但没有任何力量能阻止我改变你们的存在形式，以你们尚未知晓的方式使你们重新被造。你们既然确实了解自己最初被造的奇迹，那么，你们为何不思念我呢？你们可曾想过你们撒在土地里的种子？是你们使它生长，还是我是它生长的原因呢？因为，若我愿意，我确实能使它变成麦秆；你们就会困惑而悲叹：‘我们确实毁了！不，我们是被剥夺了生计了！’你们可曾想过你们所饮的水？是你们使它从云中降下，还是我是它降下的原因呢？若我愿意，我能使它变得咸苦难咽：那么，你们为何不感恩呢？你们可曾想过你们所点燃的火？是你们创造了作为它燃料的树木，还是我是它出现的原因呢？是我使它成为一种提醒（使你们想起我）的事物，并成为一切在荒野中（在他们生命中）迷失和饥饿之人的安慰。那么，你应当颂扬你主伟大名字的无限荣耀。”（56：57-74）
Certain things and happenings which appear to us to be of little significance are often used by the Qur’ān to prove great concepts. Here they are portrayed in a different light showing them to be very important indeed, and most fitting to prove the concepts in question. For example: “It is We who have created you: why, then, do you not accept the truth? Have you ever considered that seed which you emit? Is it you who create it, or are We the source of its creation? We have indeed decreed that death shall be ever- present among you; but there is nothing to prevent Us from changing the nature of your existence and bringing you into being anew in a manner as yet unknown to you. And since you are indeed aware of the miracle of your coming into being in the first instance, why, then, do you not bethink yourselves of Us? Have you ever considered the seed which you cast upon the soil? Is it you who cause it to grow, or are We the cause of its growth? For, were it Our will, We could indeed turn it into chaff; and you would be left to wonder and to lament, ‘Indeed we are ruined! Nay, but we have been deprived of our livelihood!’ Have you ever considered the water which you drink? Is it you who cause it to come down from the clouds or are We the cause of its coming down? Were it Our will, We could make it burningly salty and bitter: why, then, do you not give thanks? Have you ever considered the fire which you kindle? Is it you who have brought into being the tree that serves as its fuel, or are We the cause of its coming into being? It is We who have made it a means to remind [you of Us], and a comfort for all who are lost and hungry in the wilderness [of their lives]. Extol, then, the limitless glory of your Lord’s mighty name.” (56: 57-74)
《古兰经》将这些人们熟知的现象提升为具有普遍意义的重大问题:它揭示宇宙中的伟大法则,奠定深厚信仰与完整生活方式的基础。同时,它使这些寻常的景象成为思考与沉思的中心,成为滋润心灵、唤醒情感与敏锐感知的工具。它提醒人们注意那些他们常常忽视的现象,尽管这些现象从早到晚都呈现在他们眼前。它使人们对宇宙中发生的奇妙而神异的事件保持敏感。它不让人们依赖特殊的、超自然的、罕见的事件。它也不要求人们去寻找与他们及其生活格格不入的奇迹与迹象,或去探究远离他们自身世界所遵循的自然法则。它也不引导人们钻研复杂的哲学、纠缠不清的逻辑问题,或并非人人都能理解的科学实验,以便在心中构建一种信仰和基于此的人生观。
The Qur’ān makes of such familiar phenomena universal issues of great importance, revealing the great laws in the universe, and formulating the basis of a profound faith and a complete way of existence. At the same time, it makes these familiar happenings the centre of thought and contemplation, a tool that refreshes hearts and souls and awakens feelings and sensitivities. It alerts people to phenomena which they tend to overlook although they are in front of them morning and evening. It makes them sensitive to the wonderful and miraculous events that take place in the universe. It does not leave them in need of special, preternatural and infrequent events. Nor does it require them to look for miracles and signs that are alien to them and to their lives, or to look far beyond the laws of nature that affect their own world. It does not lead them to dig into complex philosophies, entangled questions of logic, or scientific experiments that may not be comprehensible to all, in order to formulate in their minds a faith and a concept of life based on it.
他们自身是由真主创造的，他们周围运转的自然现象也是依照祂的旨意而运行的。祂所创造的一切都是奇迹。此外，《古兰经》是祂自己的经典。因此，它引导人们去思考存在于他们自身之中或他们所处世界中的奇迹。它牵引着他们去反思那些对他们而言熟悉的奇迹，而正因为太过熟悉，这些奇迹反而被忽视和漠视。它打开他们的双眼，使他们看见蕴含在其存在之中的伟大奥秘。这奥秘即是创造的大能和真主绝对的独一性之奥秘，也是在他们自身和周围宇宙中运行的永恒神圣律法之奥秘。这一律法包含了指向信仰真理并作为其证明的一切迹象。它们在人的天性之中被唤醒、变得鲜活。
They themselves are made by God, and the natural phenomena functioning all around them are set in operation by His will. Everything that He creates is miraculous. Moreover, the Qur’ān is His own book. Hence, it turns their minds to the miracles that are within them or present in their own world. It leads them by the hand to reflect on the miracles that are familiar to them, but because of this familiarity are overlooked and ignored. It opens their eyes to make them see the great secret that is embodied in their existence. It is the secret of the creative power and God’s absolute oneness, and the secret of the eternal divine law that operates in their own selves and in the universe around them. This law embodies all the pointers to, and proofs of, the truth of faith. These are brought alive within their human nature.
这正是《古兰经》所采用的方法:它描述真主大能的种种迹象,这些迹象见于人类自身的被造、他们所种植的植物、他们所饮的水,以及他们所点燃的火。这些都是人们时时刻刻都能看到的最基本的事物。经文还描绘了尘世生命终结、后世生命开始的那一刻。这一刻将降临于每一个人,届时人力所及的一切都将毫无用处。由此,《古兰经》使所有人直面真主的绝对权能,祂掌管着整个宇宙。
This is the method followed in the Qur’ān as it portrays aspects of God’s power seen in people’s own creation, in the plants they grow, the water they drink and the fire they kindle. These are among the most basic things that they see all the time. It also portrays the moment when life on earth comes to its end, and the life of the other world begins. This is the moment which will be faced by everyone, when nothing within human power is of any avail. Thus the Qur’ān brings all human beings face to face with God’s absolute power which controls the whole universe.
没有任何争辩的余地，任何借口都站不住脚。真理正直视着每一个人的眼睛。
There is no room for any argument. No excuse is valid. The truth stares people in the eye.
《古兰经》论述人性的方式本身就是其来源的证明。赋予宇宙存在的，正是同一个本源。它的结构也遵循着构建宇宙的同一方法：最简单的物质被用来造就最精妙的形态与形式，也被用来造就最庞大、最伟大的造物。人们认为，原子是构成宇宙的物质，细胞则是构成生命的物质。原子虽然微小，本身便是一个奇迹。同样，微小的细胞也是一大奇观。在《古兰经》中，最简单、最熟悉的事物被用来阐明最深刻的宗教信仰与最广阔的普世哲学。所描绘的景象都是人人所知、人人所经历的：子嗣、植物、水、火与死亡。即便是远古时代居于洞穴中的原始人，也曾目睹胚胎生命的开端、植物的萌芽、水的流淌、火的燃起，以及死亡的时刻。《古兰经》正是基于这些对所有人而言都十分熟悉的景象，阐发其信仰理念。如此一来，《古兰经》便能将其信息传达给每一个社群中的每一个人。然而，这些简单而熟悉的景象，却浓缩着宇宙的伟大真理与真主大能最深邃的奥秘。它们虽然简朴，却直抵人性的普遍本质，其伟大之处，将始终是最有学识的科学家与学者们持续探究的核心课题，直至世界的尽头。
The Qur’ānic method of addressing human nature is itself a proof of its source. It is indeed the same source that has given the universe its existence. Its very structure follows the same method of building the universe. The most simple of material is used to produce the most sophisticated shapes and forms, as well as the largest and greatest of creatures. It is thought that the atom is the matter from which the universe is built, and the cell is the matter from which life is formed. Minute as it is, the atom is itself a miracle. Similarly, the tiny cell is a great wonder. In the Qur’ān, the most simple and familiar things are used to formulate the most profound religious beliefs and the broadest universal philosophy. The scenes portrayed are those known and experienced by everyone. They are concerned with offspring, plants, water, fire and death. Even the most primitive man, in his old cave has witnessed the inception of embryonic life, the shoot of a plant, the fall of water, the kindling of fire and the moment of death. On the basis of these scenes, familiar as they are to all human beings, the Qur’ān formulates its ideological beliefs. In this way, the Qur’ān is able to address its message to every human being in every community. But these simple and familiar scenes epitomize the great truth of the universe, and most profound secrets of God’s ability. Simple as they are, they address human nature in general, and their greatness remains the central preoccupation of the most knowledgeable of scientists and scholars to the end of time.