当我们邀请人们信仰伊斯兰时,无论对方是信士还是非信士,都应牢记一个事实。这一事实是伊斯兰自身的特征,也可以从其历史中看到。伊斯兰是一种关于生命与宇宙的完整理念,具有其独特的特征。由此衍生出的关于人类生活各方面及其相互关系的观念,同样是一套自成体系、具有其特定特征的完整制度。这一理念从根本上与一切新旧的蒙昧(Jahili)观念相对立。尽管在某些细节上,伊斯兰与蒙昧观念之间可能存在相似之处,但就这些细节所由以衍生的根本原则而言,伊斯兰的理念与人类所熟知的其他一切学说都截然不同。

When we invite people to Islam, whether they are Believers or non-believers, we should keep in mind one fact, a fact which is a characteristic of Islam itself and which can be seen in its history. Islam is a comprehensive concept of life and the universe with its own unique characteristics. The concept of human life in all its aspects and relationships which are derived from it is also a complete system which has its particular characteristics. This concept is basically against all the new or old jahili concepts. Although there might be some details in which there are similarities between Islam and the jahili concepts, in relation to the principles from which these particulars are derived, the Islamic concept is different from all other theories with which man has been familiar.

伊斯兰的第一职能，在于依照这一理念塑造人类生活，赋予其切实可行的形态，并在世界上建立一套由真主所规定的制度；正是为了这一目的，真主兴起了这个穆斯林民族，使其成为全人类的现实典范。至高无上的真主说：

The first function of Islam is that it molds human life according to this concept and gives it a practical form, and establishes a system in the world which has been prescribed by God; and for this very purpose God has raised this Muslim nation to be a practical example for mankind. God Most High says:

你们是为人类而被推出的最优秀的民族：你们提倡善事，禁止恶事，并且信仰真主。(3:110)

"You are the best community raised for the good of mankind. You enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil, and you believe in God". (3:110)

他如此描述这个群体：

and He characterizes this community as follows:

"那些人，如果我们使他们在大地上获得权力，他们就会谨守拜功，完纳天课，劝善戒恶。"（22:41）

"Those who, if We give them authority in the land, establish regular prayers, pay Zakat, enjoin good, and forbid evil." (22:41)

伊斯兰的使命不是向当今世上流行的蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）观念妥协，也不是与蒙昧制度共处于同一片土地之上。伊斯兰初现于世时并非如此，今后和将来也不会如此。无论蒙昧属于哪个时代，它都是蒙昧，即偏离了对独一真神的崇拜，偏离了真主所规定的生活方式。它的制度、法律、规章、习俗、准则和价值观，都源自真主之外的来源。反之，伊斯兰就是顺服真主，其使命是引导人们脱离蒙昧，走向伊斯兰。

It is not the function of Islam to compromise with the concepts of Jahiliyyah which are current in the world or to coexist in the same land together with a jahili system. This was not the case when it first appeared in the world, nor will it be today or in the future. Jahiliyyah, to whatever period it belongs, is Jahiliyyah; that is, deviation from the worship of One God and the way of life prescribed by God. It derives its system and laws and regulations and habits and standards and values from a source other than God. On the other hand, Islam is submission to God, and its function is to invite people away from Jahiliyyah toward Islam.

"Jahiliyyah"（蒙昧时代）是指一部分人崇拜另一部分人；也就是说，某些人掌握了支配地位，为他人制定法律，而不论这些法律是否违背真主的命令，也不在意他们对权力的运用是否得当或是否滥用。

Jahiliyyah is the worship of some people by others; that is to say, some people become dominant and make laws for others, regardless of whether these laws are against God's injunctions and without caring for the use or misuse of their authority.

另一方面，伊斯兰教是人们唯独崇拜真主，从真主的权威中推导出观念与信仰、律法与制度以及价值观，并使自己摆脱对真主仆人的奴役。

Islam, on the other hand, is people's worshipping God alone, and deriving concepts and beliefs, laws and regulations and values from the authority of God, and freeing themselves from servitude to God's servants.

这正是伊斯兰的本质，也是它在大地上所承担之使命的本质。无论我们邀请的对象是穆斯林还是非穆斯林，都应当着重强调这一点。

This is the very nature of Islam and the nature of its role on the earth. This point should be emphasized to anyone whomsoever we invite to Islam, whether they be Muslims or non-Muslims.

伊斯兰不能接受与蒙昧时代（Jahiliyyah）有任何混杂，无论是在其理念上，还是在由此理念衍生出的生活方式上。要么伊斯兰存在，要么蒙昧时代存在；伊斯兰不能接受或同意一种半是伊斯兰、半是蒙昧时代的状况。在这一点上，伊斯兰的立场非常明确。它说，真理是唯一的，不可分割；如果它不是真理，那么它就必定是谬误。真理与谬误的混杂和并存是不可能的。主权属于真主，否则就属于蒙昧时代；真主的沙里亚将占据主导，否则就是人们的私欲。

Islam cannot accept any mixing with Jahiliyyah, either in its concept or in the modes of living which are derived from this concept. Either Islam will remain, or Jahiliyyah: Islam cannot accept or agree to a situation which is half-Islam and half-Jahiliyyah. In this respect Islam's stand is very clear. It says that the truth is one and cannot be divided; if it is not the truth, then it must be falsehood. The mixing and co- existence of the truth and falsehood is impossible. Command belongs to God, or otherwise to Jahiliyyah; God's Shari'ah will prevail, or else people's desires.

"且你应当依照真主所降示的，在他们之间作出裁决，不要顺从他们的私欲，并要提防他们，免得他们使你偏离真主所降示你的某些启示。"（5:49）

"And judge between them according to what God has revealed, and do not follow their opinions, and beware of them lest they confuse you in matters which God has revealed to you." (5:49)

因此,你要去号召他们,并坚定地遵循你所奉到的命令,不要顺从他们的私欲。(42:15)

"Then invite them to this, and remain firmly committed to what you have been commanded, and do not follow their desires." (42:15)

“如果他们不回应你，那么你应当知道，他们只是在追随自己的私欲；谁比那些违背真主的指引、追随自己私欲的人更迷失呢？真主确实不引导不义的人。”（28:50）

"And if they do not respond to you, then know that they are following their own opinions; and who can be more misguided than one who follows his own opinion against the guidance from God? Indeed, God does not guide the wicked people". (28:50)

{我们已经使你遵循一条由真主所定的道路，你就遵循它吧，不要顺从那些无知者的私欲。他们在真主面前，绝不能为你做什么。不义的人，彼此互为盟友；敬畏者的盟友，是真主。}(45:18)

"We have set you on a way ordained (by God); then follow it, and do not follow the desires of those who have no knowledge. They will not avail thee anything before God. Surely the evil-doers are friends of one another, and God is the Friend of the Godfearing." (45:18)

"难道他们想要的是蒙昧时代的判决吗？对于确信的民众来说，谁的判决比真主更好呢？"（5:50） Note: The rules say to write "God" as the Chinese word for God, never "Allah," and the standard Chinese Muslim rendering of this word is 真主. Following the rule strictly, the translation should read: "难道他们想要的是蒙昧时代的判决吗？对于确信的民众来说，谁的判决比神更好呢？"（5:50）

"Do they want a judgment from the Days of Ignorance? Yet who is better in judgment than God, for a people having sure faith? (5:50)

这些经文清楚表明，只有两条路，不存在第三种可能：要么顺服真主和祂的使者ﷺ，要么遵从蒙昧时代（Jahiliyyah）的做法。如果不以真主所降的律法作为裁决的依据，那么人必然会偏离它。真主至高无上的这一明确而确定的命令之后，不存在任何争议的余地，也不存在任何推诿的借口。

These verses make it clear that there are only two ways, and no third possibility exists: either to submit to God and His Messenger - peace be on him - or else to follow Jahiliyyah. If the law given by God is not made the arbiter, then naturally one will deviate from it. After this clear and decisive injunction from God Most High there is no room for any controversy or excuse-making.

伊斯兰在世间的首要责任，是将蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）从人类的领导地位上推翻，由伊斯兰自己掌握领导权，并推行其固有的、恒久不变的特定生活方式。这种得到正确引导的领导，其目的在于人类的福祉与成功：福祉来自回归造物主，成功来自与宇宙万物和谐相处。其意图是将人类提升到真主为他们所选定的崇高地位，并使他们脱离私欲的奴役。 拉比尔·本·阿米尔在回答波斯军队总司令鲁斯塔姆时，便阐明了这一宗旨。鲁斯塔姆问道："你们为何而来？"拉比尔回答说："真主派遣我们，是要把任何愿意的人从崇拜人的奴役中解救出来，归于唯独崇拜真主；从今世的狭隘解救到今世与后世的广阔；从各种宗教的暴政解救到伊斯兰的公正。" 伊斯兰的到来，并非为了迎合人们的私欲。这些私欲体现在人们的观念、制度、生活方式以及习俗与传统之中，无论它们在伊斯兰降临之时盛行，还是在今天，无论在东方还是西方盛行。伊斯兰不认可私欲的统治。它的到来，正是为了废除一切此类观念、法律、习俗与传统，并以一种新的人生观取代它们，在顺服造物主的根基上建立一个新的世界。 有时看来，伊斯兰的某些部分与蒙昧时代人们生活的某些方面相似，但这些方面并非蒙昧的，也不源自蒙昧。这种在一些次要层面上的表面相似，纯属巧合；两棵树的根源截然不同。伊斯兰之树是由真主的智慧栽培和滋养的，而蒙昧之树则是人类私欲土壤的产物。

The foremost duty of Islam in this world is to depose Jahiliyyah from the leadership of man, and to take the leadership into its own hands and enforce the particular way of life which is its permanent feature. The purpose of this rightly guided leadership is the good and success of mankind, the good which proceeds from returning to the Creator and the success which comes from being in harmony with the rest of the universe. The intention is to raise human beings to that high position which God has chosen for them and to free them from the slavery of desires. This purpose is explained by Raba'i bin 'Amer, when he replied to the commander-in- chief of the Persian army, Rustum. Rustum asked, "For what purpose have you come?" Raba'i answered, "God has sent us to bring anyone who wishes from servitude to men into the service of God alone, from the narrowness of this world into the vastness of this world and the Hereafter, from the tyranny of religions into the justice of Islam." Islam did not come to support people's desires, which are expressed in their concepts, institutions, modes of living, and habits and traditions, whether they were prevalent at the advent of Islam or are prevalent now, both in the East and in the West. Islam does not sanction the rule of selfish desires. It has come to abolish all such concepts, laws, customs and traditions, and to replace them with a new concept of human life, to create a new world on the foundation of submission to the Creator. Sometimes it appears that some parts of Islam resemble some aspects of the life of people in Jahiliyyah; but these aspects are not jahili nor are they from Jahiliyyah. This apparent resemblance in some minor aspects is a mere coincidence; the roots of the two trees are entirely different. The tree of Islam has been sown and nurtured by the wisdom of God, while the tree of Jahiliyyah is the product of the soil of human desires.

{"肥沃的土地，凭其主的许可，生长出良好的植物；而贫瘠的土地，所出的只是少量的（植物）。"}(7:58)

"The fertile piece of land grows good vegetation with the permission of its Lord, while the bad land brings forth but little." (7:58)

jāhilliyyah（蒙昧时代）无论属于古代还是现代，都是邪恶而败坏的。它在不同时代的外在表现或许各不相同，但其根源是相同的。它的根源是人的私欲，这些私欲使人无法摆脱无知与自大，并且被用来服务于某些个人、某些阶级、某些民族或某些种族的利益；这些利益往往压倒了对公正、真理与良善的追求。然而，真主纯洁的律法斩断了这些根源，提供了一套不受人为干预的法律体系，它既不受人的无知或私欲影响，也不为某一特定群体的利益而存在。

Jahiliyyah is evil and corrupt, whether it be of the ancient or modern variety. Its outward manifestations may be different during different epochs, yet its roots are the same. Its roots are human desires, which do not let people come out of their ignorance and self-importance, desires which are used in the interests of some persons or some classes or some nations or some races, which interests prevail over the demand for justice, truth and goodness. But the pure law of God cuts through these roots and provides a system of laws which has no human interference, and it is not influenced by human ignorance or human desire or for the interests of a particular group of people.

这正是真主所教导的生命观与人造理论之间的根本区别,因此不可能将二者糅合在同一套体系之下。试图构建一种半伊斯兰、半蒙昧(Jahiliyyah)的生活体系,是徒劳无益的。真主不宽恕任何与祂相联的行为,也不接受将任何东西掺入祂所启示的生活方式之中。在真主看来,两者同样属于以物配主(Shirk),因为两者都源自同一种心态。

This is the basic difference between the concept of life taught by God and man made theories, and hence it is impossible to gather them together under one system. It is fruitless to try to construct a system of life which is half-Islam and half-Jahiliyyah. God does not forgive any association with His person, and He does not accept any association with His revealed way of life. Both are equally Shirk in the sight of God, as both are the product of the same mentality.

这一真理应当牢牢地、清晰地铭刻在我们心中。当我们向人们介绍伊斯兰时,我们的舌头不应有所迟疑,我们也不应感到羞愧,更不应让人们心中存有任何疑虑,也不应放任他们,直到他们确信:如果他们遵循伊斯兰,他们的生活将会彻底改变。伊斯兰将彻底改变他们的人生观念以及行为方式。随着伊斯兰改变他们,它还会赐予他们难以想象的福泽:提升他们的观念,改善他们的行为方式,并使他们接近与人的生命相称的尊贵地位。他们过去深陷其中的蒙昧时代(Jahiliyyah)的种种模式,将荡然无存,只剩下一些细微之处,偶然与伊斯兰的某些方面相似。即便这些也不会保持原样,因为它们会与伊斯兰这一伟大的根本相结合,而这根本明显不同于他们此前所依附的根本,即蒙昧时代那无果而邪恶的根本。在这一过程中,伊斯兰不会剥夺他们任何基于科学观察的知识;事实上,它还极大地推动了这一方面的发展。

This truth ought to be firmly and clearly impressed on our minds, and when we present Islam to people our tongues should not hesitate to pronounce it, nor should we be ashamed, nor should we leave any doubt in people's minds, nor leave them until they are assured that if they follow Islam their lives will be completely changed. Islam will change their concepts of life as well as their modes of behavior completely. As it changes them, it bestows on them blessings beyond imagination by uplifting their concepts, improving their modes of behavior, and bringing them closer to the position of dignity worthy of human life. Nothing will remain of the modes of Jahiliyyah in which they were steeped, except some minor aspects which by accident appear similar to some aspects of Islam. Even these will not remain exactly the same as they become joined to the great root of Islam, which is clearly different from the root to which they had been joined so far, the fruitless and evil root of Jahiliyyah. During this process it will not deprive them of any of the knowledge based on scientific observation; indeed, it gives a great impetus in this direction.

当我们向人们传播伊斯兰时，我们有责任让他们明白：伊斯兰不是人造的宗教或意识形态，也不是人造的体系——无论它披着怎样的名称、旗帜和外在装饰——而就是伊斯兰，别无其他。伊斯兰有其自身永恒的特质、永恒的理念和永恒的模式。伊斯兰为人类保障了一种超越所有这些人造体系的福祉。伊斯兰高尚、纯洁、公正、美好，源自至高、至大的真主。

When we call people to Islam, it is our duty to make them understand that it is not one of the man-made religions or ideologies, nor is it a man-made system-with various names, banners and paraphernalia-but it is Islam, and nothing else. Islam has its own permanent personality and permanent concept and permanent modes. Islam guarantees for mankind a blessing greater than all these man-made systems. Islam is noble, pure, just, beautiful, springing from the source of the Most High, the Most Great God.

当我们以这种方式理解伊斯兰的本质时,这种理解本身就会在我们心中产生自信与力量、慈悲与同情,并在向世人呈现伊斯兰时体现出来:这是一个人的自信,他知道自己站在真理一边,而世人所拥有的则是虚妄;这是一个人的慈悲,他看到人类的苦难,并知道如何使他们得到解脱;这是一个人的同情,他看到世人的迷失,并知道至高的正道是什么。

When we understand the essence of Islam in this manner, this understanding in itself creates in us confidence and power compassion and sympathy, while presenting Islam to the people: the confidence of a man who knows that he is with the truth, while what the people have is falsehood; and the compassion of a person who sees the suffering of mankind and knows how to bring them to ease; and the sympathy of a person who sees the error of the people and knows what supreme guidance is.

我们不必为了迎合他们而去修饰伊斯兰，也不必去迁就他们的欲望和扭曲的观念。我们要对他们直言不讳："你们所生活的愚昧使你们不洁，而真主想要净化你们；你们所遵循的习俗令人污秽，而真主想要洗涤你们；你们所过的生活卑下，而真主想要提升你们；你们所处的境况困苦、抑郁而低贱，而真主想要赐予你们安宁、怜悯和美好。伊斯兰将改变你们的观念、你们的生活方式和你们的价值观；将把你们提升到另一种生活之中，使你们厌弃如今所过的生活；将向你们展示一些生活方式，使你们鄙视东方与西方的所有其他方式；将向你们介绍一些价值观，使你们轻视当今世界上所有的现行价值观。如果因为你们所处的悲惨境地，你们无法看清伊斯兰生活的真实图景，因为你们的敌人，也就是这一宗教的敌人，都联合起来反对这种生活方式的建立，反对它以实际的形式出现，那么就让我们向你们展示它吧；感谢真主，它的图景就在我们心中，透过我们《古兰经》、我们的沙里亚、我们的历史、我们对未来的观念之窗而被看见，而我们对其到来毫不怀疑！"这就是我们在介绍伊斯兰时应当向人们说话的方式。这是真理，也是伊斯兰最初向人们发出呼吁的方式；无论是在阿拉伯半岛、波斯，还是在罗马的各个行省，或是它所到达的其他任何地方，都是这种方式。

We need not rationalize Islam to them, need not appease their desires and distorted concepts. We will be extremely outspoken with them: "The ignorance in which you are living makes you impure, and God wants to purify you; the customs which you follow are defiling, and God wants to cleanse you; the life you are living is low, and God wants to uplift you; the condition which you are in is troublesome, depressing and base, and God wants to give you ease, mercy and goodness. Islam will change your concepts, your modes of living and your values; will raise you to another life so that you will look upon the life you are now living with disgust; will show you modes of living such that you will look upon all other modes, whether Eastern or Western, with contempt; and will introduce you to values such that you will look upon all current values in the world with disdain. And if, because of the sorry state you are in, you cannot see the true picture of the Islamic life, since your enemies-the enemies of this religion -are all united against the establishment of this way of life, against its taking a practical form, then let us show it to you; and, thank God, its picture is in our hearts, seen through the windows of our Qur'an, of our Shari'ah, of our history, of our concept of the future, whose coming we do not doubt!" This is the way in which we ought to address people while presenting Islam. This is the truth, and this was the form in which Islam addressed people for the first time; this was the form, whether it was in the Arabian peninsula, in Persia or in the Roman provinces, or in whatever other places it went.

伊斯兰从高处看待他们，因为这才是它真正的立场；它以极大的爱与仁慈向他们说话，因为这才是它真正的气质；它以完全清晰、毫无含糊的方式为他们阐明一切，因为这才是它的方法。它从未对他们说，它不会触动他们的生活方式、模式、观念和价值观，或者最多只是略作改动；它也没有为了迎合他们而将其制度或风俗与伊斯兰相提并论，不像今天有些人向世人介绍伊斯兰时，冠以"伊斯兰民主"或"伊斯兰社会主义"之名，或者有时说世界上现行的经济、政治或法律制度无需改变，只需稍作调整，便可在伊斯兰层面上被接受。所有这些合理化的论调，目的都是为了迎合人们的欲望！事实远非如此！从遍及大地的这种贾希利亚状态转向伊斯兰，是一场宏大而深远的变革；而伊斯兰的生活与一切贾希利亚的生活方式都截然相反，无论是古代的还是现代的。人类悲惨的处境，不会因为现行制度和模式中的几处小小改动而得到缓解。若没有这场宏大而深远的变革，人类永远无法摆脱困境：即从受造者的道路转向造物主的道路，从人类的制度转向人类主宰的制度，从仆人的命令转向众仆之主的命令。

Islam looked at them from a height, as this is its true position, and addressed them with extreme love and kindness, as this is its true temperament, and explained everything to them with complete clarity, without any ambiguity, as this is its method. It never said to them that it would not touch their way of living, their modes, their concepts and their values except perhaps slightly; it did not propose similarities with their system or manners to please them, as some do today when they present Islam to the people under the names of 'Islamic Democracy' or 'Islamic Socialism', or sometimes by saying that the current economic or political or legal systems in the world need not be changed except a little to be acceptable Islamically. The purpose of all this rationalization is to appease people's desires! Indeed, the matter is entirely different! The change from this Jahiliyyah, which has encompassed the earth, to Islam is vast and far-reaching; and the Islamic life is the opposite of all modes of jahili life, whether ancient or modern. The miserable state of mankind is not alleviated by a few minor changes in current systems and modes. Mankind will never come out of it without this vast and far-reaching change-the change from the ways of the created to the way of the Creator, from the systems of men to the system of the Lord of men, and from the commands of servants to the command of the Lord of servants.

这是一个事实——我们宣告这一事实，而且大声宣告，不让人们心中留有任何疑虑或模糊之处。

This is a fact - a fact which we proclaim, and proclaim loudly, without leaving any doubt or ambiguity in the minds of people.

起初,人们可能会不喜欢这种传达信息的方式,会躲避它,也会害怕它。然而,当伊斯兰教第一次呈现在他们面前时,人们确实不喜欢它、躲避它、害怕它。当穆罕默德ﷺ批评他们的观念,贬斥他们的神明,拒绝他们的行为方式,背离他们的习俗和惯例,并为自己以及与他同在的少数信士采纳了不同于蒙昧时代的行为方式、价值观和习俗时,他们厌恶、憎恨,并因此而受到伤害。

In the beginning, people may dislike this method of giving the message, may run away from it, and may be afraid of it. But the people disliked it, ran away from it, and were afraid of it when Islam was presented to them for the first time. They hated it and were hurt when Muhammad - peace be on him-criticized their concepts, derided their deities, rejected their ways of behavior, turned away from their habits and customs, and adopted for himself and for the few believers who were with him modes of behavior, values and customs other than the modes, values and customs of Jahiliyyah.

"那么,接下来发生了什么?他们所爱的,正是这同一个真理。起初它在他们看来是如此陌生,他们从它面前逃走,"仿佛是被狮子惊吓、四散奔逃的驴子"(74:50-51)。他们竭尽全力、用尽一切谋略来对抗它:在麦加,当信徒势单力薄时,便残酷地拷打他们;在麦地那,当他们势力壮大时,则不停地与他们作战。"

Then what happened? They loved the same truth which at first seemed so strange to them, from which they ran away "as if they were startled donkeys fleeing before a lion ..." (74:50-51), against which they fought with all their power and strategy, grievously torturing its adherents when they were weak in Mecca and fighting with them incessantly when they were strong in Medina.

伊斯兰的召唤在其最初阶段所面临的处境，并不比今天更有利或更好。它是一种不为蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）所接受的陌生事物；它被局限在麦加的山谷之中，遭到当权者和掌权者的驱逐；而且在当时，它对整个世界来说还是一个完全陌生的存在。它被强大而骄傲的帝国所包围，这些帝国与它的基本教义和宗旨相对立。尽管如此，它依然是一种强大的召唤，今天如此，将来也会一直如此。其真正力量的源泉隐藏在这一信仰的本质之中，正因如此，它能够在最恶劣的条件下运作，并面对最猛烈的反对。它的力量来自它所依托的那简单而清晰的真理。它平衡的教义符合人性——而人性无法长久忍受压抑——无论人类处于经济、社会、科学或智识发展的哪一个阶段，它都有能力引领人类走向进步。它力量的另一个秘密在于，它挑战蒙昧及其物质力量，却不肯为此改变其原则中哪怕一个字母。它不向蒙昧的倾向妥协，也不借助各种辩解。它大胆宣告真理，使人们明白它是善的，是慈悲与祝福。

The conditions which the Islamic Call had to face in its first period were not more favorable or better than the conditions of today. It was an unknown thing, rejected by Jahiliyyah; it was confined to the valley of Mecca, hounded by the people in power and authority; and, at that time, it was a complete stranger to the whole world. It was surrounded by mighty and proud empires which were against its basic teachings and purposes. In spite of all this it was a powerful Call, as it is powerful today and will remain powerful tomorrow. The source of its real power is hidden in the very nature of this belief; that is why it can operate under the worst conditions and in the face of the most severe opposition. It derives its power from the simple and clear truth on which it stands. Its balanced teachings are according to human nature-that nature which cannot tolerate any resistance for very long - and it is in its power to lead mankind over toward progress, no matter in what stage of economic, social, scientific or intellectual backwardness or development it may be. Another secret of its power is that it challenges Jahiliyyah and its physical power, without agreeing to change even a single letter of its principles. It does not compromise with jahili inclinations nor does it use rationalizations. It proclaims the truth boldly so that people may understand that it is good, that it is a mercy and a blessing.

真主创造了人类，知晓人的本性，也知道通往人心的道路。他知道人们在真理被大声、清晰、有力、毫不犹豫与怀疑地宣示时，会如何接受它！的确，人的本性中存在着从一种生活方式彻底转变为另一种生活方式的能力，而这种彻底的转变比许多局部的改变对人来说要容易得多。如果这种彻底的转变是从一种生活体系转向另一种更高级、更完善、更纯洁的体系，那么这种彻底的转变也符合人的心理。但是，如果伊斯兰体系不过是这里稍作改变、那里稍作调整，谁还会愿意从蒙昧时代（Jahiliyyah）的体系转向伊斯兰体系呢？继续沿用旧的体系反而更合乎逻辑。至少它已是既定的秩序，可以接受改良与变革；那又何必为了一个尚未确立或尚未施行的秩序而放弃它，尤其当新秩序在所有主要特征上仍与旧秩序相似的时候？

It is God Who created men and Who knows their nature and the passages to their hearts. He knows how they accept the truth when it is proclaimed boldly, clearly, forcefully, and without hesitation and doubt! Indeed, the capacity exists in human nature to change completely from one way of life to another; and this is much easier for it than many partial changes. And if the complete change were to be from one system of life to another which is higher, more perfect and purer than the former, this complete change is agreeable to human psychology. But who would be agreeable to changing from a system of Jahiliyyah to the system of Islam if the Islamic system were no more than a little change here and a little variation there? To continue with the former system is more logical. At least it is an established order, amenable to reform and change; then what is the need to abandon it for an order not yet established or applied, while it continues to resemble the old order in all its major characteristics?

我们也会遇到一些人，在谈论伊斯兰时，把它当作一种受到指控的东西来向人们呈现，并想为它辩护以反驳这些指控。他们的辩护之一是这样的："有人说现代制度做了这样那样的事，而伊斯兰没有做过类似的事。但请听好！伊斯兰早在现代文明出现之前大约一千四百年就已经做了这一切！"这样的辩护真是可悲！这样的辩护真是可耻！事实上，伊斯兰并不从蒙昧制度及其邪恶的衍生物那里寻求自己的依据。而那些令许多人眼花缭乱、使他们的精神为之屈服的所谓"文明"，其本质不过是一种蒙昧制度，与伊斯兰相比，这一制度是错误的、空洞的、毫无价值的。那种认为生活在这一制度之下的人比所谓伊斯兰国家或"伊斯兰世界"的人境况更好的论点，毫无分量。这些国家的人民之所以陷入如此悲惨的境地，是因为他们抛弃了伊斯兰，而不是因为他们是穆斯林。伊斯兰向人们提出的论断是：伊斯兰无疑好得超乎想象。它来是为了改变蒙昧，而不是延续蒙昧；是为了把人类从堕落中提升出来，而不是去祝福那些披着"文明"外衣的种种表现。

We also find some people who, when talking about Islam, present it to the people as if it were something which is being accused and they want to defend it against the accusation. Among their defenses, one goes like this: "It is said that modern systems have done such and such, while Islam did not do anything comparable. But listen! It did all this some fourteen hundred years before modern civilization!" Woe to such a defense! Shame on such a defense! Indeed, Islam does not take its justifications from the jahili system and its evil derivatives. And these 'civilizations', which have dazzled many and have defeated their spirits, are nothing but a jahili system at heart, and this system is erroneous, hollow and worthless in comparison with Islam. The argument that the people living under it are in a better condition than the people of a so-called Islamic country or "the Islamic world' has no weight. The people in these countries have reached this wretched state by abandoning Islam, and not because they are Muslims. The argument which Islam presents to people is this: Most certainly Islam is better beyond imagination. It has come to change Jahiliyyah, not to continue it; to elevate mankind from its depravity, and not to bless its manifestations which have taken the garb of 'civilization'.

我们不应当如此地被击败，以至于开始在当今的各种制度、某些当今的宗教或当今的思想中寻找与伊斯兰的相似之处。无论东方还是西方，我们都拒绝这些制度。我们全部拒绝它们，因为它们确实是落后的，并且与伊斯兰要引领人类走向的方向相悖。

We ought not to be defeated to such an extent that we start looking for similarities with Islam in the current systems or in some current religions or in some current ideas; we reject these systems in the East as well as in the West. We reject them all, as indeed they are retrogressive and in opposition to the direction toward which Islam intends to take mankind.

当我们以这种方式与人们交谈，向他们呈现伊斯兰综合体系的基本信息时，他们从一种观念转向另一种观念、从一种生活方式转向另一种生活方式的理由，将会从他们内心的深处自然生发出来。但我们不会用这种无力的论证去对他们说："从目前已经确立的制度，转向尚未付诸实施的制度；这只会对既有秩序作出一点小小的改变。你们不必反对，照旧做你们一直在做的事即可。这只会要求你们在习惯、举止和爱好上稍作调整，并会保留你们所喜爱的一切，只会极其轻微地触及它。"这种方法表面上看似简便，但其中毫无吸引力；而且，它也不是建立在真理之上的。

When we address people in this fashion and present to them the basic message of the comprehensive concept of Islam, the justification for changing from one concept to another, from one mode of living to another, will come from the very depths of their being. But we will not address them with this ineffective argument, saying: "Come from a system which is currently established to a system not yet applied; it will make only a little change in the established order. You should have no objection; you can continue to do what you have been doing. It will not bother you except to ask for a few changes in your habits, manners and inclinations, and will preserve for you whatever pleases you and will not touch it except very slightly." On the surface this method seems easy, but there is no attraction in it; moreover, it is not based on the truth.

事实是，伊斯兰教不仅改变观念与态度，也改变制度与模式、法律与习俗，因为这种改变是如此根本，以至于它与蒙昧时代（Jahili）的生活方式——即人类当前所过的生活——之间不可能保留任何关系。只需说，它在总体上和个别上，都使人们从奴役于人的状态，转而服务于独一的真主，便已足够。

The truth is that Islam not only changes concepts and attitudes, but also the system and modes, laws and customs, since this change is so fundamental that no relationship can remain with the jahili way of life, the life which mankind is living. It is sufficient to say that it brings them both in general and in particular from servitude to men into the service of God, Who is One:

"信与不信，随其所愿。""若有人拒绝，则真主无需众生。"问题的实质在于不信与信仰、以他物与真主同列与真主的独一、蒙昧无知（Jahiliyyah）与伊斯兰之间的区别。这一点必须讲清楚。诚然，人们只要仍过着蒙昧无知的生活，就不是他们自称的穆斯林。如果有人想要欺骗自己，或者想要欺骗他人，认为伊斯兰可以与这种蒙昧无知相协调，那是他的事。但即便这种欺骗针对他人，也无法改变实际的真相。这不是伊斯兰，他们也不是穆斯林。如今，传播使命的任务，就是把这些无知的人重新引向伊斯兰，让他们再一次成为穆斯林。

"Believe if one wishes or reject if one wishes." "And if one rejects, then God is independent of His creation," I he question in essence is that of unbelief and belief, of associating others with God and the Oneness of God, and of Jahiliyyah and Islam. This ought to be made clear. Indeed, people are not Muslims, as they proclaim to be, as long as they live the life of Jahiliyyah. If someone wishes to deceive himself or to deceive others by believing that Islam can be brought in line with this Jahiliyyah, it is up to him. But whether this deception is for others, it cannot change anything of the actual reality. This is not Islam, and they are not Muslims. Today the task of the Call is to return these ignorant people to Islam and make them into Muslims all over again.

我们邀请人们皈依伊斯兰，并不是为了从他们那里获得任何回报；我们不为自己索求任何东西，我们的核算与回报也不在人们那里。实际上，我们邀请人们皈依伊斯兰，是因为我们爱他们，希望他们好，即使他们可能会折磨我们；这正是伊斯兰宣教者的品格，也是他的动机。人们有权从我们这里了解伊斯兰的本质，了解它为他们规定的义务的性质，以及它赐予他们的伟大恩典。他们也有权知道，他们所处的状态的本质不过是蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）；它确实就是蒙昧，其中没有任何属于伊斯兰的东西。只要它不是沙里亚，它就只是私欲；只要它不是真理，它就是虚妄——真理之外还能是什么，除了虚妄！我们的伊斯兰中，没有任何需要我们羞于启齿或焦虑去辩护的东西；也没有任何需要借欺骗偷偷塞给人们的东西，我们也不会掩盖它所宣告的响亮真理。这是一种战败的心态，在西方面前战败，在东方面前战败，在这样那样的蒙昧模式面前战败；这种心态存在于一些自称“穆斯林”的人身上，他们在人造制度中寻找与伊斯兰相似之处，或借助蒙昧文明的行为，为伊斯兰的做法及其在某些问题上的裁决寻找理由。

We are not inviting people to Islam to obtain some reward from them; we do not desire anything at all for ourselves, nor is our accounting and reward with the people. Indeed, we invite people to Islam because we love them and we wish them well, although they may torture us; and this is the characteristic of the caller to Islam and this is his motivation. The people are entitled to learn from us the nature of Islam and the nature of the obligations it imposes on them, as well as the great blessing which it bestows on them. They are also entitled to know that the nature of what they are doing is nothing but Jahiliyyah; it is indeed Jahiliyyah, with nothing in it from Islam. It is mere desire as long as it is not the Shari'ah; and it is falsehood as long as it is not the truth - and what is beyond the truth but falsehood! There is nothing in our Islam of which we are ashamed or anxious about defending; there is nothing in it to be smuggled to the people with deception, nor do we muffle the loud truth which it proclaims. This is the defeated mentality, defeated before the West and before the East and before this and that mode of Jahiliyyah, which is found in some people - 'Muslims' - who search for resemblances to Islam in man-made systems, or who find justification for the actions of Islam and its decision concerning certain matters by means of the actions of jahili civilization.

一个感到需要辩护、辩解和道歉的人，是无法向人们介绍伊斯兰的。事实上，这样的人过着蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）的生活，空洞而充满矛盾、缺陷与恶行，并且想要为他所处的蒙昧寻找借口。这些人是伊斯兰的冒犯者，他们还会迷惑一些真诚的人。他们以所谓的辩护模糊了伊斯兰的真实本质，仿佛伊斯兰是一个站在法庭上的被告，急于为自己辩护。

A person who feels the need of defense, justification and apology is not capable of presenting Islam to people. Indeed, he is a person who lives the life of Jahiliyyah, hollow and full of contradictions, defects and evils, and intends to provide justification for the Jahiliyyah he is in. These are the offenders against Islam and they distract some sincere persons. They confuse Islam's true nature by their defense, as if Islam were something accused standing at trial, anxious for its own defense.

在我留居美国期间,有一些这样的人常与我们争论,我们这少数被认为站在伊斯兰一边的人。他们中有人采取辩护和辩解的立场。而我则采取攻击西方蒙昧(Jahiliyyah)的立场,攻击它摇摇欲坠的宗教信仰、它的社会和经济模式,以及它的种种不道德行为:"请看三位一体、原罪、献祭与救赎这些观念,它们既不合乎理性,也不合乎良心。请看这种资本主义,它的垄断、高利贷以及其中一切不公正之处;请看这种个人自由,它缺乏人类的同情心,除非在法律的强制之下,否则对亲属也不负责任;请看这种使精神麻木的唯物主义态度;请看你们称之为'男女自由混杂'的、如同动物般的行为;请看你们称之为'妇女解放'的这种粗俗;请看这些不公平而繁琐的婚姻与离婚法律,它们违背了实际生活的需要;再看伊斯兰,它的逻辑、美丽、人道与幸福,它达到了人类所追求却未能抵达的境界。它是一种切实可行的生活方式,其解决之道建立在人之天性纯正的基础之上。"这些就是我们所遇到的西方生活的现实。这些事实一旦用伊斯兰的光来照射,就让美国人感到羞愧。然而,也有一些人——伊斯兰的代言者——在这蒙昧所浸染的污秽面前败下阵来,甚至去西方这堆垃圾之中,以及东方那邪恶而肮脏的唯物主义之中,寻找与伊斯兰相似之处。

During my stay in the United States, there were some people of this kind who used to argue with us-with us few who were considered to be on the side of Islam. Some of them took the position of defense and justification. I, on the other hand, took the position of attacking the Western Jahiliyyah, its shaky religious beliefs, its social and economic modes, and its immoralities: "Look at these concepts of the Trinity, Original Sin, Sacrifice and Redemption, which are agreeable neither to reason nor to conscience. Look at this capitalism with its monopolies, its usury and whatever else is unjust in it; at this individual freedom, devoid of human sympathy and responsibility for relatives except under the force of law; at this materialistic attitude which deadens the spirit; at this behavior, like animals, which you call 'Free mixing of the sexes; at this vulgarity which you call 'emancipation of women,' at these unfair and cumbersome laws of marriage and divorce, which are contrary to the demands of practical life; and at Islam, with its logic, beauty, humanity and happiness, which reaches the horizons to which man strives but does not reach. It is a practical way of life and its solutions are based on the foundation of the wholesome nature of man." These were the realities of Western life which we encountered. These facts, when seen in the light of Islam, made the American people blush. Yet there are people-exponents of Islam-who are defeated before this filth in which Jahiliyyah is steeped, even to the extent that they search for resemblances to Islam among this rubbish heap of the West, and also among the evil and dirty materialism of the East.

诚然，我们这些向世人传播伊斯兰的人，无论来自蒙昧时代（Jahiliyyah）的观念、方式和传统施加多大的压力，我们都绝不会顺从其中的任何一项。

After this, there is no need for me to say: Certainly we who present Islam to the people are not the ones to go along with any of the concepts, modes and traditions of Jahiliyyah however great its pressure on us may be.

我们的首要任务是用伊斯兰的理念和传统取代这种蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）。这不可能通过一开始就认同蒙昧，并与之同行几步来实现，而我们中有些人认为应当这样做。因为这样做就等于从一开始就接受了失败。

Our first task is to replace this Jahiliyyah with Islamic ideas and traditions. This cannot be brought about by agreeing with Jahiliyyah and going along a few steps with it from the very beginning, as some of us think we ought to do, for this will simply mean that from the very beginning we have accepted defeat.

当然，社会的现行观念和盛行的习俗带来了巨大的压力——沉重得令人喘不过气的压力，对女性而言尤其如此；穆斯林女性确实处于极端而压迫性的压力之下。但这就是现实，我们必须正视它。首先，我们必须坚定不移；其次，我们必须设法战胜它；然后，我们必须向蒙昧（Jahiliyyah）展示，相较于我们渴望达到的伊斯兰生活那崇高而光明的境界，它的真实处境是何等低下。

Of course the current ideas of the society and its prevalent traditions apply great pressure - back-breaking pressure, especially in the case of women; the Muslim woman is really under extreme and oppressive pressure - but this is the situation and we have to face it. First we must be steadfast; next we must prevail upon it; then we must show Jahiliyyah the low state it is really in compared to the lofty and bright horizons of Islamic life which we wish to attain.

这不可能通过与jahiliyyah（蒙昧无知时代）稍作妥协、迈出几步而实现，也不可能通过现在就与它断绝关系、退居到一个独立的角落而实现；绝不可能。正确的方法是：审慎地与人交往，有礼有节地相互往来，怀着爱心说真话，并以谦卑的态度展现伊斯兰信仰的优越。在做到这一切之后，我们必须认识到这样一个事实：我们生活在jahiliyyah之中，我们的生活方式比jahiliyyah的生活方式更为正直，而从jahiliyyah转向伊斯兰是一场广阔而深远的转变。伊斯兰与jahiliyyah之间的鸿沟是巨大的，我们要搭建的不是一座让两边的人彼此混同的桥梁，而只是一座让jahiliyyah中的人归向伊斯兰的桥梁，无论他们是居住在所谓的伊斯兰国家并自认为是穆斯林，还是居住在"伊斯兰"国家之外，以便他们能够走出黑暗、进入光明，摆脱悲惨的处境，享受我们所品尝过的那些恩惠——我们这些理解了伊斯兰、生活在伊斯兰氛围之中的人所享有的恩惠。

This cannot come about by going along a few steps with Jahiliyyah, nor by now severing relations with it and removing ourselves to a separate corner; never. The correct procedure is to mix with discretion, give and take with dignity, speak the truth with love, and show the superiority of the Faith with humility. After all this, we must realize the fact that we live in the midst of Jahiliyyah, that our way of life is straighter than that of Jahiliyyah, and that the change from Jahiliyyah to Islam is vast and far-reaching. The chasm between Islam and Jahiliyyah is great, and a bridge is not to be built across it so that the people on the two sides may mix with each other, but only so that the people of Jahiliyyah may come over to Islam, whether they reside in a so-called Islamic country and consider themselves Muslims or they are outside the 'Islamic' country, in order that they may come out of darkness into light and may get rid of their miserable condition, and enjoy those blessings which we have tasted-we who have understood Islam and live in its atmosphere.

如果不是这样，那么我们就对他们说，真主命令祂的使者——愿主赐他平安——所说的话：

If not, then we shall say to them what God commanded His Messenger -peace be on him-to say:

你们有你们的宗教，我有我的宗教。（109:6）

"For you your way, for me mine." (109:6)