Verses 1–7
40. Ghafir · The Forgiver
Makkan85 verses
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
حمٓ
40:1Ha, Meem.
تَنزِيلُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ
40:2The [gradual] sending down of the Book is from Allah, the All-mighty, the All-knowing,
غَافِرِ ٱلذَّنۢبِ وَقَابِلِ ٱلتَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ ٱلْعِقَابِ ذِى ٱلطَّوْلِ ۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ إِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
40:3forgiver of sins and acceptor of repentance, severe in retribution, [yet] all-bountiful; there is no god except Him, [and] toward Him is the destination.2
مَا يُجَٰدِلُ فِىٓ ءَايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَلَا يَغْرُرْكَ تَقَلُّبُهُمْ فِى ٱلْبِلَٰدِ
40:4No one disputes the signs of Allah except the faithless. So do not be misled by their bustle in the towns.
كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ وَٱلْأَحْزَابُ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ ۖ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍۭ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ ۖ وَجَٰدَلُوا۟ بِٱلْبَٰطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا۟ بِهِ ٱلْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
40:5The people of Noah denied before them and the [heathen] factions [who came] after them. Every nation attempted to lay hands on their apostle, and disputed erroneously to refute the truth. Then I seized them; so how was My retribution?!
وَكَذَٰلِكَ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَتُ رَبِّكَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ
40:6That is how the word of your Lord became due concerning the faithless, that they shall be inmates of the Fire.
ٱلَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ ٱلْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُۥ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ رَّحْمَةًۭ وَعِلْمًۭا فَٱغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوا۟ سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ ٱلْجَحِيمِ
40:7Those who bear the Throne, and those who are around it, celebrate the praise of their Lord and have faith in Him, and they plead for forgiveness for the faithful: ‘Our Lord! You embrace all things in mercy and knowledge. So forgive those who repent and follow Your way and save them from the punishment of hell.3
Tafsir
Commentary on this passage
Verse 5
1.The judgment of truth and falsification is continued from the very first day and from the community of Nuh (a.s.) to the polytheist Arabs. They all desired to destroy one who invites towards Allah and so get a good chance to act according to their wishes. They all thought that the source of falsification is enough to destroy truth. Though it is not entirely like this and truth has power to destroy falsehood. Truth is eternal while falsehood has been destroyed by itself. How will it destroy the others? The biggest weapon of falsehood is that it moves in every direction on the earth and frightens people of the world and shows its supreme authority and keeps the world in its control. But Allah has clarified that these actions are useless. In the present era, this movement is seen in the form of naval powers. But believers will not be defrauded of it and they know Allah will submerge Firon in Nile whenever He likes, whereas Firon wanted to drown Moosa (a.s.).
Footnotes
Explanations of words and phrases in these verses
- 2
It is very necessary to keep in view the fact that if Allah will forgive those who repent and He is also severe in punishing those who do not repent. After the mention of punishment, there is mention of forgiveness. This is the proof of the perfection of Mercy, which is mentioned by the carriers of the throne also.
- 3
Though Arsh signifies power and authority, here this signifies a particular central status that is related to the Almighty. Just as Kaaba or Mosques are called the Houses of Allah.
Benefit
Seven Surahs of Quran begin with Ha mim. They are called ‘Hawameem. The traditions call this Surah the crown of Quran, essence of Quran, and the foliage of Quran. This Surah is also called Surah Momin.