Surah Ghafir got its name from the second verse of this surah, where Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) explains many of His divine attributes, including Ghafir (forgiving). Surah Ghafir is a Makki (Meccan) surah in juz (para) 24. It is the 40th surah of the Quran and comprises 85 verses. Surah Ghafir is also called 'Surah Al-Mu'min' because it tells the story of a true believer who concealed his identity and faith to protect Prophet Musa (Moses) during the Pharoah's reign.
The surah was revealed right after Surah Az-Zumar. During this time, Mecca and the rest of Arabia were enslaved by polytheism. Islam was new, and the enemies of Islam were abundant. Threatened by the growing influence of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Islam, the Quraysh and their supporters persecuted the Prophet (ﷺ) and new Muslims. Not only this, they were levying allegation on the authenticity of the Quran. This surah is a clear warning for the Quraysh and the disbelievers. The wrongdoings of those who stray from the path of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) will be punished in this world and hereafter. The essence of surah Ghafir, however, is Allah's characteristic of forgiveness. The 3rd verse of the surah says that Allah is "غَافِرِ الذَّنْۢبِ وَقَابِلِ التَّوْبِ" meaning He is One "Who forgiveth sin and accepteth repentance."
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Surah Ghafir is an open invitation for all people; Allah will forgive your sins and accept your tawba if you forsake your old gods, accept the oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah does not wish to punish anyone; the aim is to give people multiple chances so they come to the correct realization and accept the true religion. Allah is explaining the truth to them by highlighting His quality of forgiveness so they are not afraid of retribution but instead come to Allah for a clean start.
Surah Ghafir discusses several key themes related to the challenges faced by early Muslims in Mecca. Let's break down the subject matter:
This surah was revealed when Muslims were facing a huge challenge. They were accusing Allah's message and mocking His preaching. Along with that, they were planning to assassinate Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) brings peace to the hearts of believers by saying, "Only the unbelievers dispute the revelations of God. So do not let their activities in the land deceive you." (40:4).
By narrating the stories of people of the past, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) warned the nonbelievers. Previous civilizations rejected the Prophets sent to them by Allah and faced severe consequences for their deeds. In verse 5, He reminds people of the clan of Prophet Nuh (Noah) and their fate for going against the omnipotent Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى).
The Surah emphasizes Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) absolute control over creation. It describes the wonders of the universe and reminds us of our insignificance compared to His vastness. This reinforces the importance of submitting to His will. In the beautiful words of Almighty, "Allah it is Who made the earth a dwelling place for you and made the sky a canopy, who shaped you -- and shaped you exceedingly well -- and gave you good things as sustenance. That is Allah, your Lord; blessed be Allah, the Lord of the Universe. He is the Ever-Living: there is no god but He. So, call upon Him, consecrating to Him all your devotion. All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the whole Universe." (Ghafir 64 & 65).
Believing in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) means asking Him for absolutely anything. Supplication is the only way to feel near to Allah. He is always listening and always responding. Surah Ghafir verse 60 emphasizes Muslims have full faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) as He always listens to the supplication made with a faithful heart. He says, "And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."
Surah Ghafir also goes by the name of Surah Al Mu'min because it explains the story of a believer during the time of Prophet Musa and the Pharaoh. It narrates the story of the righteous believer who spoke out for the truth in the court of Pharaoh. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) advises mankind to stay on the right path by saying, "And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith said, "Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allah' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you. Indeed, Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar." (40:28).
Surah Ghafir starts with 'Ha-Meem' and is thus considered one of the seven 'Ha-Meem Surahs.' Such surahs are called the essence of the Quran, and great rewards will be given to the readers.
Narrated Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites Ha Mim Al-Mu'min - up to - To Him is the return (40:1-3) and Ayat Al-Kursi when he reaches (gets up in) the morning, he will be protected by them until the evening. And whoever recites them when he reaches the evening, he will be protected by them until the morning." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2879).
This hadith explains that reciting verses of Surah Ghafir can give us Divine protection. In addition, surah Ghafir is a clear warning against arrogance. As the name of the surah indicates, this surah is an excellent choice if one wishes to seek Allah's forgiveness and offer repentance. In this surah Allah says that he will accept sincere apology, and thus reciting this surah is sure to intercede on your behalf. The surah teaches the virtues of patience, perseverance, and humility.