Surah Ghafir (Al-Mu'min)

Surah Ghafir is the 40th surah of the Quran. It is a Makki surah revealed when the opposition of the Quraish to the Prophet (ﷺ) was at its hardest. It is also called Al-Mu'min, and it is the first of the seven surahs that begin with «حٰمٓ».

Why is it called Ghafir and Al-Mu'min?

The name Ghafir comes from 40:3, where Allah is called «غَافِرِ الذَّنْبِ» (the Forgiver of sin), «قَابِلِ التَّوْبِ» (acceptor of repentance) and «شَدِيْدِ الْعِقَابِ» (severe in punishment). The name Al-Mu'min comes from the believing man of the family of Pharaoh, who hid his faith and spoke up for Hazrat Musa (AS) in 40:28 to 45.

Period and background

This surah has no single incident of revelation. It was revealed in the later Makkan years when the Quraish argued against Allah's signs, boasted of their power and plotted to kill the Prophet (ﷺ). The surah answers these plots with the fate of earlier nations, the story of Pharaoh and the believing man, and the promise that Allah supports His messengers (40:51).

A well-known event shows this atmosphere. Once the Prophet (ﷺ) was praying near the Kaaba and Uqbah bin Abi Mu'ayt twisted a cloth round his neck to choke him. Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) came, pushed him away and said: would you kill a man because he says my Lord is Allah? (Sahih Bukhari). These are the words of the believing man in 40:28.

Central theme and main topics

The central theme is the warning to those who dispute the signs of Allah by falsehood and plot against His messenger: the end of the proud is ruin, as it was for earlier nations and Pharaoh's people, while Allah protects and helps those who believe and trust in Him.

• Allah the Forgiver, severe in punishment; the angels of the Throne pray for the believers (40:1 to 9).
• The Day of Meeting and the scenes of the Hereafter (40:10 to 20, 40:46 to 52, 40:69 to 76).
• Travel and see the ruins of past nations (40:21 to 22, 40:82 to 85).
• Hazrat Musa (AS), Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun (40:23 to 27, 40:36 to 37).
• The advice of the believing man of Pharaoh's family (40:28 to 45).
• Patience for the Prophet (ﷺ) and the promise of Allah (40:55, 40:77).
• Call upon Allah alone and the signs of His power (40:60 to 68, 40:79 to 81).

Only well-known reports are given here. No virtue of the whole surah is established by a sound hadith in the usual books, so do not attribute made-up rewards to it.

The ayah of dua (40:60)

Hazrat Nu'man bin Bashir (RA) reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said that dua is worship, and then recited «ادْعُوْنِيْ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ» (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi calls it hasan sahih). This is the best-known virtue linked to the surah: asking Allah is itself an act of worship, and refusing to ask out of pride is dangerous.

A report graded weak

A narration of Tirmidhi from Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (RA) says that whoever recites the opening of Ha-Mim Al-Mu'min up to «إِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيْرُ» (40:1 to 3) and Ayat al-Kursi in the morning is protected until the evening. Tirmidhi himself calls it gharib, and it is graded weak. Mention it only with this note.

The surah opens with «حٰمٓ» and says that the Book is sent down by Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Knowing (40:2). Then 40:3 gives four attributes together: Forgiver of sin («غَافِرِ الذَّنْبِ»), Acceptor of repentance, Severe in punishment, and Owner of abundance («ذِي الطَّوْلِ»). Hope and fear are put side by side: do not despair of forgiveness and do not feel safe from punishment.

Who disputes the signs of Allah?

• Only the disbelievers dispute about Allah's signs; their free movement in the land should not deceive us (40:4).
• The people of Hazrat Nuh (AS) and the groups after them denied; every nation planned to seize its messenger and argued with falsehood to defeat the truth. Allah seized them and how severe was His punishment (40:5).

The angels who carry the Throne (40:7 to 9)

The angels who carry the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise, believe in Him and ask forgiveness for the believers. They say: our Lord, You encompass all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repented and followed Your way, and protect them from Hellfire (40:7). They also pray for Gardens of Eden for the believers and for the righteous among their parents, spouses and children (40:8), and for protection from evil consequences on that Day, which is the great success (40:9).

Surah Ghafir twice tells the Quraish to travel through the land and see what happened to those before them (40:21 to 22 and 40:82 to 85). The Quraish trusted their strength, trade and position. Allah reminds them that earlier nations were greater than them and left deeper marks on the land, yet they were destroyed for their sins.

Why does the surah urge us to look at the ruins?

• To learn a lesson: they were stronger, more numerous and left greater marks on the earth, but Allah seized them for their sins and they had no protector (40:21, 40:82). So the Quraish should not be proud of their power.
• Because the cause was denial of the messengers: their messengers came with clear proofs, they disbelieved and were seized (40:22); what they earned did not help them (40:82).
• They were pleased with their own knowledge and mocked the warning, and then punishment surrounded them (40:83). When they saw the punishment they said we believe in Allah alone, but that faith did not help them; this is Allah's established way (40:84 to 85).

Surah Ghafir tells the story of Hazrat Musa (AS) in detail (the model paper MCQ asks which prophet's story the surah tells in detail). It is told to comfort the Prophet (ﷺ) and to warn the Quraish, who also plotted against a messenger.

Lessons

• The arrogant call the truth magic and lies and threaten those who bring it.
• The plans of the disbelievers end in ruin, and Allah protects His servants (40:25, 40:37, 40:45).
• A believer takes refuge in Allah from the proud who deny the Day of Account (40:27).

When Pharaoh planned to kill Hazrat Musa (AS), a believing man of Pharaoh's own family, who had hidden his faith, stood up and spoke. His name is not given in the Quran. His speech (40:28 to 45) is the heart of the surah, and the surah is also called Al-Mu'min after him.

Guidance for us

• Speak the truth with courage, even in a tyrant's court, and in a gentle, reasoned way.
• Remind people of the fate of earlier nations and of the Day of Judgement.
• Prefer the Hereafter to this temporary world, and hold on to good deeds.
• Trust Allah in every matter: «وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِيْ إِلَى اللّٰهِ».

Ruku 6 and 7 turn from stories to the call of faith. Allah says: call upon Me and I will respond; those too proud to worship Me will enter Hell humiliated («دٰخِرِيْنَ») (40:60). The Prophet (ﷺ) said that dua is worship (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).

Signs of Allah and His oneness

• Night for rest and day for sight; Allah is full of bounty but most people are not grateful (40:61).
• Allah is the Creator of all things; there is no deity except Him (40:62).
• He made the earth a resting place, the sky a ceiling, shaped you well and gave you good provision (40:64).
• He is the Ever-Living; call upon Him sincerely in religion (40:65).
• The Prophet (ﷺ) is told to say: I have been forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allah, since clear proofs have come to me, and I am commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds (40:66).
• Stages of man: dust, a drop, a clot, a child, adulthood, old age; some die earlier (40:67). He gives life and death, and when He decrees a matter He says Be and it is (40:68).

The surah returns again and again to the Day of Judgement, so that people are warned.

• The Day of Meeting: nothing about them is hidden; to whom belongs sovereignty today? To Allah, the One, the Prevailing (40:15 to 16). Every soul is paid for what it earned and no injustice is done (40:17).
• The approaching Day: hearts at the throats; the wrongdoers have no devoted friend and no intercessor who is obeyed (40:18).
• The disbelievers in Hell say: our Lord, You made us lifeless twice and gave us life twice, we confess our sins, is there a way out? (40:11). The answer: your punishment is because you disbelieved when Allah alone was called, and believed when partners were added (40:12).
• The weak and the arrogant argue in the Fire; the weak say we were your followers, will you take a share of the Fire from us? The arrogant answer: all of us are in it (40:47 to 48).
• The keepers of Hell: did not your messengers come with clear proofs? They say «بَلٰى» (yes indeed). Then the keepers say, so call yourselves; the call of the disbelievers is only in error (40:49 to 50).
• The disbelievers will be dragged with chains in boiling water and then in the Fire; the gods they called will be gone (40:70 to 74). They are told to enter the gates of Hell, a wretched home for the arrogant (40:76).

The surah repeatedly consoles the Prophet (ﷺ) and teaches patience.

• Allah will support His messengers and the believers in this world and on the Day the witnesses stand (40:51).
• Be patient, for the promise of Allah is true; seek forgiveness and glorify your Lord with praise morning and evening (40:55; repeated in 40:77).
• Those who dispute Allah's signs without proof have only pride in their breasts, which they will never reach; seek refuge in Allah (40:56).
• The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of man, and the blind and the seeing are not equal (40:57 to 58).
• Among the messengers, Allah has told the Prophet (ﷺ) the stories of some and not of others; no messenger could bring a sign except by Allah's permission (40:78).

Ruku 1 (ayat 1 to 9): the Book is from Allah, the Forgiver and severe in punishment (40:1 to 3); only the disbelievers dispute Allah's signs (40:4); the people of Nuh and later nations plotted against their messengers and were seized (40:5); the angels of the Throne pray for the believers (40:7 to 9). Ruku 2 (ayat 10 to 20): the disbelievers' regret in Hell (40:10 to 12); Allah's signs and provision (40:13); call upon Allah sincerely (40:14); the Day of Meeting and the warning of the approaching Day (40:15 to 20).

Teachings

• Allah forgives and punishes: have hope and fear together.
• Do not be deceived by the power of the disbelievers.
• Pray sincerely to Allah alone.

Travel and see the end of those before you, who were stronger (40:21 to 22). Hazrat Musa (AS) was sent to Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun, who called him a magician and a liar (40:23 to 24). They planned to kill the sons of the believers (40:25), Pharaoh threatened to kill Musa (40:26), and Musa took refuge in his Lord from every arrogant one who denies the Day of Account (40:27).

Teachings

• Learn from the end of earlier nations.
• Take refuge in Allah from the proud.

Ruku 4 (ayat 28 to 37): the believing man speaks against killing Musa (40:28), warns of the fate of Nuh, Aad and Thamud (40:30 to 31), reminds them of Hazrat Yusuf (AS) (40:34); Pharaoh orders Haman to build a tower (40:36 to 37). Ruku 5 (ayat 38 to 50): he invites them to the right way, the world is temporary and the Hereafter is lasting (40:38 to 40), contrasts his call with theirs (40:41 to 43) and entrusts his affair to Allah (40:44); Allah saves him and Pharaoh's people are shown the Fire morning and evening (40:45 to 46); the dispute of the weak and the arrogant in Hell (40:47 to 50).

Teachings

• Defend the truth and the one who speaks it.
• Good and evil are repaid justly; the believer's good deeds earn Paradise (40:40).
• Entrust your affair to Allah (40:44).

Ruku 6 (ayat 51 to 60): Allah helps His messengers (40:51); Musa was given guidance (40:53); be patient and seek forgiveness (40:55); the proud will never reach their pride (40:56); the Hour is certain (40:59); call upon Me and I will respond, the proud enter Hell humiliated (40:60). Ruku 7 (ayat 61 to 68): night and day, the earth and sky, the Ever-Living, the Prophet (ﷺ) forbidden to worship others (40:66), the stages of man and life and death (40:67 to 68).

Teachings

• Dua is worship; call only Allah.
• Be patient and seek forgiveness.
• Be grateful for night and day, earth and sky.

Ruku 8 (ayat 69 to 78): those who dispute Allah's signs are dragged in chains into boiling water and Fire (40:69 to 72); the gods they called are gone (40:73 to 74); the arrogant enter the gates of Hell (40:75 to 76); be patient, the promise of Allah is true (40:77); messengers came with Allah's permission (40:78). Ruku 9 (ayat 79 to 85): the blessings of cattle and ships (40:79 to 80); which of Allah's signs do you deny (40:81); travel and see the end of those stronger than you (40:82); they rejoiced in their knowledge (40:83); their faith on seeing the punishment did not help, which is Allah's established way (40:84 to 85).

Teachings

• Do not deny Allah's signs.
• Repent before death or punishment; faith at that moment is not accepted.
• Learn from history.

• Ghafir is the 40th surah, Makki, 85 ayat, 9 rukus, para 24.
• It is also called Al-Mu'min; Ghafir is from «غَافِرِ الذَّنْبِ» (40:3), Al-Mu'min from the believing man of Pharaoh's family (40:28 to 45).
• It is the first of the seven Ha-Mim surahs.
• 40:3: four attributes: Forgiver of sin, Acceptor of repentance, Severe in punishment, Owner of abundance.
• 40:7 to 9: the angels bearing the Throne pray for the believers.
• 40:21 and 40:82: travel and see the end of earlier nations, who were stronger and left more traces.
• Hazrat Musa (AS) was sent to Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun (40:23 to 24).
• Pharaoh said: let me kill Musa (40:26); Musa took refuge in his Lord (40:27).
• 40:28: the believing man: do you kill a man because he says my Lord is Allah? The same words as Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) to Uqbah bin Abi Mu'ayt (Sahih Bukhari).
• 40:34: the believing man reminds them of Hazrat Yusuf (AS).
• 40:36 to 37: Pharaoh asks Haman to build a tower.
• 40:40: whoever does good as a believer, male or female, enters Paradise with provision without account.
• 40:44: «وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِيْ إِلَى اللّٰهِ» (I entrust my affair to Allah).
• 40:46: the people of Pharaoh are exposed to the Fire morning and evening.
• 40:55 and 40:77: be patient, the promise of Allah is true.
• 40:60: call upon Me, I will respond; the proud enter Hell humiliated («دٰخِرِيْنَ»). Dua is worship (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).
• 40:66: «نُهِيْتُ» (I have been forbidden) to worship those besides Allah.
• 40:50: «بَلٰى» (yes indeed) is the answer of the people of Hell.
• 40:31: «دَاْبِ» (the way, the condition) of the people of Nuh, Aad and Thamud.
• The 80-list words of the surah: «نُهِيْتُ»، «اَلذَّنْبِ»، «غَافِرِ»، «دٰخِرِيْنَ»، «بَلٰى»، «دَاْبِ».