040- GHĀFIR
THE FORGIVER
Ghāfir
Some maintain that Ghāfir, a Makkan sūrah, was revealed directly after Sūrah 39, al-Zumar. According to some, vv. 56–57 are Madinan, and others add v. 55 to those as well. Still others say that only v. 55 is Madinan, since the injunction to hymn the praise of thy Lord at eventide and at dawn is interpreted as a reference to the morning and sunset prayers, which did not become obligatory until the last few years of the Makkan period. The sūrah takes its name from the reference to God as the Forgiver of sins in v. 3, but it is also known as “The Believer” (al-Muʾmin), because of the discussion of a believing man from the House of Pharaoh (v. 28). It is also known by the title “The Bounty” (al-Faḍl), because of the reference to God as Possessed of Bounty in v. 3.
Ghāfir is the first in a series of seven sūrahs whose opening verses begin with the separated Arabic letters ḥāʾ and mīm and are followed by a reference to the Quran. Revealed during the same period, these sūrahs are known collectively as the Ḥawāmīm (ḥāʾ wa mīm), and as “The Brides”. Addressing several recurring themes, they provide solace to the Muslim community at a time of persecution, foretelling the triumph of the revelation and the demise of those who oppose it.
The sūrah opens with an affirmation of the revelation and of God’s Mercy and Forgiveness (vv. 2–3), followed by a repudiation of those who dispute the signs of God (vv. 4–6), which becomes a recurring theme of the sūrah, and an extended prayer uttered by the angels for human beings (vv. 7–9). Vv. 10–20 then tell of the place of the disbelievers in the Hereafter, warning of their ultimate demise. This section serves as the thematic backdrop for an extended account of the story of Moses and Pharaoh (vv. 21–50), the main feature of which is the story of a believing man from the House of Pharaoh who challenges Pharaoh’s opposition to Moses (vv. 28–45).
An affirmation of the Divine Aid that God sends upon His messengers (vv. 51–60) concludes with a condemnation of those who are too arrogant to worship God (v. 60), which segues into a discussion of God’s Power over all of creation (vv. 61–68). The sūrah then discusses the punishment that awaits the disbelievers (vv. 69–76) and counsels the Prophet to have patience, citing the examples of prophets who prevailed before him (vv. 77–78). After a reflection on some signs of God’s Generosity and Power (vv. 79–82), the sūrah concludes with an assurance that those who oppose God’s messengers will be defeated in the end (vv. 83–85).
(source: “The Study Quran” a new translation and commentary by Seyyed Hossein Nasr)
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