040 Ghafir

Surah: 040 Ghafir

040 Ghafir

Surah Ghaafir is a middle Makki Surah and is named after one of the names of Allaah (SWT) mentioned in this surah, Forgiver of the sins.
Beginning from Surah Ghaafir, are a group of seven surahs that initiate with the Huroof Muqattaat – Haa Meem. Such disjointed letters, such as Alif Laam Meem, Yaa Seen, Noon etc. are found at the beginning of twenty-nine surahs in the Qur’an, and only Allaah (SWT) Knows their true meaning, even though scholars have tried to understand and explain possible interpretations. The other that begin with Haa Meem follow in succession – Ghaafir, Fussilat, Ash-Shoora, Az Zukhruf, Ad-Dukhan, Al Jaathiyah and Al Ahqaaf, and these are considered to focus on inviting people to the Tawheed.

Mentioning prophets Nuh (AS) and Musa (AS), Allaah (SWT) says that their people rejected them despite seeing the signs that they were given. Among the men of Firawn, was a man who had believed the message brought by Musa (AS) but he concealed it and defended Musa(AS) in front of Firawn who wanted to kill the prophet. Firawn persists on his arrogance, but the believer reminds him of the fate of past nations who rejected their prophets. Yusuf (AS) had settled among them and after his death, the people of Egypt assumed that no messenger will succeed him. Yet, Firawn did not heed and continued his haughtiness, ordering his minister Haman to build a lofty tower so he could “see the Lord of Musa(AS)”.

Consequently, Firawn and his people were drowned in the sea, but they have been enveloped in the Fire of Hell. Within that punishment, they blame each other for their downfall.

Those who will burn in Hell will ask the keepers of its gates to supplicate to Allaah (SWT) to lighten the punishment for a day, but their request will be rejected just as they rejected the messengers sent to them from Allaah (SWT).

Allaah (SWT) sent many prophets to various nations on the earth, only a few have been narrated about in the Qur’an. Those who rejected and belied the messengers claimed to believe when the punishment began on them, but their faith did not benefit them.