Sura Ghafir
40
Introduction of Surah
Ghafir / al-Mu’min is the 40th sura of the Qur’an, which means ‘The Forgiver / The Believer’. The sura belongs to the Meccan period and comprises 85 verses, 1,199 words, 4,960 letters, and 9 segments. It is the 60th sura in chronological order, revealed after Sura al-Zumar. This sura derives its name from verse 3 which refers to God Almighty as the Forgiver of sin and Accepter of repentance. This sura is the first in a series of seven suras which begin with the Mysterious Letters of the Qur’an ‘ha’ and ‘mim’. These suras are collectively known as the Hawamim. The sura opens by affirming the revelation and God Almighty’s Mercy and Forgiveness, followed by mentioning severe punishment decreed for those who dispute the signs of God Almighty.
The sura refers to the people of Prophet Nuh (Noah [peace be upon him]) and other communities who rejected the truth. This sura speaks about the angels who carry the Throne and of those who glorify the praises of their Lord around it. The sura emphasises God Almighty’s Oneness and His Might in this world and the Hereafter, and condemns those who are too arrogant to worship God. The sura provides consid-erable details about the life of Prophet Musa (Moses [peace be upon him]) and his dealings with Pharaoh in verses 23–54. The verses narrate the story of a believing man from the people of Pharaoh who challenges Pharaoh’s opposition to Prophet Musa (Moses [peace be upon him]). The sura further elaborates the horrors that await the deniers of the truth in the Hereafter, mutual disputes of the people of Hell and their appeals to lighten the punishment, as well as God’s help for the believers. The sura moves on to detail the traces of the chemical elements of the human body extracted from dust, and its biological constitution from the zygote. In the end, the sura describes various forms of severe punishment that awaits the idol worshippers and deniers of the truth. The sura concludes with consoling the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) by relating the accounts of the earlier Messengers (peace be upon them) and the disastrous end of their denying communities, and assuring those who oppose Allah’s Messengers (peace be upon them) will ultimately be defeated.
Read More
Show Less
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the All-Merciful
40:1. Ha-Mim.
حم
(Ghafir, 40 : 1)
40:5. The people of Nuh (Noah) denied (the truth) before them, and (so did) the (heathen) factions after them. And every community intended to seize and destroy its messenger. And they disputed through falsehood to refute the truth. Then, I seized and destroyed them. So how was My retribution?
كذبت قبلهم قوم نوح والأحزاب من بعدهم وهمت كل أمة برسولهم ليأخذوه وجادلوا بالباطل ليدحضوا به الحق فأخذتهم فكيف كان عقاب
(Ghafir, 40 : 5)
40:7. Those who carry the Throne and those around it glorify the praise of their Lord. They believe in Him and seek forgiveness for the believers (praying): ‘Our Lord! You encompass all things in mercy and knowledge. So forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and save them from the punishment of the Hellfire.
الذين يحملون العرش ومن حوله يسبحون بحمد ربهم ويؤمنون به ويستغفرون للذين آمنوا ربنا وسعت كل شيء رحمة وعلما فاغفر للذين تابوا واتبعوا سبيلك وقهم عذاب الجحيم
(Ghafir, 40 : 7)
40:8. Our Lord! Make them enter the Gardens of Eternity that You have promised them, along with their righteous ancestors, their spouses and their descendants. Indeed, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
ربنا وأدخلهم جنات عدن التي وعدتهم ومن صلح من آبائهم وأزواجهم وذرياتهم إنك أنت العزيز الحكيم
(Ghafir, 40 : 8)
40:10. Surely, it will be announced to the disbelievers: ‘Indeed Allah’s disgust (towards you) is greater than your disgust towards yourselves, for you were invited to faith, but you disbelieved.’
إن الذين كفروا ينادون لمقت الله أكبر من مقتكم أنفسكم إذ تدعون إلى الإيمان فتكفرون
(Ghafir, 40 : 10)
40:12. (They will be told: ‘No!) That is because when Allah was worshipped alone, you would disbelieve, but if partners were associated with Him, you would believe. So (know that) the judgement belongs to Allah (alone), the All-Exalted, the All-Great.’
ذلكم بأنه إذا دعي الله وحده كفرتم وإن يشرك به تؤمنوا فالحكم لله العلي الكبير
(Ghafir, 40 : 12)
40:15. (He is) the Raiser of the ranks, the Lord of the Throne. He sends down the Spirit (or the revelation) by His command upon whomever He pleases among His servants that He may warn (them) of the Day of Meeting.
رفيع الدرجات ذو العرش يلقي الروح من أمره على من يشاء من عباده لينذر يوم التلاق
(Ghafir, 40 : 15)
40:16. The Day when they come out (from the graves) with nothing concerning them hidden from Allah, (He will say:) ‘To whom belongs the Kingdom this Day?’ (It will be announced:) ‘To Allah, the One, the Most Dominant.
يوم هم بارزون لا يخفى على الله منهم شيء لمن الملك اليوم لله الواحد القهار
(Ghafir, 40 : 16)
40:18. So warn them of the Day of the Imminent Event when the hearts will rise to the throats, suppressing distress inwardly. The wrongdoers will have neither a loyal friend nor any intercessor who might be heard.
وأنذرهم يوم الآزفة إذ القلوب لدى الحناجر كاظمين ما للظالمين من حميم ولا شفيع يطاع
(Ghafir, 40 : 18)
40:21. Have they not travelled throughout the land so they could observe what was the end of those before them? They were far mightier in power than these (pagans) and (richer) in the monumental marks (they left) in the land. Yet Allah seized them for their sins. And they had no protector from (the punishment of) Allah.
أو لم يسيروا في الأرض فينظروا كيف كان عاقبة الذين كانوا من قبلهم كانوا هم أشد منهم قوة وآثارا في الأرض فأخذهم الله بذنوبهم وما كان لهم من الله من واق
(Ghafir, 40 : 21)
40:25. So when he came to them with the truth from Us, they said: ‘Kill the sons of those who believe with him and spare their women alive.’ And the scheming of the disbelievers was nothing but astray.
فلما جاءهم بالحق من عندنا قالوا اقتلوا أبناء الذين آمنوا معه واستحيوا نساءهم وما كيد الكافرين إلا في ضلال
(Ghafir, 40 : 25)
40:28. A believing man from the people of Pharaoh, who was concealing his faith, said: ‘Will you kill a man (only) for saying: ‘My Lord is Allah’, while he has come to you with manifest proofs from your Lord? If (supposedly) he is a liar, then (the burden of) his falsehood will be upon him; but if he is truthful, then some of what he promises you shall befall you. Indeed, Allah does not guide someone who is a transgressor, a total liar.
وقال رجل مؤمن من آل فرعون يكتم إيمانه أتقتلون رجلا أن يقول ربي الله وقد جاءكم بالبينات من ربكم وإن يك كاذبا فعليه كذبه وإن يك صادقا يصبكم بعض الذي يعدكم إن الله لا يهدي من هو مسرف كذاب
(Ghafir, 40 : 28)
40:29. My people! Power belongs to you today while you prevail over the land. So, who will help us against Allah’s punishment if it overtakes us?’ Pharaoh said: ‘I am just telling you what I see (to be good for you), and I am guiding you only to the right path.’
يا قوم لكم الملك اليوم ظاهرين في الأرض فمن ينصرنا من بأس الله إن جاءنا قال فرعون ما أريكم إلا ما أرى وما أهديكم إلا سبيل الرشاد
(Ghafir, 40 : 29)
40:34. (O people of Egypt!) Indeed, Yusuf (Joseph) came to you with clear signs earlier, but you continued to doubt what he had brought you. When he died, you said: ‘Allah will never send any messenger after him.’ Thus Allah leaves to stray whosoever is a transgressor (and) doubter.
ولقد جاءكم يوسف من قبل بالبينات فما زلتم في شك مما جاءكم به حتى إذا هلك قلتم لن يبعث الله من بعده رسولا كذلك يضل الله من هو مسرف مرتاب
(Ghafir, 40 : 34)
40:35. Those who dispute Allah’s signs without any authority having come to them, (that is) intensely hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of the believers. That is how Allah seals the heart of every arrogant person (and) tyrant.’
الذين يجادلون في آيات الله بغير سلطان أتاهم كبر مقتا عند الله وعند الذين آمنوا كذلك يطبع الله على كل قلب متكبر جبار
(Ghafir, 40 : 35)
40:37. the means of access to the heavens, so that I may look upon the God of Musa (Moses), although I consider him a liar.’ Thus was made to Pharaoh, the evil of his conduct so fair seeming that he was hindered from the path (of Allah). And the plotting of Pharaoh led (him) into nothing but ruin.
أسباب السماوات فأطلع إلى إله موسى وإني لأظنه كاذبا وكذلك زين لفرعون سوء عمله وصد عن السبيل وما كيد فرعون إلا في تباب
(Ghafir, 40 : 37)
40:40. Whoever commits an evil deed shall not be paid back except with its like. But whoever acts righteously, male or female, and is a believer will enter Paradise. They will be given sustenance without measure.
من عمل سيئة فلا يجزى إلا مثلها ومن عمل صالحا من ذكر أو أنثى وهو مؤمن فأولئك يدخلون الجنة يرزقون فيها بغير حساب
(Ghafir, 40 : 40)
40:43. There is no doubt that whatever (idols) you call me to (worship) are not worthy to invoke in this world nor the Hereafter. And that our (final) return will be to Allah, and the transgressors are the ones to be the inhabitants of the Hellfire.
لا جرم أنما تدعونني إليه ليس له دعوة في الدنيا ولا في الآخرة وأن مردنا إلى الله وأن المسرفين هم أصحاب النار
(Ghafir, 40 : 43)
40:46. (It is) the Fire to which they are exposed (every) morning and evening. And on the Day the Hour comes (it will be said:) ‘Make the people of Pharaoh enter into the severest punishment.’
النار يعرضون عليها غدوا وعشيا ويوم تقوم الساعة أدخلوا آل فرعون أشد العذاب
(Ghafir, 40 : 46)
40:47. And when they argue with one another in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant (in the world): ‘Indeed we were your followers, so can you now relieve us from some portion of the Fire?’
وإذ يتحاجون في النار فيقول الضعفاء للذين استكبروا إنا كنا لكم تبعا فهل أنتم مغنون عنا نصيبا من النار
(Ghafir, 40 : 47)
40:50. They will say: ‘Did your messengers not used to bring you clear proofs?’ They will say: ‘Yes (they did).’ Then they (i.e. the keepers) will say: ‘Now pray (yourselves).’ But the supplications of the disbelievers will (always) be in vain.
قالوا أولم تك تأتيكم رسلكم بالبينات قالوا بلى قالوا فادعوا وما دعاء الكافرين إلا في ضلال
(Ghafir, 40 : 50)
40:55. So be patient (O Prophet)! Allah’s promise is indeed true. And seek (Allah’s) forgiveness for the sins of your (community).* And glorify the praise of your Lord (every) morning and evening.
*
In the word: ‘li-dhanbi-ka’, the co-related noun Umma is omitted. On this basis, the verse ‘wa-staghfir li-dhanbi-ka’ denotes the sins committed by the Umma. Many leading scholars have drawn the same meaning. For references, see the following:
1. ‘Wa-staghfir li-dhanbi-ka’ means ‘li-dhanbi Ummati-ka’, that
is ‘the sins of your community.’ (al-Nasafi, Madarik al-Tanzil wa Haqa’iq al-Ta’wil,
4:359.)
2. ‘Wa’staghfir li-dhanbi-ka’ means ‘li-dhanbi Ummati-ka’. Hudhifa
al-mudaf wa uqima al-mudaf ilayh maqama-hu. It is stated that it implies the sins
of the Umma (the Community). The co-related noun has been omitted in the
given phrase and is represented by the noun co-related to. (al-Qurtubi, al-Jami‘
li-Ahkam al-Qur’an, 15:324.)
3. ‘Wa qila li-dhanbi Ummati-ka fi haqqi-ka’. It is also said that li-dhanbi-ka
means for the misdeeds committed by the Umma concerning to what is your due.
(Ibn Hayyan al-Andalusi, Bahr al-Muhit, 7:471.)
4. ‘Wa-staghfir li-dhanbi-ka’ means ‘dhanbi Ummati-ka, fa-huwa ‘ala hadhfi
al-mudaf’. It implies the sins of the Umma, and this interpretation is based on
the omission of the co-related noun. (al-Shawkani, Fath al-Qadir, 4:497.)
فاصبر إن وعد الله حق واستغفر لذنبك وسبح بحمد ربك بالعشي والإبكار
(Ghafir, 40 : 55)
40:56. Surely, those who dispute the revelations of Allah without any authority that has come to them have nothing in their hearts except greed for greatness, which they will never attain. So, keep seeking refuge with Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
إن الذين يجادلون في آيات الله بغير سلطان أتاهم إن في صدورهم إلا كبر ما هم ببالغيه فاستعذ بالله إنه هو السميع البصير
(Ghafir, 40 : 56)
40:61. Allah is the One Who made the night for you where you may rest and the day to see. Indeed, Allah is Ever-Gracious to humankind, but most people do not give thanks.
الله الذي جعل لكم الليل لتسكنوا فيه والنهار مبصرا إن الله لذو فضل على الناس ولكن أكثر الناس لا يشكرون
(Ghafir, 40 : 61)
40:64. Allah is the One Who made the earth a settling place for you and the sky a canopy. And He shaped you (in your mother’s womb) and then perfected your forms. And He provided you with all the good things (required for your development). That is Allah, your Lord! So blessed is Allah, the Lord of all worlds.
الله الذي جعل لكم الأرض قرارا والسماء بناء وصوركم فأحسن صوركم ورزقكم من الطيبات ذلكم الله ربكم فتبارك الله رب العالمين
(Ghafir, 40 : 64)
40:66. Say: ‘I have been forbidden to worship those (idols) you invoke besides Allah since clear proofs have come to me from my Lord. And I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of all worlds.’
قل إني نهيت أن أعبد الذين تدعون من دون الله لما جاءني البينات من ربي وأمرت أن أسلم لرب العالمين
(Ghafir, 40 : 66)
40:67. He is the One Who initiated your (chemical) genesis from clay, then (your biological genesis) from a fertilised egg (i.e. a zygote*), then from a clinging mass (i.e. the embryo in the mother’s womb). Then He brings you out as infants, then (nourishes you) so that you may reach your maturity. Then He lets you grow old, though some of you (may) die sooner. And (the purpose of all this is) that you may reach an appointed term (in this world). So perhaps you may understand.
* In Arabic, the word ‘al-nutfa’ is mentioned, and it refers to a zygote, which is a mixture of male and female gametes. It is the new single cell formed after the union of a sperm and ovum.
