Ghafir (The Forgiver)
Verse 1 - 3
Table of Contents
(The Forgiver/The Believer)
Section (juz’ 24)
Number of Verses: 85
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
This Chapter has eighty five Verses and it was revealed in Mecca. The title Ghafir derives from the third Verse in which God Almighty is mentioned as the Oft-Forgiver of sin (Ghafir al-dhanb).
The other title of the Chapter is Mu’min alluding to the person who was at the service of Pharaoh and concealed his faith so as to render support to Moses.
The account of the person in question, known as the believer among Pharaoh’s people (mu’min al Fir’awn) may be found in Verses 28 ff. besides the accounts of Moses, Noah, ‘Ad, and Thamud, the Chapter treats of Divine Unity, Resurrection, and Divine Wisdom.
There are approximately twenty Verses concerning the believer among Pharaoh’s people which are not attested elsewhere in the Holy Qur’an.
There are seven consecutive Qur’anic Verses opening with Ha Mim; the Chapter in question is the first one in the series termed as Hawamim and the rest are: Fussilat, Shura, Zukhruf, Dukhan, Jathiya, and Ahqaf.
According to a Prophetic tradition Hawamim constitute the gist of the Holy Qur’an. The series is the crown of the Holy Qur’an and its fragrant flowers. God bestows His Bounties upon the reciter of these Verses as well as his neighbors, relatives, and friends and Divine Throne ask for his forgiveness.1
Surah al-Ghafir - Verses 1-3
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ حم (1) تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (2) غافِرِ الذَّنْبِ وَ قابِلِ التَّوْبِ شَدِيدِ الْعِقابِ ذِي الطَّوْلِ لا إِلهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَصِيرُ (3)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. Ha Mim.
2. The Revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Omnipotent, the Omniscient.
3. The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in chastisement, the Bestower [of many a Bounty]. There is no god but Allah, to Him is the final return [of all].
As per a number of traditions, the interpretation of the detached letters is solely known by God Almighty.2
However, according to some other traditions and taking into account that following these letters which concern the Revelation of the Holy Qur’an, God Almighty tells disbelievers that Divine Revelation is composed of the same letters of alphabet available to them and challenges them to produce similar Verses.
It is worthy of note that many a discussion are to be found in the openings of a number of foregoing Chapters, e.g. Baqara, Al ‘Imran, and A’raf.
Furthermore, according to a number of traditions and many a words of its exeget, the first two letters of the opening of the Chapter in question are interpreted as Divine Names beginning with these two letters. As per a tradition narrated from Imam Sadiq (as), the twain letters in question are interpreted as Hamid (“Praiseworthy”) and Majid (“All-Glorious”).3 Some exegets have also interpreted “H” as Divine Names like Hamid (“the Praiseworthy”), Halim (“the Clement”), and Hannan (“the Most Compassionate”) and “M” as those like Malik (“the Sovereign”), Malik (“the Lord”), and Majid (“All-Glorious”). “H” and “M” might as well allude to Divine Hakimiyya (“Sovereignty”) and Malikiyyat (“Lordship”). It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that Ha Mim is one of the Most Beautiful Divine Names.4
It is evident that these interpretations are not inconsistent and the contextual meaning of the Verse in question may designate them all.
The Qur’anic Verses opening with the phrase
“Revelation of the Book” (tanzil al-kitab)
make mention of Divine Names and Attributes among which mention may be made of the following:
The Revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Omnipotent, the All-Wise3 ;
The Revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Omnipotent, the Omniscient4 ;
The Revelation from [Allah], the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful5 ;
The Revelation [is] sent down by the Omnipotent, the Most Merciful6 ;
[It is] sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise7 ;
A Revelation from the Lord of the worlds8 .
Thus, the origin of Revelation is the Possessor of Omnipotence, Wisdom, Mercy, Lordship, and worthy of all praise and glorification.
According the Holy Qur’an, Divine Forgiveness is bestowed upon believers for a number of reasons, including:
Faith:
(“We have believed in our Lord that He may forgive us,”11 );
Fearing God Almighty:
(“If you fear Allah, He will forgive you,”12 );
Following Prophets:
(“If you follow me, He will forgive you,”13 );
Pardoning and forgiving people:
(“Let them pardon and forgive… and Allah will forgive you,”14 );
Lending interest free loan to people:
(“If you lend Allah a loan… He will forgive you,”15 );
Jihad:
(“… you fight in the Cause of Allah… He will forgive you… ,16 );
Worship:
(“If you worship Allah… He will forgive you,”17 );
Avoiding grave sins:
(“If you avoid grave sins… We shall expiate from you your sins,”18 );
Invoking God Almighty, asking for forgiveness, repentance:
(“… I have wronged myself… then He forgave him,”19 );
Saints’ invocations to God Almighty for man:
(“O our father! Ask forgiveness [from Allah] for our sins,”20 ).
The Revelation of the Book, Divine Warning and Forgiveness all aim at man’s perfection. The Book, the Law, Reckoning, Chastisement, and Forgiveness are all due in their own right.