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Names

This surah is called Surat Ghafir. [268] See: Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/409; Tafsir Ibn ?Ashur, 24/75.

Virtues and characteristics

Surat Ghafir is the first of the seven surahs ? in the order of surahs in the Mus-haf ? which begin with the words Ha-Mim. These surahs are called Al-Hawamim those that begin with Ha-Mim, or the Ha-Mim surahs. [269] See: At-Tantawi: At-Tafsir Al-Wasit, 12/255. The Ha-Mim surahs are: Ghafir, Fussilat, As-Shura, Az-Zukhruf, Ad-Dukhan, Al-Jathiyah, Al-Ahqaf. They are also known as Dhawat Ha-Mim [those with Ha-Mim] and Al Ha-Mim [the Ha-Mim family]. See: Al-Jawhari: As-Sihah, 5/1907; As-Suyuti: Al-Itqan, 1/224.
It was narrated that Al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufrah said: Someone who heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told me that he said: ?If you are attacked at night, let your watchword be Ha-Mim; they will not prevail [270] What is meant is: if the enemy attacks you at night, and you mix with them [in the fight], ?let your watchword? that is, your sign by which you will know your companions, be ?Ha-Mim; they will not prevail.? It was said that what is meant is: by virtue of the surahs which begin with Ha-Mim and their high status before Allah, ?they will not prevail.? And it was said that the seven Ha-Mim surahs are surahs of great importance. This hadith points out that mentioning them because of their great importance and high status before Allah is something by virtue of which the Muslims may seek help to prevail over their enemies and humiliate them. So he instructed them to say Ha-Mim, then he added: ?they will not prevail?, perhaps in response to someone who asked: what will happen if I say this word? So he said: ?they will not prevail.? See: At-Tibi: Al-Kashif ?an Haqa?iq As-Sunan, 8/2704; Al-Qari: Mirqat Al-Mafatih, 6/2539. .? [271] Narrated via Abu Dawud, 2597; At-Tirmidhi, 1682; Ahmad, 16615.

Makki or Madani?

Surat Ghafir is Makki and it was narrated that there was consensus regarding that. [272] Those who narrated that there was consensus regarding that include: Ibn ?Atiyyah, Abu Hayyan and Al-Fayruzabadi. See: Tafsir Ibn ?Atiyyah, 4/661; Tafsir Abi Hayyan, 9/231; Al-Fayruzabadi: Basa?ir Dhawi At-Tamyiz, 1/409.

Objectives

The most important objectives of this surah include:
Proving false the argument used by those who argued about the signs of Allah.

Topics

The most significant topics addressed in Surat Ghafir include:
The surah begins with praise of Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted,.
Consoling the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) for what he faced from the polytheists.
Explaining the role of the angels who bear the Throne, which includes their praying for forgiveness for the believers and offering supplication for them.
Calling people to devote their worship and obedience to Allah alone; reminding them of the terrors of the Day of Resurrection, and that all sovereignty on that Day will belong to Allah alone.
Some aspects of the story of Musa (peace be upon him) with Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun; the exhortation of the righteous man from the family of Pharaoh to his people.
Some aspects of the argument that will take place between the weak and the arrogant in the Fire, and what they will say to the keepers of Hell.
Highlighting in general terms the evidence which proves that only Allah, may He be Glorified and Exalted, is divine and deserving of worship; declaring false the worship of that which they worship besides Allah.
Different types of blessings that Allah bestows upon people, so that they might show gratitude for them.
Mention of those who argue about the signs of Allah without knowledge, rebuking them and warning them of a bad fate; the command to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to bear their offence with patience, and a reminder to him of the attitude of the previous Messengers with their people.
Warning the polytheists of Makkah that their fate will be like the fate of those who came before them who associated others with Allah, if they persist in their disbelief, and that when the punishment of Allah befalls them, it will not avail them anything to believe at that time.

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