Ghafir, "The Forgiver," is the fortieth surah — 85 verses revealed in Mecca.1 It is the first of seven consecutive surahs that open with the letters Ha-Mim, and it is also known as al-Mu'min, "The Believer," after the man at its center.
What it is about
The surah opens with a description of God that sets its tone: "The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Knowing, the forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance."2 It speaks to people who "dispute concerning the signs of Allah" without evidence, and it offers them two examples: the angels around the Throne, who pray for believers, and a single believing man in the court of Pharaoh, who argued for Moses at the risk of his life.
Key themes
The angels' prayer. "Those [angels] who carry the Throne and those around it exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who have believed," praying that God admit them to Paradise "and whoever was righteous among their forefathers, their spouses and their offspring."3
The believer in Pharaoh's court. When Pharaoh proposes to kill Moses, "a believing man from the family of Pharaoh who concealed his faith" speaks: "Do you kill a man [merely] because he says, 'My Lord is Allah' while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? And if he should be lying, then upon him is [the consequence of] his lie; but if he should be truthful, there will strike you some of what he promises you." He reminds them of Joseph and of peoples destroyed before, warns that "this worldly life is only [temporary] enjoyment," and asks: "how is it that I invite you to salvation while you invite me to the Fire?" He ends: "I entrust my affair to Allah." And God protects him.4
Before the Hour. Of Pharaoh's people: "The Fire; they are exposed to it morning and evening. And the Day the Hour appears [it will be said], 'Make the people of Pharaoh enter the severest punishment.'"5
Call upon Me. "And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you.' Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible."6
From dust to resurrection. God created people "from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot," brings them out as children, lets them grow and age; "when He decrees a matter, He but says to it, 'Be,' and it is."7
Faith that comes too late. The surah closes on those who, seeing the punishment, said, "We believe in Allah alone" — "but never did their faith benefit them once they saw Our punishment."8
Why it matters
Ghafir opens with one of the Quran's fullest statements of God's forgiveness, and its promise "Call upon Me; I will respond to you" is a foundation of Muslim supplication. Its believer in Pharaoh's court is one of the Quran's great examples of moral courage — a man inside the halls of power who chose to speak. To read Ghafir in Arabic with translations and recitation, open it on Quran.com.