Tafsir Ibn Kathir - Surah Ghafir

97 Pages·0.562 MB·English

Revealed in Makkah
The Virtues of the Surahs that begin with Ha Mim
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
"Everything has an essence and the essence of the
Qur'an is the family of Ha Mim,'' or he said, "the Ha
Mims.''
Mis`ar bin Kidam said,
"They used to be called `the brides'.''
All of this was recorded by the the Imam, great scholar, Abu
Ubayd Al-Qasim bin Sallam, may Allah have mercy upon him, in
his book Fada'il Al-Qur'an.
Humayd bin Zanjuyah narrated that Abdullah, may Allah be
pleased with him, said,
"The parable of the Qur'an is that of a man who sets out
to find a place for his family to stay, and he comes to a
place where there is evidence of rainfall. While he is
walking about, admiring it, he suddenly comes upon
beautiful gardens. He says, `I liked the first traces of
rainfall, but this is far better.' It was said to him, `The
first place is like the Qur'an, and these beautiful gardens
1
are like the splendor of family of Ha Mim in relation to
the rest of the Qur'an'.''
This was recorded by Al-Baghawi.
Ibn Mas`ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
"When I reach the family of Ha Mim, it is like reaching a
beautiful garden, so I take my time.''

(cid:2)(cid:3)(cid:5)ِ (cid:7)(cid:6) (cid:8)ا (cid:10)ِ ـَ(cid:13)ْ(cid:5)(cid:7)(cid:6) (cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِ (cid:17)ّ(cid:8)ا (cid:2)ِْ(cid:18)(cid:19)ِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful.
(cid:2)ـ(cid:5)

40:1 Ha Mim.
(cid:2)ِ(cid:3)(cid:17)ِ(cid:20)َ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:21)ِ ی(cid:21)ِ (cid:20)َ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِ (cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:10)َ ﻡِ (cid:24)ِ ـ(cid:25)َ(cid:26)ِ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:28)ُ ی(cid:21)ِ (cid:29)(cid:30)َ

40:2 The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the
Almighty, the All-Knower.
(cid:31)َ لِ ْ!"(cid:6) (cid:8)ا ىذِ بِ &'َ(cid:20)ِ ْ(cid:8)ا (ِی(ِ)َ بِ ْ!(cid:25)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:28)ِ (cid:19)ِ&َ*وَ (cid:24)ِ ﻥ-(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:7)ِ .ِ&/َ
(cid:7)ُ (cid:3)1ِ (cid:13)َ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِْ(cid:3)(cid:8)َإِ !َ هُ (cid:31)(cid:6) إِ (cid:15)َ ـ(cid:8)َإِ

40:3 The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of
repentance, the Severe in punishment, the
Bestower. La ilaha illa Huwa, to Him is the final
return.
Allah says,
5١3 (cid:2)(cid:5)
Ha Mim,
2
We have already discussed the individual letters at the
beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, and there is no need to
repeat the discussion here.
In a Hadith recorded by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi from
one who heard it from the Messenger of Allah, it says:
نو(cid:7)ُ 1َ ْ(cid:29)یُ &(cid:8)َ (cid:2)(cid:5) :ا!(cid:8)ُ!'ُ.َ 6َ(cid:17)َْ(cid:3)(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:2)ُ(cid:25)7(cid:3)8(cid:19)ُ ْنإِ
When you go to bed tonight, recite Ha Mim, La
Yunsarun.''
Its chain of narrators is Sahih.
Allah says,
5٢3 (cid:2)ِ(cid:3)(cid:17)ِ(cid:20)َْ(cid:8)ا (cid:21)ِ ی(cid:21)ِ (cid:20)َْ(cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:10)َ ﻡِ بِ &(cid:25)َ(cid:26)ِْ(cid:8)ا (cid:28)ُ ی(cid:21)ِ (cid:29)(cid:30)َ
The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Almighty,
the All-Knower.
means, this book -- the Qur'an -- is from Allah,
the Owner of might and knowledge, Who cannot
be overtaken and from Whom nothing is hidden,
not even an ant concealed beneath many layers.
... بِ ْ!(cid:25)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:28)ِ (cid:19)ِ&*َوَ (cid:24)ِ ﻥ-(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:7)ِ .ِ&/َ
The Forgiver of sin, the Acceptor of repentance,
means, He forgives sins that have been
committed in the past, and He accepts
repentance for sins that may be committed in the
future, from the one who repents and submits to
Him.
... بِ &'َ(cid:20)ِْ(cid:8)ا (ِی(ِ)َ ...
the Severe in punishment,
means, to the one who persists in transgression
and prefers the life of this world, who stubbornly
turns away from the commands of Allah and
commits sin.
This is like the Ayah:
(cid:2)ُ(cid:3)(cid:5)ِ (cid:7)(cid:6) (cid:8)ا رُ !>ُ?َْ(cid:8)ا &ﻥَأَ Aﻥ8أَ ىدِ&CَDِ ْءAC8ﻥَ
3
(cid:2)ُ(cid:3)(cid:8)ِ(cid:31)F ا بُ ا-َ(cid:20)َْ(cid:8)ا !َ هُ A(cid:19)ِا-َDَ ن(cid:6) أَوَ
Declare unto My servants that truly I am the Oft-
Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. And that My torment
is indeed the most painful torment. (15:49-50)
These two attributes (mercy and punishment) are
often mentioned together in the Qur'an, so that
people will remain in a state of both hope and
fear.
... لِ ْ!"(cid:6) (cid:8)ا يذِ ...
the Bestower.
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
"This means He is Generous and Rich
(Independent of means).''
The meaning is that He is Most Generous to His
servants, granting ongoing blessings for which
they can never sufficiently thank Him.
&هَ !1ُ ْH(cid:30)ُ (cid:31)َ (cid:15)ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا 6َ(cid:13)َْ(cid:20)ﻥِ ْاو(7(cid:20)ُ(cid:30)َ نإِوَ
And if you would count the favors of Allah, never
could you be able to count them... (16:18)
... !َ هُ &(cid:8)(cid:6)إِ (cid:15)َ(cid:8)َإِ &(cid:8)َ ...
La ilaha illa Huwa,
means, there is none that is equal to Him in all
His attributes; there is no God or Lord besides
Him.
5٣3 (cid:7)ُ (cid:3)1ِ (cid:13)َْ(cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِْ(cid:3)(cid:8)َإِ ...
to Him is the final return.
means, all things will come back to Him and He
will reward or punish each person according to his
deeds.
بِ &(cid:18)َ Hِ ْ(cid:8)ا Jُ ی(cid:7)ِ ﺱَ !َ هُ وَ
and He is Swift at reckoning. (13:41)
4
كَ ْر(cid:7)ُ ْ?یَ Mَ .َ ْاو(cid:7)ُ >َآَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا (cid:31)(cid:6) إِ (cid:15)ِ (cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا Oِ ـیَاءَ A.ِ لُ (ِـPَ یُ &ﻡَ
دِMَ Cِْ(cid:8)ا A.ِ ْ(cid:2)Qُ Cُ(cid:17)7'َ(cid:30)َ

40:4 None disputes in the Ayat of Allah but those
who disbelieve. So let not their ability of going
about here and there through the land (for their
purposes) deceive you!
ْO(cid:13)(cid:6) هَ وَ ْ(cid:2)هِ (ِْ(cid:20)(cid:19)َ (cid:10)ﻡِ بُ ا(cid:21)َ ْ(cid:5)(cid:31)F اوَ حٍ !ﻥُ مُْ!*َ ْ(cid:2)Qُ (cid:17)َْC*َ ْO(cid:19)َ-(cid:6)ـآَ
ْا!Yُ (cid:5)ِ ْ((cid:3)ُ(cid:8)ِ (cid:28)ِ "ِ ـCَْ(cid:8)&(cid:19)ِ ا!(cid:8)ُ(َـﺝَ وَ Vُو-ُWُ ْX(cid:3)َ(cid:8)ِ ْ(cid:2)Qِ (cid:8)ِ!ﺱُ (cid:7)َ (cid:19)ِ 6ٍ ﻡ(cid:6) أُ 7(cid:28)ـآُ
Z(cid:6) Hَ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِ (cid:19)ِ

40:5 The people of Nuh and the groups after them
denied before these; and every nation plotted
against their Messenger to seize him, and disputed
by means of falsehood to refute therewith the truth.
بِ &'َDِ نَ &آَ [َ ْ(cid:3)(cid:26)َ .َ ْ(cid:2)Qُ (cid:30)ُْ-Wَ Xَ.َ

So I seized them, and how was My punishment!
ْ(cid:2)Qُ ﻥ(cid:6)أَ ْاو(cid:7)ُ >َآَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا A(cid:17)َDَ \َ (cid:19)8رَ 6ُ(cid:13)َ (cid:17)ِآَ ْO'(cid:6)(cid:5)َ \َ (cid:8)ِ-َآَ وَ
رِ &(cid:29)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا (cid:24)ُ ـHَ ْﺹأَ

40:6 Thus has the Word of your Lord been justified
against those who disbelieved, that they will be the
dwellers of the Fire.
Allah says,
... (cid:15)ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا تِ &یَ_ `.ِ لُ دِ&Pَ یُ &ﻡَ
None disputes in the Ayat of Allah,
One of the Attributes of the Disbelievers is That
they dispute the Ayat of Allah -- and The
Consequences of that Allah tells us that no one
5
rejects or disputes His signs after clear proof has
come,
... او(cid:7)ُ >َآَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا &(cid:8)(cid:6)إِ ...
but those who disbelieve,
i.e., those who reject the signs of Allah and His
proof and evidence.
5٤3 دِ&(cid:17)َCِْ(cid:8)ا `.ِ ْ(cid:2)QُCُ(cid:17)7'َ(cid:30)َ كَ ْر(cid:7)ُ ْ?یَ &(cid:17)َ.َ ...
So let not their ability of going about here and there
through the land deceive you!
means, their wealth and luxurious life.
This is like the Ayah:
(ِـ(cid:17)َCِْ(cid:8)ا A.ِ ْاو(cid:7)ُ >َآَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا (cid:24)ُ (cid:17)7'َ(cid:30)َ \َ ﻥ(cid:6)(cid:7)(cid:6) ُ?یَ (cid:31)َ
دُ&Qَ(cid:13)ِْ(cid:8)ا dَ ْe(cid:19)ِوَ (cid:2)ُ(cid:29)(cid:6)Qَﺝَ ْ(cid:2)هُ اوَ ْXﻡَ (cid:2)(cid:6)bُ ٌ(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:17)ِ*َ ٌJـ(cid:25)َﻡَ
Let not the free disposal (and affluence) of the
disbelievers throughout the land deceive you. A
brief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode is
Hell; and worst indeed is that place for rest.
(3:196-197)
gٍ (cid:3)(cid:17)ِ/َ بٍ ا-َDَ A(cid:8)َإِ ْ(cid:2)هُ (cid:7)7 "َ ْYﻥَ (cid:2)(cid:6)bُ Mً (cid:3)(cid:17)ِ*َ ْ(cid:2)Qُ(cid:20)ُ(cid:25)8(cid:13)َﻥُ
We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the
end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great
torment. (31:24)
Then Allah consoles His Prophet Muhammad for the
rejection of his people. He tells him that he has an
example in the Prophets who came before him, may the
blessings and peace of Allah be upon them all, for their
nations disbelieved them and opposed them, and only a
few believed in them.
... حٍ !ﻥُ مُْ!*َ ْ(cid:2)Qُ(cid:17)َْC*َ ْO(cid:19)َ-(cid:6)آَ
The people of Nuh denied before these;
6
Nuh was the first Messenger whom Allah sent to
denounce and forbid idol worship.
... ْ(cid:2)هِ (ِْ(cid:20)(cid:19)َ (cid:10)ﻡِ بُ ا(cid:21)َ ْ(cid:5)Xَْ(cid:8)اوَ ...
and the groups after them, (means, from every nation).
... Vُو-ُWُ ْX(cid:3)َ(cid:8)ِ ْ(cid:2)Qِ(cid:8)ِ!ﺱُ (cid:7)َ (cid:19)ِ 6ٍﻡ(cid:6)أُ (cid:28)7 آُ ْO(cid:13)(cid:6)هَ وَ ...
and every (disbelieving) nation plotted against their
Messenger to seize him,
means, they wanted to kill him by any means
possible, and some of them did kill their
Messenger.
... Z(cid:6) Hَ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:15)ِ(cid:19)ِ ا!Yُ (cid:5)ِ ْ((cid:3)ُ(cid:8)ِ (cid:28)ِ hِ &Cَْ(cid:8)&(cid:19)ِ ا!(cid:8)ُدَ&ﺝَ وَ ...
and disputed by means of falsehood to refute therewith
the truth.
means, they came up with specious arguments
with which to dispute the truth which was so plain
and clear.
... ْ(cid:2)Qُ(cid:30)ُْ-Wَ Xَ.َ ...
So I seized them,
means, `I destroyed them, because of the sins
they committed.'
5٥3 بِ &'َDِ نَ &آَ [َ ْ(cid:3)(cid:26)َ.َ ...
and how was My punishment!
means, `how have you heard that My punishment
and vengeance was so severe and painful.'
Qatadah said,
"It was terrible, by Allah.''
5٦3 رِ &(cid:29)(cid:6)(cid:8)ا بُ &Hَ ْﺹأَ ْ(cid:2)Qُﻥ(cid:6)أَ او(cid:7)ُ >َآَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا A(cid:17)َDَ \َ (cid:19)8رَ Oُ َ(cid:13)(cid:17)ِآَ ْO'(cid:6)(cid:5)َ \َ (cid:8)ِ-َآَوَ
Thus has the Word of your Lord been justified against
those who disbelieved, that they will be the dwellers of
the Fire.
7
means, `just as the Word of punishment was
justified against those of the past nations who
disbelieved, so too is it justified against these
disbelievers who have rejected you and gone
against you, O Muhammad, and it is even more
justified against them, because if they have
disbelieved in you, there is no certainty that they
will believe in any other Prophet.'
And Allah knows best.

ْ(cid:2)Qِ (cid:19)8رَ (ِْ(cid:13)Hَ (cid:19)ِ نَ !Hُ C8(cid:18)َ یُ (cid:15)ُ(cid:8)َْ!(cid:5)َ ْ(cid:10)ﻡَ وَ شَ ْ(cid:7)(cid:20)َ ْ(cid:8)ا نَ !(cid:17)ُ(cid:13)ِ ْHیَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا
ْا!(cid:29)ُﻡَ اءَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ِ نَ و(cid:7)ُ >ِْ?(cid:25)َْ(cid:18)یَوَ (cid:15)ِ (cid:19)ِ نَ !(cid:29)ُِﻡْlیُوَ

40:7 Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah)
and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord,
and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those
who believe (saying):
ْا!(cid:19)ُ&(cid:30)َ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ِ ْ(cid:7)>ِْ/&.َ &ً(cid:13)ْ(cid:17)Dِ وَ 6ً (cid:13)َ ْ(cid:5)ر(cid:6) ءٍ ْA)َ (cid:28)(cid:6) ـآُ Oَ ْ(cid:20)ﺱِ وَ &(cid:29)َ(cid:19)(cid:6)رَ
(cid:2)ِ(cid:3)Hِ Pَ ْ(cid:8)ا بَ ا-َDَ ْ(cid:2)Qِ *ِوَ \َ (cid:17)َ(cid:3)Cِﺱَ ْا!(cid:20)ُ Cَ(cid:30)(cid:6)اوَ

"Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and
knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow
Your way, and save them from the torment of the
blazing Fire!
mَ (cid:17)َـﺹَ (cid:10)ﻡَ وَ ْ(cid:2)Qُ (cid:30)(cid:6)ْ(Dَ وَ A(cid:25)ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا نٍ ْ(Dَ Oِ ـ(cid:29)(cid:6)ﺝَ ْ(cid:2)Qُ ْ(cid:17)Wِ ْدأَوَ &(cid:29)َ(cid:19)(cid:6)رَ
ْ(cid:2)Qِ (cid:25)ِـی(cid:6)ر8 ذُوَ ْ(cid:2)Qِ ﺝِ وَ ْزأَوَ ْ(cid:2)Qِ ﺉِp(cid:19)َاءَ ْ(cid:10)ﻡِ

40:8 Our Lord! And make them enter the `Adn
(Eternal) Gardens which you have promised them --
and to the righteous among their fathers, their
wives, and their offspring!
(cid:2)ُ(cid:3)(cid:26)ِ Hَ ْ(cid:8)ا (cid:21)ُ ی(cid:21)ِ (cid:20)َ ْ(cid:8)ا Oَ ﻥأَ \َ ﻥ(cid:6)إِ

Verily, You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.
8
(cid:15)ُ(cid:25)َْ(cid:13)(cid:5)ِ رَ ْ('َ.َ -ٍeِﻡَ ْ!یَ Oِ ـeَ(cid:3)8(cid:18)(cid:6) (cid:8)ا Zِ (cid:30)َ (cid:10)ﻡَ وَ Oِ ـeَ(cid:3)8(cid:18)(cid:6) (cid:8)ا (cid:2)ُQِ *ِوَ

40:9 And save them from the sins, and whomsoever
You save from the sins that Day, him verily, You
have taken into mercy.''
(cid:2)ُ(cid:3)qِ (cid:20)َ ْ(cid:8)ا زُ ْ!>َْ(cid:8)ا !َ هُ \َ (cid:8)ِذَوَ

And that is the supreme success.
The Bearers of the Throne praise Allah and pray for
forgiveness for the Believers
Allah tells us that;
... ْ(cid:2)Qِ(cid:19)8رَ (ِْ(cid:13)Hَ (cid:19)ِ نَ !Hُ C8(cid:18)َ یُ (cid:15)ُ(cid:8)َْ!(cid:5)َ ْ(cid:10)ﻡَوَ شَ ْ(cid:7)(cid:20)َْ(cid:8)ا نَ !(cid:17)ُ(cid:13)ِْHیَ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:8)(cid:6)ا
Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) and those
around it glorify the praises of their Lord,
Allah tells us that the angels who are close to
Him, the bearers of the Throne, and the angels
who are around Him -- all glorify the praises of
their Lord. They combine glorification (Tasbih)
which implies that He is free of any shortcomings,
with praise (Tahmid) which is an affirmation of
praise.
... (cid:15)ِ(cid:19)ِ نَ !(cid:29)ُﻡِْlیُوَ ...
and believe in Him,
means, they humbly submit themselves before
Him.
... ا!(cid:29)ُﻡَ_ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ِ نَ و(cid:7)ُ >ِْ?(cid:25)َْ(cid:18)یَوَ ...
and ask forgiveness for those who believe,
means, for those among the people of earth who
believe in the Unseen. Allah commanded that His
angels who are close to Him should pray for the
believers in their absence, so it is a part of the
9
angels' nature that they say Amin when a
believer prays for his brother in his absence.
In Sahih Muslim it says:
(cid:15)(cid:17)ِْr(cid:13)ِ(cid:19)ِ \َ (cid:8)َوَ (cid:10)َ (cid:3)ﻡِ_ :\ُ (cid:17)َ(cid:13)َْ(cid:8)ا لَ &*َ (cid:24)ِ ْ(cid:3)?َْ(cid:8)ا (cid:7)ِ ْQqَ (cid:19)ِ (cid:15)ِ(cid:3)Wِ Xَ(cid:8)ِ (cid:2)ُ(cid:17)ِْ(cid:18)(cid:13)ُْ(cid:8)ا &Dَ دَ اذَإِ
When a Muslim prays for his brother in his
absence, the angel says, `Amin, and may you
have something similar to it'.
Shahr bin Hawshab said,
"The bearers of the Throne are eight; four of
them say,
`Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, to
You be praise for Your forbearance after
Your knowledge. '
Four of them say,
`Glory and praise be to You, O Allah, to You be
praise for Your forgiveness after Your power.'
When they pray for forgiveness for those who believe,
they say:
... &(cid:13)ًْ(cid:17)Dِ وَ 6ً(cid:13)َْ(cid:5)ر(cid:6) ءٍْ`)َ (cid:28)(cid:6) آُ Oَ ْ(cid:20)ﺱِ وَ &(cid:29)َ(cid:19)(cid:6)رَ ...
Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and
knowledge,
meaning, `Your mercy encompasses their sins
and Your knowledge encompasses all their deeds,
words and action.'
... \َ (cid:17)َ(cid:3)Cِﺱَ ا!(cid:20)ُCَ(cid:30)(cid:6)اوَ ا!(cid:19)ُ&(cid:30)َ (cid:10)َ ی-ِ(cid:17)(cid:6)(cid:8)ِ ْ(cid:7)>ِْ/&.َ ...
so forgive those who repent and follow Your way.''
That is, `forgive the sinners when they repent to
You and turn to You and give up their former
ways, following Your commands to do good and
abstain from evil.'
5٧3 (cid:2)ِ(cid:3)Hِ Pَ ْ(cid:8)ا بَ ا-َDَ ْ(cid:2)Qِ*ِوَ ...
and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire!
10