Surah 40: Forgiver, The Believer - Overview

Introduction

This Surah is called Ghafir (Forgiver). It is also called "The Believer" (Al Mu'min) from the story of the individual Believer among the people of Pharaoh, who declares his faith and looks to the Future (verses 28-45). In S.23, called the The Believers (Al Mu'minun), the argument was about the collective force of Faith and virtue. Here it is about the Individual's witness to Faith and Virtue, and his triumph in the End.

We now being a series of seven Surahs (40-46) to which are affixed the Abbreviated Letters Ha Mim. Chronologically they all belong to the same period, the later Makkan Period, and they immediately follow the last Surah in time. As to the precise meaning of Ha Mim no authoritative explanation is available. If Mim here has a signification similar to Mim in Alif, Lam, Mim, it means the End of things, the Last Day, and all these Surahs direct our special attention to that Ha, the emphatic guttural, in contrast with the softer breathing of Alif, may be meant to suggest that Beginning is only for the End, the Present for the Future, and to emphasize the eschatological element in Faith. But this is mere conjecture, and should be taken for no more than it is worth.

The general theme of the whole series is the relation of Faith to Unfaith, Revelation to Rejection, Goodness to Evil, Truth to Falsehood. It is shown that the first in each of these pairs is the real friend, helper, and protector of man, while the second is his enemy. The very word Hamim in that sense is used in Surahs 40 and 41 (40:18 and 41:34), while in the other Surahs we have words of equivalent import, e.g. wali or nasir (42:8 and 31); qarin (43:36, 38); mawla (44:41); awliya' or nasrin (45:19, 34); and awliya' (46:32). Is it permissible to connect the Abbreviated Letters Ha Mim with these ideas as expressed in the word Hamim?

Another suggestion worthy of consideration is that Ha stands for Hayy, and Mim for Qayyum. These are two attributes of God, meaning, (1) the Living, and (2) the Self-Subsisting, Eternal. The one points to Life, and Revelation, and the other to the Hereafter and Eternity; and both these matters are specially dealt with in the seven Ha Mim Surahs. The first letter of Hayy (Ha) is appropriate for life, and the last letter of Qayyum is appropriate for the Last Days, the Ma'ad, the Hereafter. Again, this is mere conjecture, and should not be taken for more than it is worth.

Summary

1- Faith is ever justified, for God forgives: but evil deeds must have evil fruits, for God knows and is just. (40:1-20)

The Day of Requital [40:1-20] Believe in God. For He is Perfect in Knowledge and Power, forgives Sin and accepts Repentance, and justly enforces His Law. Those who reject Him are but in deceit: His glory is sung by the highest and purest. Give all devotion to Him alone. The Day of Requital is ever drawing near, when Falsehood will vanish, and God's Truth and Justice will be established for all Eternity. 

2- In all history Evil came to evil; the protest of Faith, in the midst of Evil, may be ignored; but Faith is protected by God, while Evil perishes. (40:21-50)

Arrogance and Humility  [40:21-50] Travel in space and time, and you will see that Evil came to nothing but evil. Mighty men of old in arrogance plotted against God's Truth, but were brought low. A humble Believer, in Pharaoh's Court stood up for Truth, and counseled his People to obey the Right: in earnest humility did he address them. They heard him not. But he was saved, and they were engulfed in the Wrath of God.

3- No doubt is there of the Future Judgment; the Power, Goodness, and Justice of God are manifest; will man dispute, or will he accept the Signs before it is too late? (40:51-85)

Keys of Life and Death [40:51-85] God's grace and help are ever ready for His servants who patiently persevere. Let not arrogance blind the souls of men: the Hour of Judgment is bound to come. The keys of Life and Death are in the hands of God. Dispute not the Signs of God, but learn from History and the world around you. Science and skill avail you not if the soul is dead.