Discover Surah 40: Ghafir (The Forgiver) with clear English translation and insightful commentary. Learn its message of divine mercy, justice, and lessons from past nations.
Surah 40: Ghafir (The Forgiver)
Introduction
It is the 40th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. It has 85 verses and was revealed in Makkah. It is also called Al-Mu’min (‘The Believer’) because it tells the story of a believing man from Pharaoh’s family who defended Prophet Musa (Moses) when others rejected him.
The Surah focuses on three main themes:
Allah’s Power and Mercy – Allah forgives sins, accepts repentance, but also punishes those who reject the truth.
Lessons from History – The Surah reminds us of past nations such as Pharaoh’s people, ‘Ad, Thamud, and others who were destroyed for their arrogance.
The Reality of the Hereafter – It describes the Day of Judgment, the arguments of the disbelievers in Hell, and the eternal reward of the believers in Paradise.
The Surah also gives comfort to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by assuring him that Allah always supports His messengers, even if they face rejection and harm from the people. It repeatedly urges people to call upon Allah alone and to humble themselves before Him. 0 0 0
Surah 40: Ghafir (The Forgiver): Text
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
1. Ḥā Mīm.
2. This Book is sent down from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knowing.
3. The Forgiver of sin, the Accepter of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Owner of limitless bounty. There is no god except Him. To Him is the final return.
4. None dispute about the signs of Allah except those who disbelieve. So do not be deceived by how they move about freely in the land.
5. Before them, the people of Noah also denied, and so did many groups after them. Every nation planned against their messenger to capture him. They argued with falsehood in order to refute the truth. So I seized them, and how terrible was My punishment!
6. In this way, the word of your Lord has been fulfilled against the disbelievers — that they will be the people of the Fire.
7. Those (angels) who carry the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord with praise. They believe in Him and they pray for forgiveness for those who believe, saying: ‘Our Lord, Your mercy and knowledge encompass all things. So forgive those who repent and follow Your way, and protect them from the punishment of the blazing Fire.’
8. ‘Our Lord, admit them into Gardens of Eternity which You have promised them, along with the righteous among their forefathers, their spouses, and their children. Surely, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.’
9. ‘And protect them from the evil consequences of their deeds. And whomever You protect from such evil on that Day — You have surely granted him mercy. And that is the supreme success.’
10. It will be announced to those who disbelieved: ‘The hatred of Allah towards you is far greater than your hatred towards yourselves — for you were invited to faith but you refused.’
11. They will say: ‘Our Lord, You made us die twice and gave us life twice. Now we confess our sins. Is there any way out?’
12. This is because when Allah alone was called upon, you disbelieved; but when partners were associated with Him, you believed. The judgment belongs to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
13. He is the One who shows you His signs and sends down provision for you from the sky. But none take heed except those who turn to Him.
14. So call upon Allah, devoting your worship to Him sincerely, even though the disbelievers may dislike it.
15. He is the Exalted in rank, the Lord of the Throne. He sends the Revelation by His command to whom He wills among His servants, so that He may warn them of the Day of Meeting.
16. The Day when they will all come forth — nothing about them will be hidden from Allah. He will say: ‘To whom belongs the kingdom today?’ It belongs to Allah, the One, the Irresistible.
17. On that Day every soul will be rewarded for what it earned. There will be no injustice that day. Surely Allah is swift in taking account.
18. Warn them of the approaching Day, when hearts will choke in the throats, filled with anguish. The wrongdoers will have no close friend and no intercessor who will be listened to.
19. He knows the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.
20. And Allah judges with the truth, while those they call upon besides Him cannot judge anything. Surely Allah is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
21. Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were stronger than them in power and had left more traces in the land, yet Allah destroyed them for their sins. And they had no one to protect them from Allah.
22. That was because their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they disbelieved. So Allah seized them. Surely He is All-Powerful, severe in punishment.
23. And indeed We sent Moses with Our signs and clear authority.
24. To Pharaoh, Haman, and Qarun. But they said: ‘A lying magician.’
25. When Moses came to them with the truth from Us, they said: ‘Kill the sons of those who believe with him, and let their women live.’ But the plan of the disbelievers is only in vain.
26. Pharaoh said: ‘Leave me to kill Moses, and let him call upon his Lord. I fear that he will change your religion or cause corruption in the land.’
27. Moses said: ‘Indeed, I seek refuge in my Lord and your Lord from every arrogant one who does not believe in the Day of Reckoning.’
28. And a believing man from the family of Pharaoh, who was hiding his faith, said: ‘Will you kill a man just because he says, “My Lord is Allah,” while he has brought you clear proofs from your Lord? If he is lying, then his lie will be upon him; but if he is truthful, then some of what he threatens you with will fall upon you. Surely Allah does not guide one who is a transgressor and a liar.’
29. ‘O my people, today the kingdom belongs to you. You are dominant in the land. But who will protect us from the punishment of Allah if it comes to us?’ Pharaoh said: ‘I only show you what I see fit, and I guide you only to the path of right conduct.’
30. And the one who believed said: ‘O my people, indeed I fear for you something like the Day of the confederated groups (who opposed the truth).’
31. ‘Like the fate of the people of Noah, and of ‘Ad, and Thamud, and those after them. Allah does not will injustice for His servants.’
32. ‘O my people, I fear for you the Day of Calling one another.’
33. ‘A Day when you will turn back to flee, having no protector against Allah. And whomever Allah leaves to stray — there is no guide for him.’
34. ‘And Joseph had already come to you before with clear proofs, yet you remained in doubt about what he brought to you. And when he died, you said: “Allah will never send any messenger after him.” In this way Allah leaves to stray those who are excessive in doubt.’
35. Those who argue about the signs of Allah without any authority given to them — this is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believe. In this way Allah seals the heart of every arrogant tyrant.
36. Pharaoh said: ‘O Haman, build me a tower so that I may reach the pathways.’
37. ‘The pathways to the heavens — so that I may look at the God of Moses. But I think he is a liar.’ And in this way the evil of his deeds was made attractive to Pharaoh, and he was turned away from the right path. The plot of Pharaoh led only to his ruin.
38. And the one who believed said: ‘O my people, follow me, I will guide you to the way of right conduct.’
39. ‘O my people, this worldly life is only a temporary enjoyment, but the Hereafter is the home that will last forever.’
40. ‘Whoever does an evil deed will be repaid only with the like of it. But whoever, male or female, does good and is a believer — they will enter Paradise, where they will be provided for without limit.’
41. ‘And O my people, why is it that I call you to salvation, while you call me to the Fire?’
42. ‘You call me to disbelieve in Allah and to associate with Him what I have no knowledge of, while I call you to the All-Mighty, the All-Forgiving.’
43. ‘There is no doubt that what you call me to has no claim in this world or the Hereafter, and our return is to Allah, and the transgressors will be the people of the Fire.’
44. ‘You will soon remember what I am telling you. And I entrust my affair to Allah. Surely Allah is All-Seeing of His servants.’
45. So Allah protected him from the evil of what they plotted, while an evil punishment surrounded the people of Pharaoh.
46. The Fire — they are exposed to it morning and evening. And on the Day the Hour is established it will be said: ‘Admit the people of Pharaoh to the most severe punishment.’
47. And when they will argue with one another in the Fire, the weak will say to those who were arrogant: ‘Indeed, we were your followers, so can you now protect us from a portion of the Fire?’
48. Those who were arrogant will say: ‘Indeed, we are all in it together. Allah has already judged between His servants.’
49. And those in the Fire will say to the keepers of Hell: ‘Pray to your Lord to lighten for us one day of the punishment.’
50. They will say: ‘Did your messengers not come to you with clear proofs?’ They will say: ‘Yes.’ The keepers will say: ‘Then pray by yourselves.’ But the prayer of the disbelievers is only in vain.
51. Indeed, We will surely help Our messengers and those who believe, in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth.
52. The Day when the excuses of the wrongdoers will not benefit them. For them is the curse, and for them is the worst home.
53. And indeed We gave Moses the guidance, and caused the Children of Israel to inherit the Scripture.
54. As guidance and a reminder for those of understanding.
55. So be patient. Surely, the promise of Allah is true. And seek forgiveness for your sin, and glorify the praise of your Lord in the evening and in the morning.
56. Surely those who dispute about the signs of Allah without any authority given to them — there is nothing in their breasts except arrogance which they will never be able to satisfy. So seek refuge in Allah. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.
57. The creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most people do not know.
58. The blind and the seeing are not equal, nor are those who believe and do righteous deeds equal to those who do evil. Little do you reflect.
59. Surely the Hour is coming — there is no doubt about it — but most people do not believe.
60. Your Lord has said: ‘Call upon Me and I will answer you. Indeed, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell in humiliation.’
61. It is Allah who made for you the night so that you may rest in it, and the day so that you may see. Surely Allah is full of bounty to the people, but most people are ungrateful.
62. That is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things. There is no god except Him. How then are you turned away?
63. In the same way, those who used to reject the signs of Allah were turned away.
64. It is Allah who made the earth a stable place for you, and the sky a canopy, and shaped you and perfected your form, and provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
65. He is the Ever-Living; there is no god except Him. So call upon Him, devoting your worship to Him alone. All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
66. Say: ‘I have been forbidden to worship those whom you call upon besides Allah, since clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds.’
67. He is the One who created you from dust, then from a drop of fluid, then from a clot, then He brings you out as infants, then He lets you grow to your maturity, then to old age — though some of you die earlier — so that you may reach an appointed term, and that you may reflect.
68. He is the One who gives life and causes death. When He decides a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be!’ — and it is.
69. Have you not seen those who dispute about the signs of Allah — how they are turned away?
70. Those who deny the Book and what We sent with Our messengers — they will soon know.
71. When shackles will be around their necks and chains, they will be dragged.
72. Into the boiling water, then they will be burned in the Fire.
73. Then it will be said to them: ‘Where are those whom you used to associate (as partners) with Allah?’
74. They will say: ‘They have gone away from us. In fact, we used to call upon nothing before.’ In this way Allah leaves the disbelievers to stray.
75. That is because you used to rejoice in the earth without right, and because you used to be arrogant.
76. Enter the gates of Hell to remain there forever. How evil is the home of the arrogant!
77. So be patient. Surely the promise of Allah is true. Whether We show you some of what We threaten them with, or cause you to die before that — to Us they will all be returned.
78. We have indeed sent messengers before you. Some of them We have related to you, and some of them We have not related to you. It was never possible for any messenger to bring a sign except by Allah’s permission. So when Allah’s command came, judgment was passed with truth, and there the followers of falsehood were in loss.
79. It is Allah who made for you the grazing animals, so that you may ride some of them and eat from some of them.
80. And you have other benefits in them, and by them you reach destinations you desire. And upon them and upon ships you are carried.
81. And He shows you His signs. So which of the signs of Allah will you deny?
82. Have they not travelled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than them, and stronger in power, and left more traces in the land — but whatever they used to earn did not benefit them.
83. Then, when their messengers came to them with clear proofs, they were proud of the knowledge they had, and what they used to mock surrounded them.
84. So when they saw Our punishment, they said: ‘We believe in Allah alone and reject what we used to associate with Him.’
85. But their faith was of no benefit to them when they saw Our punishment. This is Allah’s way with His servants that has passed before — and there the disbelievers were in loss. 0 0 0
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Comment
Surah Gafir is both a warning and a source of hope. On one hand, it warns those who deny Allah’s signs, showing that power, wealth, and numbers cannot protect a nation from His punishment. On the other hand, it inspires believers with the reminder that Allah forgives sins and accepts those who repent sincerely.
The example of the believing man in Pharaoh’s court is especially powerful — he spoke the truth with wisdom, defended the Prophet of Allah, and trusted completely in God’s protection. His courage teaches us that faith sometimes requires standing up alone against falsehood.
The Surah also contains a famous promise from Allah: “Call upon Me, and I will answer you” (verse 60). This shows that prayer is a direct connection to Allah, and arrogance in avoiding worship leads only to ruin.
In short, Surah Ghafir calls us to be humble before our Creator, to learn from the mistakes of the past, and to trust that Allah’s mercy is greater than our sins — if we turn to Him sincerely before the time comes when repentance is no longer accepted. 0 0 0
