Ghafir^[1] (Arabic: غافر, ghāfir; meaning: "The All-Forgiving", referring to God), also known as Al-Muʼmin (Arabic: المؤمن, ’al-mu’min; meaning: The Believer),^[2] is the 40th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, with 85 verses (āyāt). It takes its name from verse 28,^[3] which mentions a distinguished believer from among the clan of the Pharaoh who supported Moses, referring to him as a "believing man", hence al-Mu'min; The Believer. However, this surah is most often called al-Ghafir (the All-Forgiving) because of the Divine Name mentioned in verse 3.^[4]

Regarding the timing and contextual background of the believed revelation (asbāb al-nuzūl), it is a "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina.

Summary

• Q40:1–3 The Quran a revelation from the only true God
• 4 It is denied by none but unbelievers
• 4–6 Confederated infidels, however prosperous, are doomed
• 7–9 The angels intercede for true believers
• 10–12 Infidels shall repent in hell, but in vain
• 13–15 God to be worshipped as the Supreme Being
• 16–18 Judgement Day shall come suddenly
• 19–21 Ungodly men shall have no intercessor
• 22–23 Former infidels destroyed to warn those coming after
• 24–25 Moses called a sorcerer and a liar
• 26–27 He and his followers persecuted by Pharaoh and his people
• 28 Moses takes refuge in the Lord
• 29–30 A true believer espouses the cause of Moses
• 31–37 He warns Pharaoh and his people against unbelief
• 38–39 Pharaoh orders a tower to be built up to heaven
• 40 Pharaoh regards Moses as a liar
• 41–47 The true believer exhorts the Egyptians to believe in the God of Moses
• 48 God delivers the true believer from the devices of Pharaoh and his people
• 49 Pharaoh and his people condemned to hell-fire
• 50–53 Infidels shall reproach each other in hell, and call on their keepers for help in vain
• 54–55 God assists his apostles in this world and in the next
• 56 Moses received the Book of the Law
• 57 The creation of the heavens and the earth is certainly greater than the re-creation of humankind, but most people do not know
• 58 Muhammad to fly for refuge to God against proud infidels
• 59 God manifested to creation, but few men understand
• 60 The righteous and the evil not equal
• 61 The judgment-day sure to come
• 62 Rejectors of God shall be rejected
• 63–66 The true God rejected by ungrateful men
• 67–68 The true God alone to be worshipped
• 69–70 God the Sovereign Creator of all things
• 71–76 The miserable lot of those who reject the Scriptures
• 77 Muhammad to persevere patiently
• 78 No apostle ever wrought miracles without God's permission
• 79–81 God revealed in his works of providence
• 82–83 Former infidels were destroyed for their unbelief
• 84–85 They all repented when too late to avail^[5]

Exegesis (Tafsir)

Q40:55

Translation: So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.^[6]

Infallibility is an indispensable attribute of Islamic Prophet-hood according to Muslims. So according to Muslims, all the Islamic prophets are infallible in the sense that they do not sin or disobey God's orders. Here, God reminds the believers of an important fact to which Muslims must be attentive on the way to God.^[4]