ADHIKR

This Surath is named “Believer-Mua’min” from verse 28, which mentions, “a believer from Pharaoh’s family told.” In the third verse of this Surath, Allah is described as the “Forgiver of offenses,” which is why this Surath is also known as “Forgiver-Gafir.” This Surath, containing 85 verses, was revealed in the middle of the Messenger’s Meccan period along with Surath Zumar.

By pointing out the history of Pharaoh, this Surath warns disbelievers that disbelieving and transgressing rulers who plot to eradicate the Truth will never succeed. The believer who lives serving Allah alone and declares that ‘My Lord is Allah alone’ will not be affected by any distress, no matter how powerful his enemies may be. Such a believer is informed with glad tidings that he will be victorious both in this world and in the Hereafter. On the Day when each soul will be rewarded for what it has earned in worldly life, the disbelievers who ignored and hated Adhikr in this world will say: “We have recognized our mistakes, so is there any way to return to the worldly life?” This Surath warns about the hypocrites who hide Adhikr and their blind followers who reject Adhikr, pleading with the guards of the Fire—the Angels—to pray to the Lord to reduce their punishment for a day. By refusing their demand Angels askthe question: “Didn’t the Messengers come to you explaining the verses of the Lord?”

The verse of this Surath warns that those who are repudiators regarding Adhikr have arrogance in their hearts for what they can never achieve and that such arrogance will surely lead them to Hell. In every era, Messengers were sent with Proof, Adhikr, so there would be no excuse for the followers of falsehood. But most people were not ready to change their customs and habits and clung proudly to their traditional ways and knowledge. This Surath ends by warning that disbelievers in every period were ready to believe when seeing the Lord’s scourge, but it didn’t benefit them, and the disbelievers were lost.