حمٓ 1
Translations
Ḥā, Meem.
Transliteration
Ha Meem
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah consists of the Quranic initials (Huruf al-Muqatta'at) 'Ha Meem,' which are among the mysterious letters that appear at the beginning of certain surahs. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir note that the knowledge of these letters belongs solely to Allah, though some suggest they serve as attention-grabbing devices to draw the listener's focus to the divine message that follows. The placement of these letters at the beginning of Surah Ghafir (The Forgiver) establishes a connection to themes of divine forgiveness and mercy that dominate the surah.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) early preaching period, addressing the polytheists and emphasizing Allah's attributes of forgiveness and power. The opening letters introduce the divine discourse that will unfold throughout the surah, which contains dialogues between believers and disbelievers regarding monotheism and divine mercy.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly explains these specific initials, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: 'The Quran is a cure and a mercy for the believers' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). The surah's theme of forgiveness relates to the hadith: 'Whoever conceals the faults of others, Allah will conceal his faults on the Day of Judgment' (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that the Quran contains divine mysteries beyond human comprehension, inviting us to approach its message with reverence and openness to guidance. The positioning of these letters before teachings on forgiveness emphasizes that divine wisdom encompasses both the inexplicable and the deeply meaningful.