Verse 2

40:2; 41:2; 42:2; 43:2; 44:2; 45:2.

Commentary:

For general treatment of abbreviated letters see 2:2 & 19:2. Verses 40:2, 42:2 & 45:2, however, deal particularly with the letters حم which, as in the preceding six chapters, are placed at the beginning of the present Surah. These letters may be taken as standing for one of the following pairs of Divine attributes, i.e. حمید مجید (Praiseworthy, and Lord of honour), حی قیوم (Living, Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining), منزل الکتاب، حافظ الکتاب (Guardian of the Book and Revealer of the Book). These Divine attributes, as also others that are represented by these abbreviated letters, have a strong bearing on the subject matter of the Surah. Unity of God, refutation and denunciation of idolatry, Divine revelation, with special reference to the revelation of the Quran, life after death and the triumph of truth over falsehood are some of the important topics dealt with in the seven Surahs of the حم group, as Divine attributes represented by these abbreviated letters indicate.