What Are the Suras of “Al-Hawamim” and Their Virtues?
Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa
Question
What are the Suras known as “al-Hawamim,” and do they have any special characteristics?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.
“Al-Hawamim” (or the Suras beginning with “Ha-Mim”) are seven consecutive chapters of the Quran that start with the disjointed letters “Ha-Mim.” These Suras are— Ghafir (40), Fussilat (41), Al-Shura (42), Al-Zukhruf (43), Al-Dukhan (44), Al-Jathiya (45), and Al-Ahqaf (46). [See: Jarmi, Mu‘jam ‘Ulum al-Quran]
Merits of the Suras of “Ha-Mim”
The following narrations highlight some virtues associated with these Surahs:
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “If you are surrounded by the enemy at night, say ‘Ha-Mim, they will not be helped.’” [Tirmidhi]
Ibn Mas‘ud (Allah be pleased with him) described them as: “The Ha-Mim’s are the silken covering of the Quran.” [Ibn Salam, Fada’il al-Quran; Zarkashi, al-Burhan]
Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Everything has its essence, and the essence of the Quran is Ha-Mims, or he said: ‘Al-Hawamim’” [Ibn Salam, Fada’il al-Quran]
Additional Note
When referring to these Suras collectively, they are called “the Suras of ‘Ha-Mim’” or “Al Ha-Mim,” not “Hawamim.” Some scholars have mentioned that the term “Hawamim” is a colloquial expression, and the correct way to refer to them is by saying, “I recited ‘Al Ha-Mim.’” Abu Bakr recited the following verse about “Al Ha-Mim”:
“We found in ‘Al Ha-Mim’ a sign, pondered by both the righteous and the eloquent.” [See: Zabidi, al-Qamus al-Muhit; Kafawi, al-Kulliyat; Ibn Durayd, Jamharat al-Lugha]
Finally, distinguishing between the merits of different Suras is not based on personal opinion or the meanings and indications they carry; rather, it requires authentic transmission. Therefore, ijtihad (independent reasoning) is not applicable in this context.
And Allah knows best.
May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
