Mujahid said the meaning of «حم» is "Allah knows best," just as in other Surahs where the disjointed letters appear at the beginning, their true meanings are known only to Allah. Some have said that «حم» is the name of the Qur'an or the Surah, just as Shuraih ibn Abi Awfa al-Absi says in this verse of poetry, when the spear began to move in battle, he recites «حم» before reciting. The meaning of «الطول» is to show kindness and favor. The meaning of «داخرين‏» is to be humiliated and disgraced. Mujahid said that by «ادعوکم الی النجاة» faith is meant. «ليس له دعوة‏» means that an idol cannot accept anyone's supplication. The meaning of «يسجرون‏» is that they will become the fuel of Hell. The meaning of «تمرحون‏» is that you used to strut arrogantly. And Alaa ibn Ziyad, the well-known Tabi'i and famous ascetic, was warning people about Hell, when a man said, "Why do you make people despair of Allah's mercy?" He replied, "How can I make people despair of Allah's mercy? What power do I have? Allah the Exalted says «يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله‏» : 'O My servants who have wronged themselves (committed sins), do not despair of Allah's mercy.' Along with this, Allah also says «وأن المسرفين هم أصحاب النار‏» : 'The sinners are the people of Hell.' But I have understood your intention, which is that you want to keep doing bad deeds and still receive glad tidings of Paradise. Allah has sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a bearer of glad tidings for good deeds and a warner of Hell for the disobedient."

Narrated `Urwa bin Az-Zubair: I asked `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al-`As to inform me of the worst thing the pagans had done to Allah's Apostle. He said: "While Allah's Messenger was praying in the courtyard of the Ka`ba, `Uqba bin Abi Mu'ait came and seized Allah's Messenger by the shoulder and twisted his garment round his neck and throttled him severely. Abu Bakr came and seized `Uqba's shoulder and threw him away from Allah's Apostle and said, "Would you kill a man because he says: 'My Lord is Allah,' and has come to you with clear Signs from your Lord?" (40.28)