NAME: الهمزة, Al-Humaza.
Name taken from Verse 1 where there is a mention of the word ”Humaza”.
١ وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍ
1 Woe to every scorner and mocker
ENGLISH NAME: The Slanderer/The Backbiter.
CHAPTER NUMBER: 104
SURAH HUMAZAH TOTAL VERSES: 9
SURAH HUMAZAH TOTAL WORDS: 33
TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 31
TOTAL LETTERS: 134
REVELATION PERIOD:
Meccan, Approx. 613 – 616 AD.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
God, Slanderer, Mocker.
SURAH HUMAZAH MAIN TOPICS:
Every Slanderer And The One Who Collects Wealth And Do Not Spend In Good Cause Will Be Put In Fire Columns.
SURAH HUMAZAH KEY VERSES:
٢ الَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ
2 Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.
٣ يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ
3 He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
٤ كَلَّا ۖ لَيُنْبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ
4 No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
SUMMARY OF TOPICS
1-3(Woe To Every Slanderer, Mocker And The One Who Collects Wealth And Do Not Spend In Good Cause), 4-9(He Will Be Put In A Crusher Made up Of Fire In Extended Columns).
SURAH HUMAZAH BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND
This Surah has 9 verses. It takes its name from verse 1: “وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍ” (Woe to every slanderer and mocker) where the word “الهمزة” meaning “The Slanderer/The Backbiter” appears. This Surah was revealed in Mecca most probably during the early days of Muhammad’s proclamation of his Prophethood.
The central theme of this Surah is same as of Surah Asr. However, as الْعَصْرِ talks about that Man is in Loss and gives the exceptions, this Surah tells who are those man that would be in Loss. It condemns those who think bad for others and imagine that their wealth will keep them safe from death. Ibn Abbas said, “هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍ means one who abuses and disgraces (others).” Mujahid said, “هُمَزَةٍ is with the hand and the eye, and Al-Lumazah is with the tongue.”
This Surah narrates and depicts Hell in detail and describes the doom of Hell which awaits such people. There is no severer depiction given of Hell in the Quran than the description given in this Surah especially when God says about Hell what He has not said in other Surahs: “نَارُ اللَّهِ” (the Fire of Allah). In other surahs, God says “نار جهنم” (Fire of Hell), etc. But when the fire is attributed to Allah, it’s more than that, its a fire lit by God Himself for those who opposed Him.
