Explanation of Surat Al Humazah

All praise be to Allah and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

One of the Surahs of the Qur'an that we hear repeatedly and needs a pause of contemplation is Surat Al Humazah.

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Woe to every slanderer and backbiter. * Who has gathered wealth and counted it. * He thinks that his wealth will make him last forever! * Nay! Verily, he will be thrown into the crushing Fire. * And what will make you know what the crushing Fire is? * The fire of Allâh kindled, * which leaps up over the hearts, * verily, it shall be closed upon them, * In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars)." [Surat Al Humazah: 1 - 9]

As for Allah's Saying: "Woe to every slanderer and backbiter." (Woe) is a word that refers to the confirmation of the threat given to those who have these qualities.

The people of knowledge said: The people may do an action to show slander and backbiting such as frowning or pointing with the hand to the defect of someone. Slander with the tongue is a sort of the forbidden backbiting. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And (O Muhammad peace be upon him) obey you not everyone Hallâf Mahîn (the one who swears much and is a liar or is worthless). * A slanderer, going about with calumnies." [Surat Al Qalam: 10 - 11].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "And of them are some who accuse you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) in the matter of (the distribution of) the alms. If they are given part thereof, they are pleased, but if they are not given thereof, behold! They are enraged!" [Surat At-Tawbah: 58].

As for Allah's Saying: "Who has gathered wealth and counted it," this is one of the ugly qualities of a person who collects or accumulates money and withholds giving because he is miser and does not give in charity.

Some commentators said: The reason that pushes those people to underestimate other people is their love to money and counting it more than once out of desire to count it repeatedly because they do not see glory, honor, or enjoyment but in counting money. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "So let not their wealth or their children amaze you (O Muhammad peace be upon him); in reality Allâh's Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers." [Surat At-Tawbah: 55].

Al Bukhari reported in his Sahih from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:"Let the slave of Dinar and Dirham of Qatifah and Khamisah (i.e., money and luxurious clothes) perish for he is pleased if these things are given to him, and if not, he is displeased!"[1]

As for Allah's Saying: "He thinks that his wealth will make him last forever," i.e., do they think that the money which they collected, counted, and withhold will make them eternal in this world and would stop their death? Nay, Allah (may He be Exalted) said to His Prophet (peace be upon him): "And We granted not to any human being immortality before you (O Muhammad peace be upon him): then if you die, would they live forever?" [Surat Al Anbiya': 34].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full." [Surat Al `Imran: 185].

As for Allah's Saying: "Nay! Verily, he will be thrown into the crushing Fire," Nay! i.e., he should refrain from this thought because the matter is not as he thinks, but he must die and leave this world to another life in which he shall be punished for his bad deeds. "Nay! Verily, he will be thrown into the crushing Fire," it means that they will be thrown in Hell on the Day of Recompense which will break everything that is thrown therein.

As for Allah's Saying: "And what will make you know what the crushing Fire is?" it is a question about the crushing Fire to show its seriousness as if it is inconceivable to minds then He interpreted it by Allah's Saying: "The fire of Allâh kindled," i.e., Fire is attributed to Him because He is the originator of Hell. Abu As-Sa`ud said: Attributing Hell to Allah (Glory be to Him) and describing it by "kindled" is intimidation and exaggeration to its matter[2].

As for Allah's Saying: "which leaps up over the hearts," Ibn Jarir said: i.e., its pain and blaze is acquainted with the hearts[3].

Az-Zamakhshary said: It enters into their mouths until it reaches their chests and know what is there in their hearts. There is nothing in the human body more soft and more affected by pain than the heart, so what will be the case if Fire knows what is in their hearts?! Perhaps He meant the hearts because they are the positions of corrupt disbeliefs and bad intentions[4].

Some commentators said: He mentioned the hearts because when pain reaches the heart, man dies. i.e., as if they are dying while they are alive[5].

As Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "There he will neither die (to be in rest) nor live (a good living)." [Surat Al A`la: 13].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat; and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die and in front of him, will be a great torment." [Surat Ibrahim: 17].

Allah (Exalted be He) says: "But those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism), for them will be the Fire of Hell. Neither will it have a complete killing effect on them so that they would die, nor shall its torment be lightened for them. Thus do We requite every disbeliever!" [Surat Fatir: 36].

As for Allah's Saying: "verily, it shall be closed upon them," closed and sealed and no one can escape from it.

As for Allah's Saying: "In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars)." Az-Zamakhshary said: The meaning is: He confirms their despair of getting out and making sure that they will not get out and doors will be sealed upon them[6].

Allah has said the truth when He said: "Declare (O Muhammad peace be upon him) to My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. * And that My Torment is indeed the most painful torment." [Surat Al Hijr: 49 - 50].

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And surely, Hell is the promised place for them all. *It (Hell) has seven gates, for each of those gates is a (special) class (of sinners) assigned." [Surat Al Hijr: 43 - 44].

Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymeen (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: What will happen if a person is locked in a room or a van and it caught fire and there is no escape and doors are closed?

He shall be in great grief and sorrow, likewise is Hell-Fire which will be sealed upon them. In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars), so no one can escape or find a way out.

A believer should beware of these bad qualities: Insulting people by words and actions, eagerness to money, and its accumulation as if man was created for collecting money to live forever. The retribution of those people who have these qualities is Hell-Fire[7].

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people] and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

                        

---

[1] (p. 555) No. (2887).

[2] Tafsir Abu As-Su`ud (9/199).

[3] Tafsir At-Tabary, (12/689).

[4] Al Kash-shaf (4/223).

[5] Zad Al Masir Fi `Ilm Al Tafsir (9/229 - 230).

[6] Al Kash-shaf (4/223).

[7] See: Tafsir Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymeen to the 30th Chapter of the Qur'an (p. 318 - 322).