Al-Humazah


Al-Humazah is the 104th chapter of the Qur'an, with 9 āyāt or verses.
The Surah takes its name from the word humazah occurring in the first verse. The main statement in this surah is the Consequences of man in loss. It condemns those who slander others, whether by speech or action, and imagine that their own wealth will keep them immune from death, and describes the doom of Hell which awaits them.
Regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is an earlier "Meccan surah", which means it is believed to have been revealed in Mecca, rather than later in Medina.

Summary

Text and transliteration



Bismi l-lāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm




Waylu l-likul-li humazati l-lumazah




’al-ladhī jama‘a māla w-wa‘ad-dadah




Yaḥ




Kal-lā, layunbadhan-na fi l-ḥuṭamah




Wamā ’ad




Nāru l-lāhi l-mūqadah




’al latī taṭ-ṭali‘u ‘ala




’in-nahā ‘alayhi m-m




Fī ‘amadi m-mumad-dadah

Translation

Woe to every scorner and mocker


Who collects wealth and counts it.


He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.


No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.


And what can make you know what is the Crusher?


It is the fire of Allāh, fueled,


Which mounts directed at the hearts.


Indeed, Hellfire will be closed down upon them


In extended columns.

Overview

In the phrase "slandering traducer", according to Ibn Kathir, the first word refers to slandering by speech, and the second to slander by action The "fire... which leapeth over the hearts" is sometimes interpreted as starting below and rising: according to Ibn Kathir, Muhammad bin Ka`b said that "it will devour every part of his body until it reaches his heart and comes to the level of his throat, then it will return to his body." The "columns" described in the final verse are interpreted as columns of fire by some authorities, as in the translation above, but as literal pillars of iron by some others.
Surah Humazah tells how bad mankind can get into loss, and this is why some scholars state that there is no severer description given of hell in the Quran than the description given in this surah. Many severe and harsh descriptions of hell are mentioned throughout the Quran, however this Surah is especially unique, as Allah says about hell what He has not said in other Surahs: “Naarullah” Fire.
In other surahs, Allah says “Naaru Jahannam” etc. But when the fire is attributed to God, it's more than that, it's a fire lit by Allah Himself for those who opposed Him.
This is the last surah in the Quran which discusses the Akhirah, and the surahs after this do not discuss the Akhirah afterlife again.