Explanation Of Surah Al Humazah
In the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 1. Woe to every backbiter, slanderer, 2. Who amasses wealth greedily and counts it repeatedly, 3. Thinking that wealth will make them last forever! 4. Not at all! Such a person will certainly be tossed into the crushing Fire. 5. And w hat will make you know what the crushing Fire is? 6. It is Allah’s kindled Fire, 7. Which rages over the hearts. 8. It will be sealed over them, 9. In extended columns.
(1) “Woe”, this is a threat of evil consequences and a severe punishment for every “slanderer and backbiter” ,” who defames people with his deeds and slanders them with his words. The hammaz is one who defames people by pointing and deed, and the lammaz is one who insults them with his words.
(2) Amongst the descriptions of such a perso n is that he is one who has no other concern except to amass wealth and count it. They take delight in it and have no desire to purify it by spending it in ways of goodness, joining ties of kinship and so on.
(3) “Thinking” , in his ignorance “that his weal th will make him last forever” in this world. It is for this reason that all of their efforts and struggles are expended in increasing their wealth through which they believe that their lifespan will increase. They are not aware of the fact that miserlines s actually ruins lives and destroys homes whereas righteousness in reality is what causes an increase in lifespan.
(4-7) “Not at all! He will be flung into the crushing Fire. What will make you realize what the crushing Fire is?” This is asked by way of emphasizing the gravity of the affair and increasing one’s dread of it. Then it is explained, “It is Allah’s kindled Fire” , whose fuel is men and stones which, because of its extreme intensity “rages over the hearts “,” piercing thei r bodies and scorching their very hearts.
(8-9) “It will be sealed over them”, It closes in on them from every side, “In columns” caging them in towering columns, behind its doors “extended” preventing them from leaving; “Whenever they try to get out, they will be brought back into it, and it will be said to them: ‘Taste the chastisement of the Fire which you used to deny’ “(32:20). We take refuge with Allah and ask Him for well -being and pardon!