Surah humuzah

SURAH
HUMUZAH
M E A N I N G A N D
L E S S O N S
UNDERSTANDING

1-Woe to every backbiter, slanderer,
2-Who hoarded wealth ˹greedily˺ and
counts it ˹repeatedly˺
3-Thinking that their wealth will make
them immortal
4-Not at all! Such a person will
certainly be tossed into the Crusher
5-And what will make you realize what
the Crusher is?
6-˹It is˺ Allah’s kindled Fire,
7-Which rages over the hearts
8-Surely it is vaulted over (i.e., with no
outlet) upon them,
9-In extended columns
﷽"#$%

R E L AT I O N W I T H S U R A H A S A R
• Surah al Asr - A message of man being in loss. Don't be distracted, dont be lazy, now youhave the time to do
good, before your set time is over.
• Surah Humazah tells how bad mankind can get into loss, and this is why some scholars state
• So we see the surahs' are connected and the general theme is based on your time, and making use out of it
before its too late.
• Some scholars state that there is no severer description given of hell in the Quran than the description given
in this surah. :
• (In other suwar, Allah says “ Fire of Hell) “. But when you attribute the fire to Allah, its more than that.
• NARULLAH means its a fire lit by Allah Himself for those who opposed Him.To enhance the severety of hell
described in this surah
• This is the last surah in the Quran which discusses the Akhirah [after life], and the suwar after this do not
discuss the Akhirah [afterlife] again.

T H E M E A N D S U B J E C T M AT T E R
• Some of the evils prevalent among the materialistic hoarders of
wealth are condemned.
• It is well known that such evils actually exist in the society
• Ultimate end in the Hereafter of the people having this kind of character has
been stated.
• The evil character and its fate in the Hereafter are depicted in a way which makes
the listener conclude that such a person deserves such a horrible end.
• In this world, people of such character do not suffer any punishment, but seem
to be thriving instead, the chastisement of the Hereafter becomes absolutely
inevitable.

T H E O C C A S I O N O F R E V E L AT I O N
• A group of commentators have said that the verses of this Surah were revealed
against Walid-ibn-i-Muqayyarah who used to backbite the holy Prophet (S) and
made sarcastic remarks and mocked him (S).
• Some others believe that they are said against some of the chiefs of the pagan
Arabs and the known enemies of Islam, such as: Akhnas-ibn-i-Shariq, Umiyat-
ibn-i-Khalaf, and 'As-ibn-i-wa'il.
• But, even if we accept these occasions of revelation, again the generality of the
meaning of the verses remains unchanged, and it covers all those who have
these characteristics.

W AY L
• Wayl= destruction. Originally the word was: Way = destruction, way laka =destruction foryou. This term was
used so often that it became the word Wayl.The word isused when someone is extremely frustrated at
someoneelse. I.e.
• A frustrated parent might say to a disobedient son waylaka aamin ! (destruction to you, believe!)
• In these verses,Allah is frustrated at the greedy corrupt people who have wealth but don’t spend it on the
needy,
• But instead want to get more and more even if they're not deserving of it.
• So wayl to the mutaffifeen and the humazah.
• Wayl is used 27 times in the Quran,including 10 times in surah Mursalaat [surah 77].

W AY L – I R R E V O C A B L E R E G R E T
• Wayli hasra= Irrevocable regret.
• So the people who fit the character of being cursed, theywill have a regret
on the Day of Judgment, but they cannot return back to mend their errors.
• Similarly “ wayka anna" in surah Qasas [28:82] is for astonishment:
• yaqooloonwaykaannaAllaha yabsutu arrizqa liman yasha'u min 'ibadih
• They began to say,"‘How astonished I am, how Allah extends provision to
whom He wills of His servants and restricts it!

W A Y L
- A P A R T O F H E L L
• Allama al Shawkani wrote that there are many Prophetic narrations which
state that Wayl is a part of the hellfire
• .This Wayl part of hell is so harmful that it asks Allah to let it destroy itself.
• This place is reserved for the humazah(Back-biters) and
lumazah(slanderers).

" W O E T O E V E R Y
B A C K B I T E R ,
S L A N D E R E R !
• The term /humazah/ is based on /hamz/ which originally means 'to break', and since
backbiters and slanderers break the personality of others, the term /humazah/ is used
for them.
• The term lumazah is derived from lamz with the meaning of 'to backbite'
• Some commentators say that these two terms refer to one meaning, 'backbiters', and
therefore, these two are mentioned for emphasis
• Some say the term /humazah means 'backbiter' and lumazah means fault-finder'.
• Both terms have vast meaning, so that these include any fault-finding, defaming,
backbiting, sarcasm, and mockery by tongue or mimicry.

T H E E X P L A N AT I O N O F H U M A Z A H A N D
L U M A Z A H :
• Ar-Razi wrote that Ibn abbas said humaz is behind the back and lumaz is infront of the face
• Humazah-insults someone behind their back(and they do this a lot because the word humazah
suggests this person does it often.
• Lumazah-insults people infront of their face too.
• Allah is cursing those who do either of the above.
• Usually this occurs while gossiping. When a person’s mind isn't covered in a higher purposed
mindset.
• Comedians and Bedouins would do these acts all the time, and many people still do today

F U R T H E R E X P L A N AT I O N
• Ibn Jawzia’ asked Ibn Abbas ; Who are these people who are cursed or will have wayl? Ibn abbas replied;
they continuously insult and abuse people i.e."
• That short man there, that ugly man etc.
• They all condescend others and belittle them through;sarcasm, jealousy, and even jokingly.
• It can happen in any matter of religion too. I.e. attack people’s religiousness.
• Making mockery of beard, hijab, niqab etc.
• Even if you disagree with someone in fiqh issues, respect their opinion and don’t insult them.
• Also includes making fun of peoples walking etc.
• You should not do any acts of humuz, lumuz, even through your eyes etc.

H A D I T H A B O U T B A C K B I T I N G
• "On the Night journey (of Ascension) I saw a group of people (of
Hell) whose flesh of their sides were taken, and they were made to
eat it,
• They were being told to eat what they used to eat of the flesh of their
brothers. “
• I asked Gabriel who they were, and he answered that they were
backbiters; slanderers, from my community

" W H O A M A S S E S
W E A LT H A N D
H O A R D S I T
• He likes wealth so much so that he always counts it, and enjoys counting as if it is an idol for him
• Wealth is the center of everything in his personality.
• It is natural that such a foolish, astray person always mock, the poor believing people.
• He gathers it whether it is lawful or unlawful, by honorable or dishonorable ways, from his own
right or others' rights, oppressively, and he knows it as the only sign of dignity and personality.
• He is never satisfied no matter how much he increases his wealth. He is more eager and
avaricious to make it greater.
• A wise statement says, "Wealth is most often piled up but with five qualities: a-Intense stinginess,
b-endless hope, c-dominant greed, d-breaking off connections with one's kindred, and e-
preferring this world to the next world"

C O N T R A S T O F T W O C H A R A C T E R S
Seeking only benefits of dunya
• Stingy and greedy
• Corrupt , using Riba means
• Just counts his wealth,
• Thinking he will last forever
• Does not care about the weak and
oppressed,
• This wealth will not benefit him at all
on that Day
Believer seeking success in Akhirah
• Earning through Halal means
• Avoid Riba or usuary
• Generous in giving to needy
• Believes this wealth is temporary
• Has kind heart and cares about the weak
and oppressed
• His charity remains for ever beneficial
(Sadaqa Jariyah)

" T H I N K I N G T H A T
H I S W E A LT H W I L L
M A K E H I M I M M O R T A L
• It is interesting that the verb ‘akhladah’, here is in the past tense form
• It means that he thinks his wealth has made him as an immortal creature,
• He thinks money, which he has in abundance, can solve every problem.
• The Pharoahs of Egypt had the most abundant of riches for, themselves, but, as Surah Dukhan,
No. 44, verses 25-27 state:
• "How many were the gardens and springs they left behind,”
• “And corn-fields and noble buildings,"
• "And wealth (and conveniences of life), wherein they had taken such delight".

W A N T S T O L I V E F O R E V E R
• So Akhladain this ayah/verse can mean 'long term' due to its ongoing stages in ones future,and
• it can also mean 'forever', since time is ongoing.
• So this character has too many hopes in the world,
• thinking that he shouldn't give - wanting security for his corrupt self only, and
• due to this attachment to the wealth - wanting to liveforever too

D E S I R E T O L I V E F O R E V E R
• Prophet Hud said to his people [the people of 'Aad];
• "And do you get for yourselves palaces (fine buildings) as if you will live therein for ever
• [takhludoon]
• [Ash-Shu'ara 26:129]
• People have the desire to live forever, and if they don't channel it in the right way i.e.Striving for
the eternity of Paradise/Jannah, they will try to strive to keep their memory inthis world forever
through statues of themselves, or their reputation, or their name beingfamous etc.i.e. Some
donators give millions to a charity or hospital, but on the condition that they puthis name on a
sign board showing his generosity. He wants his name remembered evenafter his death.

3 V I E W S O N A M A S S I N G W E A LT H
• 1-Some consider wealth so important that they think it is the key to solving any difficult problem. So, it is no
wonder that they are always busy gathering wealth without any pause and without observing halal and haram
limits
• 2-Some people who do not give any importance or value to wealth. They praise poverty as a valuable quality
and believe that wealth is still a hindrance for piety and being near to Allah.
• 3-Wealth is praiseworthy, but, with some conditions:
• A-First of all, it should be a means of service, not a goal.
• B-The second is that wealth should not make Man its captive and dependent, but he should control it and be
its master.
• C-The third condition is that wealth should be earned through lawful ways and be spent on the path of
gaining Allah's satisfaction.

" N A Y ! H E W I L L C E R T A I N LY
B E H U R L E D I N T O
T H E H U T A M A H ,
• The term "la-yunbthanna" is based on "nabth".
• As Allamah Raghib says in Mufradat, it means 'to discard something
because of its being an insignificant or small amount'.
• That is, Allah will throw these proud, arrogant, selfish, self-content
fellows; in the form of mean, unworthy creatures, into the Hell-fire so
that they may see the fruit of their pride.

H U TA M A H
• The term /hutamah/ is an amplification form based on the word
‘hatam’ with the meaning of 'to wreck; break to pieces'
• It shows that the blazing fire of Hell breaks their limbs violently,
although
• Some Islamic narrations denote that ‘hutaman’ is not the name of
the whole Hell, but it is the name of an extraordinarily hot part of it

" ( I T I S ) A F I R E
K I N D L E D B Y A L L A H
• Using the phrase ‘narallah’, here shows the greatness of the fire
• Term ‘muqadah’ is an evidence to refer to the continuity of that fire kindled to a
blaze.
• Fires in this world first burn the skin and then penetrate inside to burn inner
tissue,
• Fire of Hell burns the heart and interior of the mind and bones, first, and then,
comes to the other parts.

N AT U R E O F T H I S F I R E O F A L L A H
• What kind of fire is this fire whose first effect appears on the heart of Man?
• What kind of fire is it which burns inside before outside'?
• Everything of the Hereafter is surprising and different from that of this world,
even the effect of its blazing fire.
• Why does the fire of the Wrath of Allah dominate their hearts first before
occupying their other limbs
• This is because in this world, they put pain in the hearts of the believers with
their mockeries, backbitings, fault-findings, slanders and taunts.

" W H I C H R I S E S A B O V E
T H E H E A R T S …
• tatala'a=climbs painstakingly.
• This word is used for rising of the sun
• A mountain climberis called an tatala’a because he climbs step by step higher and higher continuously up
the mountain.
• This fire does that exact same thing. And it does it continuously and repeatedly.
• All the crimes being committed by the humazah and lumazah were due to an evil corrupted heart.
• So the hutama (will eat away the flesh, crush the bones and take the body out of shape to reach the heart),
and
• The fire will climb upto the heart.
• Fire will enter their limbs and reach the chest, and make its way above the heart,and there isnothing more
subtle and sensitive in the body than the heart.
• This Hutama will pierce through and cause the heart to go on fire
• The person will continuously feel pain without dying.

" I N C O L U M N S
O U T S T R E T C H E D
• The term ‘amad’ is the plural form of ‘amud’ which means 'pillar, or
any tall thing like a wooden pole, post, or shaft’
• The term ‘mumaddadah’ means 'extended, stretched (out)’.
• Following three meanings have been described.
• 1- A group of commentators believe that this idea refers to the' long
iron nails by which the doors of Hell are fastened so that no exit
might be found.

O T H E R M E A N I N G S O F
S T R E T C H E D P I L L A R S O F F I R E
• 2-Also, some others have cited that this idea refers to a kind of torture and
punishment. It is similar to the act of putting a person in stocks and fetters; a
chain by which a person or an animal is confined by the feet.
• And this is the result of the tortures that they used against the innocent people in
this world.
• 3-Third commentary is also given with reference to the new explorations which
says that the blazing flames of Hell-fire are upon them in the form of some tall,
stretched pillar shaped beams.

C O N C L U S I O N
• The humazah and lumazah are going to be in Hutumah within it are wanting to escape, they cannot lean on the
scorching beams for rest,
• They will see the hutama climbing upwardly towards them to disfigure and crush their bodies and jump on their
hearts,
• They see the doors above them as a hopeful escape,
• So they try to climb the extremely hot beams but these beams scorch them.
• They fall off, the doors are at a far distance, and the
• Hutama suddenly pounces to attack..
• Except that there is no death.. And this will happen all over again - repeatedly, forever
• ..

Surah humuzah

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Surah humuzah