Surah Al-Humazah is one of the Surahs of Al-Mufassal, which distinguished the Prophet Mohammad PBUH from other prophets. It is a Meccan Surah with nine verses. Surah Al-Humazah deals with many important issues that greatly affect the stability of society. Therefore, Sheikh Saleh Academy will answer in this article why was surah al-humazah revealed? as it focuses on the message that the Surah discusses and the meaning of the Surah in some detail.
What is the meaning of surah al humazah?
Before answering the important question of why was surah al-humazah revealed? it is necessary to clarify the meaning of the Surah first. The Surah includes many meanings and important lessons, as Allah SWT said:
“وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍ”
Wailun likulli humazatin lumazah.
“Woe to every scorner and mocker.”
“Wail” is a valley in Hell, and it refers to the severity of the torment and it contains a threat and warning for those who backbite people and mention them badly in their absence or who slander people and criticize them with his words.
“ٱلَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالًا وَعَدَّدَهُ”
Alladhī jama‘a mālan wa-‘addadah.
“Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.”
It refers to a person who collects a lot of money for the misfortunes of time and has no concern in this world except collecting money.
“يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُ أَخْلَدَهُ”
Yaḥsabu anna mālahu akhladah.
“He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.”
He believes that this money is able to achieve everything he desires, even eternity on earth and salvation from death. This is a false belief and shows the extent of this person’s ignorance. He seeks all his life to collect money only, and he did not know that stinginess decreases lifespan and blessings, but charity increases blessings and lifespan.
“كَلَّا لَيُنْبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ”
Kallā layunbadhanna fī al-ḥuṭamah.
“No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.”
The meaning is that this fool will be thrown into the fire of Hell, which destroys everything that falls into it due to its severity, and in this threat there is sufficient deterrence for anyone who thinks this way.
“وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ”
Wa mā adrāka mā al-ḥuṭamah.
“And what can make you know what the Crusher is?”
Allah says to the Prophet, and how do you know about this great fire due to its severity?
“نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ”
Nārullāhi al-muqadāh.
“The fire of Allah, which is fueled.”
A raging fire whose fuel is people and stones that they used to worship.
“الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَىٰ الْأَفْئِدَةِ”
Allatī taṭla‘u ‘alā al-af’idah.
“Which penetrates the heart.”
That is, it extends from the bodies and reaches the hearts, and thus is extremely painful.
“إِنَّهَا عَلَيْهِم مُّؤْصَدَةٌ”
Innahā ‘alayhim mu’ṣadah.
“Indeed, it will be closed upon them.”
That is, the fire is closed on them and they cannot escape from it to the point that they despair of getting out.
“فِي عَمَدٍ مُمَدَّدَةٍ”
Fī ‘amadim mumaddadah.
“In extended columns.”
That is, the pillars are long and extended so that they cannot get out.
The order of revelation of surah Al-Humazah
surah Al-Humazah is the thirty-second in terms of the order of revelation, as surah Al-Humazah was revealed before surah Al-Mursalat and after surah Al-Qiyamah. It is common that surah Al-Qiyamah was revealed in the period between the Isra and Mi’raj journey and the migration to Abyssinia, meaning that surah Al-Humazah was also revealed on this date. It is important to know why surah Al-Humazah was revealed so that the verses can be understood correctly and so that it is easy to contemplate and understand them.
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Surah Al-Humazah Historical Background and Reasons for Its Revelation
There are many reasons that discuss why surah Al-Humazah was revealed, as scholars have addressed this topic, but they differed about the person for whom this Surah was revealed. The most important of these reasons was said by Muhammad bin Ishaq, the author of Al-Seerah: We still hear that this Surah was revealed about Umayyah bin Khalaf. Ata and Al-Kalbi said that this Surah was revealed about Al-Akhnas bin Shuraiq, as he used to backbite people and slander them, especially the Messenger of Allah, PBUH.
Imam Al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The statements of the predecessors varied in explaining who is meant by the SWT’s saying (وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ). Some of them said that the person for whom the Surah was revealed was Jameel bin Aamer, and it was said by Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, that he was a polytheist who slandered people. Others considered that this verse refers to everyone who had this description, and doesn’t talk about a specific person. There are also other statements that say that it was revealed about Al-Walid bin Al-Mughira, as he used to slander the Prophet, PBUH, behind his back and slander him to his face.
The Message Behind Surah Al-Humazah
After answering the question, why was surah al-humazah revealed? It is important to know that the Surah discusses a message that is alive in every time and place, which is the existence of some weak-willed people who only possess a lot of money, so they act arrogantly towards Allah’s creation, and they despise others, thinking that they are better than them. They think they can do everything with money, even forgetting the grace of Allah SWT upon them, and they believe that they were given that money through their skills and experience, not from Allah, and they aren’t satisfied with that, but they also belittle others and talk about them with bad words.
The surah explains that this type of people, especially the infidels, will enter Hell and remain in it forever, and their money won’t benefit them in anything, but they will continue to regret and regret all the sins and transgressions they have committed. Therefore, we must be careful to thank Allah for His blessings and care about giving the poor their rights from our money, and stop backbiting and slandering and not mocking others, and this explains why was surah al-humazah revealed?
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What role does the Quran play in daily life for Muslims?
The Quran plays a pivotal role in human life, as the Quran is the guide that directs the Muslim and explains to him the correct way to worship Allah and attain His pleasure. It contains solutions to all the problems that a person faces, and is full of lessons and morals that we can learn from the stories of previous nations.
It also contains all the rulings, commands and prohibitions that make the life of a Muslim better, in addition to being a book revealed to guide and reform people.
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَلَا وَإِنِّي تَارِكٌ فِيكُمْ ثَقَلَيْنِ: أَحَدُهُما كِتَابُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، هُوَ حَبْلُ اللَّهِ، مَنِ اتَّبَعَهُ كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَى، وَمَن تَرَكَهُ كَانَ عَلَى ضَلَالَةٍ»
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: ‘Indeed, I am leaving among you two precious things: one of them is the Book of Allah, the SWT, which is the rope of Allah. Whoever follows it will be on guidance, and whoever abandons it will be in error.'”
How can the teachings of Surah Al-Humazah be applied today?
Surah Al-Humazah can be applied today by avoiding backbiting, gossiping, mocking and insulting people because this is one of the shameful acts that spread hatred and malice among people and removes trust from their hearts. We must be careful to earn lawful money and use it to please Allah SWT and pay attention to giving zakat and charity, and this explains why surah Al-Humazah was revealed and that it is valid for all times and places.
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