Al-Humaza (ٱلْهُمَزَة)

Surah Al-Humazah (Arabic الْهُمَزَة) is the 104th surah of the Quran. Name of the Surah comes from its first verse, وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ ہُمَزَۃٍ لُّمَزَۃِۨ (Woe to every fault-finding backbiter). Arabic word ہُمَزَۃٍ is translated as "the Backbiter" or "the Slanderer." It can also be translated as "The Scorner," "The Traducer," or "The Gossipmonger." This surah addresses those who slander others, either through their deeds or by way of their speech. They are condemned and warned about the consequences of this act, saying that they are destined to be sent to Hell. 

Surah Al-Humazah is a Makki Surah. It is one of the earliest Surahs revealed on the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. In the order of revelation, it comes at number 32. By the recitation sequence, it is the 104th Surah of the Quran. Surah Al-Humaza appears in the 30th Juzz. Juzz 30 of the Quran comprises 37 short Surahs. Al-Humazah is the 27th surah within the 30th Juzz. Surah Al-Humazah consists of 9 short verses, which are grouped in a single Ruku. The total number of words in this surah is 33, whereas the total number of letters is 133.

Themes and Subject Matter of Surah Al-Humazah (الْهُمَزَة)

Backbiting, slandering, and traducing were the most common evil deeds amongst the people of Mecca in the pre-Islamic era. The wealthier people were more addicted to such evils. The basic theme of Surah Al-Humazah is the condemnation of these wealth-holders by warning them of the consequences of their deeds. 

The first three verses of this surah express the woes of the slanderers and traducers. In the 4th verse of this surah, the evildoers are warned to be sent to Hutamah (one of the levels of Hell), whereas the next five verses explain the nature and severe conditions of Hutamah.  

The Surah starts with the phrase وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ ہُمَزَۃٍ لُّمَزَۃِۨ, i.e. woe on those who slander or traduce. The Arabic phrases Humazah and Lumazah used here are the two forms of slandering. Islamic Scholars explain that Humazah is the slandering by speech, whereas Lumazah means the slandering by deeds or acts. Both these are condemned by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The consequences of these evils are depicted here in the form of "Hutama", which is one of the levels of Hell (Jahannam). In its unique style, the Quran explains the Hutama as a severe fire imposed by the Almighty Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, himself. The phrase used here, in respect of the fire, is نَارُ اللہِ, which means the fire of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. It shows the severity of this fire, as it is the fire lit by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ. The traducers and slanderers are told that the Hutama, the fire lit by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, is their destination in the life hereafter. 

This surah is in the continuation of other surahs on the same subject matter, the basic teachings of Islamic theology. Surahs, such as Az-Zalzala, Al-Adiyat, Al-Qariya, and At-Takathur, are all on the same subject matter as Surah Al-Humazah, warning the disbelievers and evildoers about the consequences and the punishment that is their destiny on the Day of Judgment. But the severity of the punishment in the form of "Narullah", the fire of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ, mentioned in it, makes this surah unique. The severity of this fire is further explained in this surah that it will be the fire that will rise to their hearts and will be sealed over them in the form of outstretched columns. So, this surah warns the evildoers that they are destined to be thrown in the severest of the fires, in one of the deadliest levels of Jahannam. 

Virtues and Benefits of Al-Humazah (الْهُمَزَة)

Recitation of the Quran is a sort of worship and it is not restricted to any particular surah or verse. Every word of the Quran carries huge benefits for its reciter. However, there are certain specific benefits associated with some of the surahs and verses of the Quran. 

So, the recitation of Surah Al-Humazah is equally beneficial for its reciter as all the other surahs of the Quran. An additional benefit of this surah is that it can easily be memorized, being a short surah of just 33 words. Memorized surahs or verses can be recited instantly whenever you want to. Hence, we can recite the memorized surahs so often, especially in the five regular daily prayers. 

The main subject of this surah is the warning to the slanderers. So, one of the benefits of reciting surah Al-Humazah is that it reminds us to avoid slandering and backbiting. So, this surah may protect us from the harshest of the punishments on the Day of Judgment.