Basic
Social Conduct
Surah: Al-Humazah (1)
Woe to Every Backbiter Scorner Who Gathers Wealth and Counts It — Critique of Excessive Wealth and Slander
وَيۡلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ
— الهمزة الآية 1
Verse: "Woe to every backbiter, scorner — who gathers wealth and counts it." (104:1-2) — "Humazah luzamah" — one whose constant habit is backbiting and mocking. Then the surah linked this to "gathers wealth and counts it" — meaning miserliness accompanies a foul tongue. Whoever has no space in their heart for giving fills it with criticism and mockery. "Thinks his wealth will make him immortal" — the great delusion: wealth creates an illusion of immortality and makes one forget death. Punishment: "the Crushing Fire" — fire that reaches the hearts. Because backbiting and mockery harm hearts — the punishment is upon hearts. Lesson: the perpetual critic of people is usually someone feeling deficient or living in the illusion of fullness.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/463); Al-Sadi
Test Yourself
What connection does the surah draw between a slanderous tongue and hoarding wealth?
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