Woe to Every Scorner and Mocker — Backbiting and Ridicule
tadabbur
Level: basic
akhlaq
td-074
وَيۡلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ
— الهمزة 1
Verse: "Woe to every scorner and mocker — who collects wealth and counts it." (104:1-2)
"Hammaz": One who scorns openly in speech or action. "Lummaz": one who scorns secretly through hints and gestures.
Connection between ridicule and wealth: "Who collects wealth and counts it" — wealth inflates arrogance; the arrogant views himself above others and so mocks them.
Lesson: Mocking and belittling people is among the lowest character traits — connected here to the disease of arrogance and love of wealth.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/437); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (20/189)
Question: What is the difference between "hammaz" and "lummaz" in Surah Al-Humaza?
Answer: Hammaz: scorns openly in explicit speech and visible action. Lummaz: scorns secretly through hints, gestures, and whispers — both are blameworthy.