The Backbiters
Al-Humazah
الهمزة
LEARNING POINTS
Those who spend their lives backbiting people, making fun of others, and collecting money with greed will suffer when they are crushed by the Fire of Jahannam.
The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Backbiting is when you say something about someone that they would hate to hear.' Someone asked, 'What if what I say about them is true?' The Prophet answered, 'If what you say is true then this is backbiting, and if it is not true then you made up a lie.'
BACKGROUND STORY
Some rich idol-worshippers used to backbite and mock the Prophet ﷺ and his companions, and spread false information about Islam and Muslims. They refused to believe in the truth, thinking that money would always make them right. Some of them said that Allah blessed them with wealth because He was happy with them, and if there is in fact life after death, they would continue to have a good life. They didn't realize that they will be crushed by the Fire on Judgment Day. (Recorded by Imam Al-Qurtubi)
WARNING TO THE WICKED
1It will be horrible for every backbiting, mocking person. 2Who gathers wealth with greed and counts it over and over. 3Thinking that their wealth will make them live forever! 4Not at all! Such a person will definitely be dumped into the Crusher. 5And what will make you realize what the Crusher is? 6It is Allah's burning Fire. 7Which reaches all the way into the hearts. 8It will be shut over them. 9Tightly secured with long bars.
وَيۡلٞ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٖ لُّمَزَةٍ 1ٱلَّذِي جَمَعَ مَالٗا وَعَدَّدَهُۥ 2يَحۡسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُۥٓ أَخۡلَدَهُۥ 3كَلَّاۖ لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ فِي ٱلۡحُطَمَةِ 4وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلۡحُطَمَةُ 5نَارُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمُوقَدَةُ 6ٱلَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلۡأَفِۡٔدَةِ 7إِنَّهَا عَلَيۡهِم مُّؤۡصَدَةٞ 8فِي عَمَدٖ مُّمَدَّدَةِۢ9