Surah Al-Humaza – Hani Ar Rifai

Al-Humaza ("The Traducer") is the 104th surah of the Quran, in Juz' Amma. Meccan, it has 9 verses and is the 32nd surah in the traditional order of revelation, after Al-Qiyama. Its name comes from its first verse: "Woe to every slanderer and backbiter" (104:1).

The humaza and the lumaza are, as the commentators explain, those who mock and disparage others by word, gesture or glance, to their face or behind their back. The surah links this contempt to the love of wealth: the one who amasses money and counts it over, thinking it will make him immortal (104:2-3).

The answer is a stern warning: he will be flung into al-Hutama, "the Crusher", "the fire of God, kindled, which mounts up to the hearts", closed in upon them in extended columns (104:4-9). Early commentators named Meccan notables who mocked the Prophet ﷺ, such as al-Akhnas ibn Shariq or Umayya ibn Khalaf, but the warning applies to anyone who behaves this way.

The same vice is condemned in Al-Qalam, which speaks of the slanderer who goes about spreading gossip (68:11).