104:1. Woe to every backbiter, fault-finder,

104:2. who accumulates wealth and keeps on counting it,

104:3. thinking that his wealth will make him live forever.

104:4. By no means! He w ill surely be flung into the crushing fire,

104:5. and how could you know what the crushing fire is?

104:6. It is Allah's own kindled fire,

104:7. which will reach right into the hearts.

104:8. It will confine them

104:9. behind doors barred with huge beams.

﴾Woe﴿ this is a warning of bad consequences and severe punishment ﴾to every backbiter, fault-finder﴿ who criticises people by his actions and condemns them in his words. The word translated here as ﴾fbackbiter﴿ refers to one who speaks ill of people and criticises them by means of gestures and actions; the fault-finder is the one who criticises them in his words.

One of the characteristics of the backbiter and fault-finder is that he does not care about anything except accumulating wealth, counting it and exulting in it. He has no desire to spend it on good causes, upholding ties of kinship and the like.

﴾thinking﴿ in his ignorance ﴾that his wealth will make him live forever﴿ in this world. Therefore all his efforts are focused on making his wealth grow, that he thinks will extend his life.

He does not realise that stinginess shortens life and leads to ruin, whereas generosity increases one’s lifespan.

﴾By no means! He will surely be flung﴿ that is, thrown ﴾into the crushing fire, and how could you know what the crushing fire is?﴿ This highlights how serious and terrifying the matter is.

Then that is explained by saying: ﴾It is Allah’s own kindled fire﴿ the fuel of which is men and stones,

﴾which﴿ because of its intensity ﴾will reach right into the hearts﴿ that is, it will penetrate deeply into the body and reach the heart.

In addition to that intense heat, they will be detained and chained up, and will despair of ever emerging from it.

Hence Allah says: ﴾It will confine them behind doors barred with huge beams﴿ so that they will not be able to leave.

﴾(.. .every time they want to escape from it, they will be driven back

We seek refuge with Allah from that, and We ask Him for pardon and well-being.

This is the end of the commentary on Soorat al-Humazah.

All praise and thanks are for Allah, and may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). his family, and his Companions abundantly until the Day of Judgement.