وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ 1
Translations
Woe to every scorner and mocker
Transliteration
Wa-ilun li-kulli humazatin lumazah
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah opens Surah Al-Humazah with a stern warning of destruction and ruin upon those who engage in backbiting, slander, and defamation of others. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, 'al-humaza' refers to one who finds faults and spreads them, while 'al-lumaza' emphasizes the act of mocking and ridiculing others through gestures and words. The repetition of these terms underscores the severity of this sin and the certainty of divine punishment for those who habitually engage in such behavior.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca and addresses the widespread practice of backbiting and slander prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabian society. The surah specifically condemns those who accumulate wealth while engaging in character assassination, reflecting the moral corruption that accompanied material greed in that era.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The backbiter and the one who listens to backbiting will be in the Fire together' (narrated by Al-Tabarani). Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet warned that backbiting is worse than many other sins, emphasizing the severity condemned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to guard their tongues and refrain from backbiting, mocking, and slandering others, as such behaviors invite severe divine punishment. It serves as a reminder that our words carry spiritual weight and that character assassination is incompatible with Islamic values and God-consciousness.