The Majestic Quran

104. Al-Humazah The Faultfinder This is a Makkan chapter that condemns people who have a negative attitude towards others, and are obsessed with wealth. The belief that money can give them health, longevity, happiness and freedom from difficulties is a delusion. Many wealth-obsessed people are so out of touch with reality that they forget their mortality. The only fitting place for such people is what the chapter calls “the Crusher” ( al-Hutama ), Hell, described as a vault of fire. That will be an agonising realisation of a wasted life. In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring B 1 Wretched is every backbiting fault-finder, 2 who gathers wealth and counts it over and over, 3 thinking his wealth will make him live forever. 4 No, he will be thrown into the Crusher! 5 And what can explain to you what the Crusher is? 6 God’s blazing Fire, 7 which rises over their hearts. 8 Indeed, it is closed over them from all sides, 9 flames stretching out in columns. 1 Hawiya is one of the names of Hell, and means a bottomless pit. 2 From the worship of God, being kind to others and mindful of reality. 3 ‘Asr also means evening time, and the twilight hours of the day. It may also refer to the age of the beloved Messenger, how incredibly blessed it was.