Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Humazah (The Traducer) condemns those who mock, backbite, and slander others while hoarding wealth and arrogantly believing their riches will make them immortal. It warns that such people will be thrown into Hutamah—the crushed and kindled fire of God that leaps up over the hearts of the wicked, sealing them inside.
Transliteration
Waylun likulli humazatin lumazatin
Translation
Woe to every slanderer backbiter
Condemns toxic social slander: targets wealthy Meccan aristocrats (such as al-Akhnas ibn Shariq and Umayyah ibn Khalaf) who spent their days mocking, backbiting ('Humazah'), and defaming impoverished believers.
Transliteration
Allathee jamaAAa malan waAAaddadahu
Translation
Who gathers wealth and counts it over
Transliteration
Yahsabu anna malahu akhladahu
Translation
Thinking that his wealth has made him immortal
Exposes the psychological delusion of the hoarder: he accumulates wealth and continuously counts it, subconsciously hallucinating that his bank accounts will grant him physical immortality on earth.
Transliteration
Kalla layunbathanna fee alhutamati
Translation
By no means. He will be thrown into the Crusher
Declares that the arrogant hoarder of wealth who mocked others will be hurled into 'Al-Hutamah'—The Crusher, a specialized realm of Hellfire.
Transliteration
Wama adraka ma alhutamatu
Translation
And what will make you realize what the Crusher is
A rhetorical question emphasizing the dread and uniqueness of this punishment.
Transliteration
Naru Allahi almooqadatu
Translation
God's kindled Fire
Uniquely terms it 'The Fire of Allah'—fueled by divine decree to punish arrogance and greed.
Transliteration
Allatee tattaliAAu AAala alafidati
Translation
That laps to the hearts
Describes the unique punishment of 'Al-Hutamah' (The Crusher): a fire fueled by God that penetrates directly into the physical and psychological heart ('Al-Af'idah')—the very seat of arrogance, contempt, and malice.
Transliteration
lnnaha AAalayhim musadatun
Translation
It closes in on them
Transliteration
Fee AAamadin mumaddadatin
Translation
In extended columns