Surah Al-Humazah }1{ }2{ }3{ - Al-Huda International

Surah Al-Humazahبِسْ‏ مِ‏ ِ الرَّ‏ حْ‏ منِ‏ الرَّحِيمِ‏The definition of a true Muslim is that he chooses for others what he chooses for himself.Still we see that even belonging to this religion of peace and brotherhood, our standards forothers are not the same as what we want for ourselves. No one would like to be mocked at,but we think it a great entertainment to make fun of other people’s shortcomings. Sometimeshumiliating them face to face and other times criticizing them behind their back. Although itseems to be a minor sin yet it is not so in Allah’s eyes...وَ‏ يْلٌ‏ لِكُلِّ‏ ھُمَزَ‏ ةٍ‏ لُمَزَ‏ ةٍ‏ {1}Woe to every scorner and mockerWhy do we think and talk so negatively about others? The reason behind this is anoverblown image about ourselves... in which we assume all the goodness to be in our owncharacters, and think of others as being full of flaws. In other words it is arrogance of beingperfect and superior to other... in intelligence, knowledge, status, or authority or evenwealth...الَّذِي جَ‏ مَعَ‏ مَاالً‏ وَ‏ عَ‏ دَّدَهُ‏ {2}Who amasses wealth and keeps on counting it.Being wealthy or saving some for the rainy day is not a sin but the thing which is beingcondemned is the attitude of superiority that wealthy people reflect in their dealings withother people who are not so well off. They think that their wealth is enough to give them anever ending success...يَحْ‏ سَ‏ بُ‏ أَنَّ‏ مَالَهُ‏ أَخْ‏ لَدَهُ‏ {3}He thinks that his wealth will insure his status forever!We must realize that whatever talents or capabilities we might have are not going to makeus superior in the eyes of Allah, rather it is our attitude and behaviour that makes us good orbad. All the blessings which we have been given; whether physical beauty, intelligence,knowledge, wealth or authority...are nothing to be proud of... because they are just

temporary assets to be used for the pleasure of Allah. Therefore it is absolute foolishness toassume that our superior status will save us from Allah’s anger and punishment...كَالَّ‏ ۖ لَيُنْبَذَنَّ‏ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ‏ {4}By no means! He shall surely be thrown into the “Crusher”.I have often felt that whenever we come across such verses in the Quran which speak of theterrible punishment which Allah has prepared for the wrong doers; we tend to close our eyesto it as if it does not concern us... this is also because of our self conceived idea that surelywe are too good to be punished. So we need to wake up from this complacency...وَ‏ مَا أَدْ‏ رَ‏ اكَ‏ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ‏ {5}What will make you understand what the “Crusher” is?The purpose of a question is to arouse interest and curiosity. Here Allah seems to warn us...that we go around treating people with contempt and disrespect, not even giving it a secondthought... so do we even know what is the punishment for such behaviour?{7}نَارُ‏ َّ ِ الْمُوقَدَ‏ ةُ‏ {6}الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ‏ عَلَى األْ‏ ‏َفْئِدَةِ‏It is the fire kindled to a blaze by Allah Himself. The one which will rise right to the hearts.Why will it burn the hearts? Because the real contempt and disrespect is in the heart. Even ifoutwardly we show very good manners and flawless social etiquettes... we can all see thestate of our hearts... the real feelings which we have about others are often not good; exceptfor some very few people whom we admire. So if we want to rid ourselves of this negativehabit then we must focus on cleaning our hearts rather than just cutting the branches andleaving the roots intact. But if we don’t even accept that we are doing anything wrong thenthere is no remedy for arrogance and stubbornness except fire... tall columns of fire for tallegos...{9}إِنَّھَا عَلَيْھِمْ‏ مُؤْ‏ صَ‏ دَةٌ‏ {8}فِي عَمَدٍ‏ مُمَدَّدَةٍ‏Closing in upon them from every side in outstretched columns.Human beings can never be perfect... we are all full of positive and negative characteristics.So remember to give others the same respect, the same acceptance, and forgiveness thatyou want for yourself... May Allah help us all... ameen