About Surah Al-Humazah
The Arabic name of Surah Al-Humazah is الهمزة. Al-Humazah means “The Slanderer” or “The Backbiter” (quran.com: “The Traducer”). The name comes from the first verse. It is a Makki surah, revealed in Makkah before the Prophet’s migration to Madinah. All commentators agree that it is Makki and among the earliest revelations. In the revelation-order list used by quran.com, it is number 32 of 114. In the order of the Mushaf it comes after Surah Al-’Asr and before Surah Al-Fil.
Main Themes of Surah Al-Humazah
The surah condemns certain evils of character and shows why the Hereafter must exist for justice to be done.
- A condemnation of habits common among materialistic hoarders of wealth in pre-Islamic Arabia, which people already knew to be wrong.
- Their end in the Hereafter is described in a way that leads the listener to see it as a just outcome.
- Because such people often seem to thrive in this world, the Hereafter becomes necessary for justice.
- Read after Az-Zalzalah, Al-’Adiyat, Al-Qari’ah, At-Takathur and Al-’Asr, it shows how the basic beliefs of Islam were taught in early Makkah.
Learn Surah Al-Humazah with Tajweed
If you would like to recite Surah Al-Humazah fluently or add it to your memorization, our qualified teachers can guide you in one-to-one online lessons. Explore our Tajweed course or our Quran memorization classes, and contact us for a free trial. Lessons are scheduled at flexible times, so children and adults can fit regular recitation practice into their week.
