وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةٍ
Woe to every scandal-monger and slanderer,
Agha Ali Puya Commentary
Commentary on Quran 104:1
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 104:1] Humazah is one who defames men, or speaks evil of men, or backbites them-a backbiter; a scandal-monger. A scandal-monger habitually blames, upbraids, reproaches, finds faults with and attacks the honour and character of others with evil motives. Piling up wealth, by not spending it in the service of those who need it, is another vice condemned in this surah. The miser imagines that his wealth can prolong his life or protect him from punishment. The slanderer, the backbiter and the hoarder will be thrown into hutamah. Hutamah is that which smashes and breaks to pieces. It is a vehement fire that destroys everything that is cast into it. It is the fire of the wrath of Allah, kindled by Him, therefore shall not be extinguished by any one or any thing. The fire will not only scorch the body but also destroy the soul. It will cover them all over. Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib said: "What you bring forth will go into dust; what you hoard will be left behind. What you build will be levelled to the ground in time; but what you do is recorded, and increases (as an asset) for the day of final requital." Though the application of three verses is universal, they were revealed to curse and condemn Akhans bin Saqfi, Umayya bin Khalaf and Walid bin Mughayra (Qalam : 8 to 13 and 16 and Muddaththir 11 to 26) who were actively busy with the character assassination of the Holy Prophet.