1 Woe to every mocker, slanderer, 2 who accumulates wealth and keeps on counting it. 3 He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.

The first verse describes two bad traits: Al-Humazah is an emphasized form of an adjective that describes someone who is given to mocking and taunting people using condescending gestures and scornful words. Al-Lumazah is another emphasized form of an adjective that describes someone who is habitual of using slanderous speech and propaganda for others’ character assassination.

Both of these bad traits are closely related and usually found simultaneously in a person. Usually this is a result of the arrogance based on the respect, status and power that the rich people think they have. They usually treat poor people with that kind of attitude. But, when they suspect that their wealth, influence or “superiority” seemingly is threatened by anyone, they particularly deploy these vicious tools to discredit such a person. And if he happens to be someone who promotes charity, morality and good conduct, in that case, they really use every tactic they can employ to discredit that person because his moral teachings may expose their stinginess, love of wealth and their immoral and exploitive methods of acquiring it; and thus, may destroy their respect and influence in the society.

The second verse gives a vivid picture of his preoccupation with wealth, which is indicated by an obsessive counting of assets and monitoring of their growth. In the contemporary world, it is indicated by an obsession with monitoring market movements as well as with checking market indices, growth charts, bank statements and portfolio valuations.

A person who realizes and remembers the temporary nature of the life of this world would be quite content to have enough assets to help him live reasonably for his remaining life. A person who believes in the Hereafter will be spending his wealth in charity in the way of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala, thus depositing it with Him and making it grow for the eternal life, rather than worrying about its growth in this world. But those whose character is described in this Soorah have such a greed for more wealth and are obsessed with its growth as if they are never going to die but live forever and own this wealth for eternity.

4 Not at all! He will be flung to the Crusher. 5 And what will make you realize what the Crusher is? 6 It is the fire of Allaah, well-kindled, 7 that mounts the hearts. 8 It will be vaulted over them, 9 in outstretched columns.

Although they presume themselves to be important, high status and respectable people, they will be thrown in the hell like a useless thing is thrown in the garbage or junk yard. When they will be thrown into the depth of hell, they will be crushed.

The fire of hell will not be an ordinary fire because it is a fire that has been ignited by Allaah to punish those who totally forgot about Him. It will burn not only the outer flesh but it will simultaneously burn the inner most parts of the body. “Heart” proverbially represents a person’s mind which is where all emotions and attachments emanate from. As these people’s minds are full of passion for the wealth instead of love for Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘aala, that seat of passion will particularly be a target of burning for the fire of hell.

They will be imprisoned in extremely tall pillars and hell will be covered shut from the top so that neither can any heat diffuse out, nor can there be any opportunity for them to escape the Fire.