Surah Al-Humazah
الهمزة
The Slanderer — 9 verses, revealed in Makkah. Read it in Arabic with transliteration and meaning, then learn its background, virtues and tajweed.
Surah Al-Humazah is surah number 104 of the Quran, meaning “The Slanderer”. It has 9 verses and was revealed in Makkah. Al-Humazah warns against mocking and backbiting people, and against loving money as if it could make us live forever.
Surah Al-Humazah with transliteration & meaning
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
- 1
وَیْلٌ لِّكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُّمَزَةِ ۙ ۱
Waylul-likulli humazatil-lumazah.
Woe to every slanderer and mocker,
- 2
لَّذِیْ جَمَعَ مَالًا وَّعَدَّدَهٗ ۙ ۲
Alladhi jama'a malan wa 'addadah.
who gathers wealth and counts it again and again,
- 3
یَحْسَبُ اَنَّ مَالَهٗۤ اَخْلَدَهٗ ۚ ۳
Yahsabu anna malahu akhladah.
thinking his wealth will make him live forever.
- 4
كَلَّا لَیُنْۢبَذَنَّ فِی الْحُطَمَةِ ؗۖ ۴
Kalla, layunbadhanna fil-hutamah.
No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
- 5
وَمَاۤ اَدْرٰىكَ مَا الْحُطَمَةُ ؕ ۵
Wa ma adraka mal-hutamah.
And what will make you know what the Crusher is?
- 6
نَارُ اللّٰهِ الْمُوْقَدَةُ ۙ ۶
Narullahil-muqadah.
It is the fire of Allah, fiercely kindled,
- 7
الَّتِیْ تَطَّلِعُ عَلَی الْاَفْـِٕدَةِ ؕ ۷
Allati tattali'u 'alal-af'idah.
which rises over the hearts.
- 8
اِنَّهَا عَلَیْهِمْ مُّؤْصَدَةٌ ۙ ۸
Innaha 'alayhim mu'sadah.
It will be closed in upon them,
- 9
فِیْ عَمَدٍ مُّمَدَّدَةٍ ۹
Fi 'amadim-mumaddadah.
in long, stretched-out columns.
Background: when and why it was revealed
Revealed in Makkah. Al-Humazah warns against mocking and backbiting people, and against loving money as if it could make us live forever.
The surah describes a person who makes fun of others and thinks his wealth will save him. Allah tells us that money cannot protect anyone, and that hurting people with words is very serious.
Virtues
Every letter of the Quran brings reward: each good deed is multiplied ten times (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2910).
Tajweed tip
- End each verse on “-ah” with a gentle stop on the h sound (“lumazah”, “'addadah”) — the verses rhyme beautifully.
When to recite it
- In Salah
- When teaching children about kind speech
What we learn from Surah Al-Humazah
Kind words only
Never mock or make fun of people.
Money isn't everything
Wealth cannot make anyone live forever.
Share what you have
Use money to help others, not to show off.
Frequently asked questions
How many verses are in Surah Al-Humazah?
Surah Al-Humazah has 9 verses.
What does Surah Al-Humazah mean?
Surah Al-Humazah means “The Slanderer”. Al-Humazah warns against mocking and backbiting people, and against loving money as if it could make us live forever.
Was Surah Al-Humazah revealed in Makkah or Madinah?
It was revealed in Makkah.
When should I recite Surah Al-Humazah?
In Salah, When teaching children about kind speech.
References & sources
Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.
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