Learn Surah al-Humazah with Tajweed

Online Qur’an reading is a modern way of worship which deploys the power of information technology. A Muslim reads and learns the Qur’an to strengthen his bond with his creator from the Aqeedah aspect of it. He reforms his character with the ethical part, while the legal content of the Qur’an teaches the conditions for the acceptance and nullification of daily and occasional activities such as trade, marriage, jihad e.t.c

Suratul Humazah (Quran 104) is one of those chapters that deal with the reformation of the human character. I have chosen to write a short explanation of this chapter from the grammatical aspect because of the social stratification that is evident in every society and because it is one of the mufassal.

Mufassal are the short chapters of the Qur’an, so it’s a chapter of the Qur’an that you can quickly spell, memorize and easily learn its reading with the tajweed in Shaa Allaah.

In case you are wondering what tajweed means, it could simply be defined as reading the Qur’an with the articulation of each Arabic sound correctly & distinctly. It’s also the pronunciation of each consonant, vowel, word and sentence according to the standard of Arabic spoken by the Prophet’s generation. So it’s a requirement for a valid Qur’an recitation.

Now back to the chapter under discussion, it goes thus:

A study of the subject matter and style of this Surah which takes its name from the word Humazah that occurs in the first verse reveals that it is one of the earliest surah revealed in Mecca. All commentators as well agreed that it is a Meccan Surah.

Features of the Meccan Surah include short verses which were meant to establish the fundamental beliefs of Islam such as Tawheed ( unity of Allaah in all its facets), Salaah (as pure salaah as well as supplications represents Tawheed in practice), the unseen ( description of paradise and hell-fire and explanation about resurrection), Allaah’s existence (by reference to His creations), Eemaan (building of the Muslims’ faith, their moral and spiritual characters). Surah al-Humaza has three of these; it’s verses are short with catchy rhymes and strong rhythms, the verses explain the unseen (hell-fire) and lastly they build Eemaan.

Al-Jalalayn related in his tafser that this chapter was revealed regarding those who slandered the Prophet and the believers the likes of Umayya b. Khalaf al-Walīd b. al-Mughīra and others.

One of the evils prevalent in the pre-islamic days among the Arabs is the hoarding of wealth which Allaah (s.w.t) reprehended in this Surah.

In the first verse, Allaah cursed the scorners and the mockers(fault-finder) of the city of Makkah. They are known misers and they slander others because of the pride of their wealth. Their miserliness was depicted by the habitual counting of their riches (instead of giving out to the poor).

In the subsequent verses, Allaah described the severity of the punishment that awaits them and made it crystal clear that no amount of their amassed wealth can avail them of it.

This, He (s.w.t) elucidated in verse 4 by the casting of the culprit into Hell (al-Hutamah) as a mean and contemptible object. The Arabic word “nabdh” in “la yunbadhanna” is used for throwing away a thing regarding it as worthless and mean.

Allaah inquired rhetorically in the fifth verse “And what will make you know what Al-Hutamah (the crusher). He (s.w.t) then answered in the next verse “The fire of Allah, Al-Muqadah (which is kindled brightly). The ascription of this fire to Allaah in this verse is an expression of its dreadfulness and an indication of how the wrath and contempt of Allah will submerge those who become proud and arrogant with the worldly possessions.

In the same vein, Allaah related in verse 7 that they will be burnt all the way to the heart by the fire (al-Hutamah -crusher) while they are still alive.Thabit Al-Bunani said, “It will burn them all the way to their hearts while they are still alive.” Then he said, “Indeed the torment will reach them.” Muhammad bin Ka`b said, “It (the Fire) will devour every part of his body until it reaches his heart and comes to the level of his throat, then it will return to his body.”

Mu’sadah (مؤصدة) in verse 8 means “shut” Ibn Abbas said its (the hell) doors will be closed.”  (Upon them Fire will Mu’sadah.) meaning, it will be sealed over them and there will be no way for them to avoid it, nor will they have any way out.

Finally, Allaah said they shall be (enclosed) by tall columns. This could mean that the gates of Hell will be closed and tall columns will be erected on them; or that the culprits will be tied to the tall columns. According to Ibn `Abbas, the flames of the fire shall be rising high like tall columns.

Grammatically, all the verses except the sixth one contains a noun,  a verb and a particle. Alladhi (الذى) which means”who” is used in the second verse for the fault-finder because it is considered masculine while allati describes fire which is regarded as feminine.

IF you want to learn the reading rules of any Quranic chapter easily and fast, get the Qur’an Reading Basic Rules here. It’s my step-by-step guide on the reading of the Qur’an with the Tajweed.

In conclusion, this is a reminder and a stern warning for you and I to desist/refrain from vilifying others and to learn the habit of sharing wisely even when we are not financially buoyant.

And to this last point, Abu Dharr narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:

“Your smiling in the face of your brother is charity, commanding good and forbidding evil is charity, your giving directions to a man lost in the land is charity for you. Your seeing for a man with bad sight is a charity for you, your removal of a rock, a thorn or a bone from the road is charity for you. Your pouring what remains from your bucket into the bucket of your brother is charity for you. ” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1956; Book 27, Hadith 62)

I believe by now that with this online Qur’an reading, you have learnt the meaning of this chapter of the Qur’an (Surah Al Humazah) and can confidently read it with its rules.

REFERENCE

• Philips, B., 2006. The Evolution of FIQH, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The International Publishing House
• Tafser Al-Jalalayn. Accessed at www.altasir.com
• Tafser Ibn Kathir. Accessed at www.alim.org
• Tafser Maududi. Accessed at www.alim.org
• Saheeh International; The Noble Qur’an. Available at https://quran.com
• Jami` at-Tirmidhi. Available at https://sunnah.com