by Umme Adil Nawaz

Created on: October 28, 2010   Last Updated: November 04, 2010

Surah Al-Humazah

The definition of a true Muslim is that he chooses for others what he chooses for himself. Still we see that even belonging to this religion of peace and brotherhood, our standards for others are not the same as what we want for ourselves. No one would like to be mocked at, but we think it a great entertainment to make fun of other people’s shortcomings. Sometimes humiliating them face to face and other times criticizing them behind their back. Although it seems to be a minor sin yet it is not so in Allah’s eyes…

"Woe to every scorner and mocker." (104: 1)

Why do we think and talk so negatively about others? The reason behind this is an overblown image about ourselves… in which we assume all the goodness to be in our own characters, and think of others as being full of flaws. In other words it is arrogance of being perfect and superior to other… in intelligence, knowledge, status, or authority or even wealth…

"Who amasses wealth and keeps on counting it." (104: 2)

Being wealthy or saving some for the rainy day is not a sin but the thing which is being condemned is the attitude of superiority that wealthy people reflect in their dealings with other people who are not so well off. They think that their wealth is enough to give them a never ending success…

"He thinks that his wealth will insure his status forever!" (104: 3)

We must realize that whatever talents or capabilities we might have are not going to make us superior in the eyes of Allah, rather it is our attitude and behaviour that makes us good or bad. All the blessings which we have been given; whether physical beauty, intelligence, knowledge, wealth or authority…are nothing to be proud of… because they are just temporary assets to be used for the pleasure of Allah. Therefore it is absolute foolishness to assume that our superior status will save us from Allah’s anger and punishment…

"By no means! He shall surely be thrown into the “Crusher”. (104: 4)

I have often felt that whenever we come across such verses in the Quran which speak of the terrible punishment which Allah has prepared for the wrong doers; we tend to close our eyes to it as if it does not concern us… this is also because of our self conceived idea that surely we are too good to be punished. So we need to wake up from this complacency…

"What will make you understand what the “Crusher” is?" (104: 5)

The purpose

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