In the phrase "slandering traducer" (
Arabic:
humaza lumaza), according to
Ibn Kathir, the first word refers to slandering by speech, and the second to slander by action (though he also quotes
Mujahid as saying the opposite: "Al-Humazah is with the hand and the eye, and Al-Lumazah is with the tongue.") The "fire ... which leapeth over the hearts" is sometimes interpreted as starting below and rising: according to Ibn Kathir, Muhammad bin Ka`b said that "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." The "columns" described in the final verse are interpreted as columns of fire by some authorities (e.g. As-Sudd), as in the translation above, but as literal pillars of iron by some others (e.g. Al-Awfi). Surah Humazah tells how bad
mankind can get into loss, and this is why some scholars state that there is no severer description given of hell in the
Quran than the description given in this surah. Many severe and harsh descriptions of
hell are mentioned throughout the Quran, however this Surah is especially unique, as Allah says about hell what He has not said in other Surahs: “Naarullah” ((the) Fire (of) Allah!). In other surahs, Allah says “Naaru Jahannam” (Fire of Hell) etc. But when the fire is attributed to God, it's more than that, it's a fire lit by Allah Himself for those who opposed Him. This is the last surah in the Quran which discusses the
Akhirah (after life), and the surahs after this do not discuss the Akhirah
afterlife again. == Notes ==