Surah Al-Humazah 104:3
سُورَةُ الهُمَزَةِ · Meccan · Verse 3 of 9
يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُۥٓ أَخْلَدَهُۥ
Translation
thinking they will make him live for ever.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah al-Humazah, after describing the backbiter and slanderer as one who tirelessly gathers wealth and counts it, Allah reveals their inner delusion in verse 3: "يَحْسَبُ أَنَّ مَالَهُۥٓ أَخْلَدَهُۥ" (He thinks that his wealth has made him immortal). This verse invites us to ponder the profound misconception at the heart of such a person's life.
A Deep Delusion
The word "يَحْسَبُ" (yahsabu), meaning "he thinks" or "he assumes," immediately tells us this is not a fact, but a misguided belief. As Imam al-Jalalayn notes, this assumption stems from ignorance. The individual, consumed by accumulating riches, becomes so heedless and engrossed in his long-held hopes, as explained by Imam al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari, that he loses touch with reality.
The Illusion of Immortality
The core of this delusion lies in "أَخْلَدَهُ" (akhladahu), which means "made him immortal." What is particularly striking is the use of the past tense for "made him immortal." Imam al-Razi points out that this isn't merely a hope for the future, but a conviction that *has already settled* in his mind. He behaves as if his wealth has *already guaranteed* him eternity and security from death. His actions, like building elaborate structures, are those of someone convinced his wealth will preserve his life, or at least his memory, forever. This isn't a rational thought, but a deep-seated psychological state where the desire for worldly permanence becomes an unshakeable, yet false, certainty. Ibn Ashur suggests this portrayal might even be a form of eloquent mockery, highlighting how their desperate attachment to wealth makes them act as if it could truly defy mortality.
What's Unsaid, Yet Profound
The very statement that this person *thinks* wealth has made him immortal implicitly carries a powerful lesson about what *actually* endures. Both al-Razi and al-Zamakhshari draw our attention to this unspoken contrast. While material wealth cannot grant anyone immortality, the verse subtly hints that righteous deeds are what truly grant a lasting legacy – a beautiful remembrance in this world and eternal bliss in the Hereafter. The delusion of this individual serves as a stark reminder that our true permanence lies not in what we gather, but in how we live and the good we do.
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Humazah 104:3 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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