Surah Al-Humazah 104:7
سُورَةُ الهُمَزَةِ · Meccan · Verse 7 of 9
ٱلَّتِى تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ
Translation
which rises over people’s hearts.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, "ٱلَّتِى تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ" (which ascends to the hearts), describes a terrifying aspect of Allah's Fire. Here, Allah is speaking directly, warning those who indulge in backbiting and accumulating wealth without heed, emphasizing the intense and penetrating nature of their destined torment. The ayah’s precise wording invites us to ponder deeply on its meaning for our own hearts.
The Penetration of "Tattali'u"
The word "تطَّلع" (tattali'u) comes from the root `طلع` (tala'a), meaning to ascend or climb. However, in this specific form, scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur explain it carries a sense of intense, rapid arrival with power and dominance. It's not just that the fire touches the hearts; it penetrates and *rises into* them. Imagine fire not just burning the surface, but piercing through flesh and bone to reach the deepest, most vital part of the body. This word choice emphasizes the horrific depth and immediacy of the punishment.
Why "Al-Af'idah" (The Hearts)?
The Quran doesn't just say the fire burns the body; it specifically highlights "ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ" (al-af'idah), which refers to the hearts. There are profound reasons for this particular emphasis:
First, from a physical perspective, the heart is considered by scholars like al-Razi and al-Jalalayn to be the most delicate and sensitive organ in the human body. Any pain it endures is acutely felt, far more than pain on the surface. By targeting the heart, the verse conveys a torment that is beyond imaginable physical agony. As al-Razi notes, this fire might reach the heart without completely destroying it, ensuring a continuous, agonizing suffering, tying into other verses that describe how the inhabitants of Hell "neither die nor live."
Second, and perhaps more profoundly for reflection, the heart is considered the seat of one's inner being. Scholars like al-Razi, al-Zamakhshari, and Ibn Ashur point out that the heart is the place of beliefs, intentions, and corrupt thoughts. The backbiter and slanderer, described in the preceding verses, often harbor malice, envy, and pride in their hearts. By specifically mentioning the heart, the verse implies that the fire will not only destroy the physical body but will also target the very source of their transgressions – the corrupt beliefs and intentions that fueled their worldly actions. Ibn Ashur even suggests that the fire burns the hearts "knowingly," as if it discerns the disbelief and ill intentions contained within them, delivering a perfectly just and tailored torment for each soul.
This specific wording, therefore, is a powerful reminder that our inner state, our beliefs, and the hidden intentions of our hearts are ultimately exposed and dealt with according to their true nature.
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 104:7 is discussed in 3 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Humazah 104:7 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.