The Traducer
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE[104:1]
WOE unto every slanderer, fault-finder!

[104:2]
[Woe unto him] who amasses wealth and counts it a safeguard,

[104:3]
thinking that his wealth will make him live forever!

[104:4]
Nay, but [in the life to come such as] he shall indeed be abandoned to crushing torment!

[104:5]
And what could make thee conceive what that crushing torment will be?

[104:6]
A fire kindled by God,

[104:7]
which will rise over the [guilty] hearts:

[104:8]
verily, it will close in upon them

[104:9]
in endless columns!

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* v.1 : I.e., everyone who maliciously tries to uncover real or imaginary faults in others.

* v.2 : This repetitive interpolation is necessary because the blameworthy attitude spoken of in verses 2-3 obviously belongs to a category entirely different from the two mentioned in verse 1.

* v.3 : This is a metonym for the tendency to attribute an almost “religious” value to the acquisition and possession of material goods and facilities – a tendency which precludes man from giving any real importance to spiritual considerations (cf. note 1 on 102:1). My rendering of ‘addadahu in the preceding verse as “[he] counts it a safeguard” is based on Jawharī ‘s explanation of this term.

* v.4 : Al-hutamah – one of several metaphors for the otherworldly suffering comprised within the concept of “hell” (see note 33 on 15:43-44).

* v.7 : I.e., originating in their hearts – thus clearly alluding to the spiritual nature of the “fire” in the sinners’ belated realization of their guilt.

* v.9 : Lit., “in extended columns,” i.e., overwhelming with despair.