Tafseer Sūrah al-Masad (111)

This Sūrah is given the titles: Sūrah Tabbat, Sūrah al-Masad, Sūrat Abī Lahab, and Sūrah al-Lahab. 

It relates the destiny of Abū Lahab, who was the Prophet’s uncle and one of his severest enemies.

We learn from the surah that Islām does not give preference to one over another except in taqwā. For a non-relative Muslim can become a near and dear brother or sister if he has faith, and a near-relative can be an enemy if he disbelieves.

THE CAUSE OF REVELATION

It is narrated in the two books of sahīh from Ibn ‘Abbās that when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was commanded to make his call public. He ascended the mount as-Safā one morning and called out aloud,  (واصباحاه) “O the calamity of the morning!” which is an alarm that was usually raised by a person who noticed an enemy advancing. The people of Quraysh rushed out. Muhammad (SAW) said, “O Banī Hāshim! O Banī `Abdul-Muttalib! O Banī so and so…! If I were to tell you that behind this hill there is an enemy host ready to fall upon you, would you believe me?” They said, “We had never seen you lying.” He then replied: “I warn you of a near punishment.” Abū-Lahab [who was present among the people] said, “May you be ruined! Have you called us for this?” The Prophet (SAW) didn’t answer his uncle, for the Arabs used to respect their elders. However Allāh sent down a response to the hostility of Abū-Lahab and his wife through this Sūrah al-Masad.

MEANING OF THE SŪRAH

Ayah 1: تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ

May the hands of Abū-Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he.

(tabbat): be ruined. 

This term has too many implications: It means;

هلكت : to die violently.

خسرت : to suffer loss.

خابت : to go in vain.

ضلت : to go to waste.

خلت من كل خير : to be completely void of every good.

(yadā): the two hands. It doesn’t refer to the physical hands, but to a person’s failure in his aim and objective.

Abū Lahab’s real name was `Abdul-`Uzzā.

Abū Lahab was one of the most famous and wealthiest people in Makkah.

He was the next door neighbor of the Prophet, and one of the severest enemies of his. 

Allāh did not mention his real name because, (God knows best);

a. He was better known by his nickname.

b. His nickname resembles the fate he was destined for.

c. The Qur’ān doesn’t approve his polytheistic name `Abdul-`Uzzā, which means slave of al-`Uzzā.

Ṭāriq al-Muḥāribī narrated, “While I was in the market of Dhil-Majāz I saw a young man speaking to the people, saying: “O people, say, ‘There is no god but Allāh’ you attain success.” On the other hand, there was a man walking behind him stoning him and causing his legs and feet to bleed while talking to the same people, “O people, he is a liar, do not believe him.” I asked who was that man and received the answer, “This is Muhammad claiming that he is a prophet and this is his uncle Abū Lahab.” 

Ayah 2: مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ

His wealth will not avail him, nor that which he gained.

The word (mā) is strong and emphatic. It means not at all. 

This ayah refers to his punishment in this world. 

When he died his wealth did not avail him, nor did his children about whom he used to brag. 

Ibn Mas`ūd narrated that Abū Lahab said, “If what my nephew was saying is true then I will sacrifice my wealth and my children to save myself on the Day of Judgement from punishment, so Allāh revealed, “His wealth will not avail him, nor that which he gained.”  

Ayah 3:  سَيَصْلَىٰ نَاراً ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ

He will enter to burn in a Fire of blazing flame.

This is the punishment which he will receive in the Hereafter. There will be nothing to save him from the punishment of Hell. This was revealed when he was still alive. He later died as a kāfir and this āyah was from the signs of Muhammad’s Prophethood. 

(Dhāta lahab): of blazing flame. It goes very well with the title by which he used to be known among his people, Abū Lahab.  

Ayah 4: وَٱمْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ ٱلْحَطَبِ

And his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood.

And along with him, his wife too will be burnt in Hellfire.

She used to carry firewood which has thorns and put them in the Prophet’s path in order to harm him. 

So she will be carrying in the Hereafter her own fuel by which she and her husband will be burnt. The punishment is of the same nature as is the deed. 

She used to slander the Prophet (SAW), and carry evil tales about him and his companions, in order to create hatred among them.

Ayah 5: فِي جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ

Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.

(jeed): means the neck that is decorated with an ornament.

Umm Jameel used to wear a valuable necklace and say, “By al-Lāt and al-‘Uzzā, I will sell this necklace and expend its price in satisfying my enmity against Muhammad.”

she will have in Hell a rope of twisted fiber around her neck, by which she will carry the wood to burn herself and her husband; an equivalent penalty to her evil deed. 

When she heard this Sūrah recited by the companions of the Prophet (SAW) she went to see him and he was with Abū Bakr at the Ka`bah. She was carrying a handful of stones to stone him. She asked Abū Bakr about him because she was unable to see him. Allāh sent an angel to screen him from her as he (SAW) later told Abū Bakr.