Article updated on 06/11/2021
For the Tafseer Juz 30 series’ table of content,
please click here.

Surah Al-Lahab (which means blazing fire) is also known as Surah Al-Masad (which means twisted rope made from fiber). What was the reason for the revelation of this surah?

It is recorded in Sahih Al-Bukhari 4972 that when Rasulullah salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (ﷺ) was commanded by Allah subhana wa ta’ala to do da’wah to his people, he ﷺ went to a mountain, and then in a stern, loud voice, called out: “O people (come at once)!” to which the Quraish quickly gathered around him.

Then Rasulullah ﷺ said: “If I told you that the enemy was going to attack you in the morning, or in the evening, would you all believe me?” At that point, everyone knew, loved, and trusted Rasulullah ﷺ, so his people replied: Yes, of course! Rasulullah ﷺ then replied: “Verily, I am a warner (sent) to you all before the coming of a severe torment (in the akhirah, so heed and accept this da’wah).”

To this, Abu Lahab replied angrily: “Have you gathered us for this! May you perish!” Because Abu Lahab cursed Rasulullah ﷺ, this surah was thus revealed:

تَبَّتۡ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ۬ وَتَبَّ 🌸
“Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish him!”

When Rasulullah ﷺ began his da’wah, he had 4 uncles: Hamzah, Al-Abbas, Abu Lahab, and Abu Talib. Hamzah radhi Allahu ‘anhu was the first uncle to accept Islam, and died as a shaheed in the battle of ‘Uhud. Al-Abbas radhi Allahu ‘anhu also accepted Islam. Abu Talib was a mushrik, but loved and took care Rasulullah ﷺ.

Abu Lahab, on the other hand, was the number one enemy of Rasulullah ﷺ and his followers. In fact, his family too had an extreme enmity towards Rasulullah ﷺ and the Muslims.

Abu Lahab’s real name was Abd Al-Uzza, which means servant to Al-Uzza, and Al-Uzza is the name of one of the mushrikeen’s main idols. Abu Lahab was handsome, fair, and had reddish cheeks, hence why scholars said he was given the nickname Abu Lahab (i.e. blazing fire, referring to his cheeks). How fitting was this nickname, because there is a fire of blazing flames prepared for him in the akhirah.

Allah subhana wa ta’ala cursed both the hands of Abu Lahab in this ayah. Why? Because when Abu Lahab cursed Rasulullah ﷺ at the mountain, he pointed and shook both of his hands towards Rasulullah ﷺ.

Notice also that Allah subhana wa ta’ala cursed Abu Lahab twice in this ayah: the first to both of his hands, and the second directly and specifically to him. This is to emphasize how truly cursed Abu Lahab is – anyone who is cursed by Rabbul-’alameen will inevitably be doomed in both dunya and akhirah. This ayah will also forever be a source of disgrace to him until the Day of Resurrection.

مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُ مَالُهُ ۥ وَمَا ڪَسَبَ 🌸
“Neither his wealth benefited him, nor what he earned.”

Abu Lahab was a wealthy man, and he used his wealth to frustrate, oppose, and strike Rasulullah ﷺ and the Muslims. But Allah subhana wa ta’ala says neither his wealth nor what he has worked for (some scholars said that this refers to his children) bring any benefit to him whatsoever.

سَيَصۡلَىٰ نَارً۬ا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ۬ 🌸
“He will be burned in a Fire of blazing flames.”

Allah subhana wa ta’ala gives out the verdict that Abu Lahab will definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, be thrown into the hellfire. Remember that this surah was revealed at the beginning of the da’wah of Rasulullah ﷺ, yet the final verdict was already dished out to Abu Lahab. Abu Lahab could have turned the table by pretending to accept Islam if he wanted to show everybody that the Revelation was false. But he did not, and he remained as a mushrik, opposing Rasulullah ﷺ until death, thus confirming the truth of Allah’s Revelation. And this is among the mu’jizat of the Qur’an.

وَٱمۡرَأَتُهُ ۥ حَمَّالَةَ ٱلۡحَطَبِ 🌸
“His wife shall carry the wood.”

Alongside Abu Lahab was his wife, known as Umm Jamil, who was also a staunch enemy of Islam, and was hostile to Rasulullah ﷺ. What does ‘carrying the wood’ mean in this ayah? Scholars have 3 opinions:

1. It’s a metaphor of her act of provocation. Just like woods are used to keep a fire burning, so di Abu Lahab’s wife who ignited the slander and lies about Rasulullah ﷺ in order to inflame others into hating Rasulullah ﷺ. She stirred the flames of hate as much as she could to harm him ﷺ.

2. It means that the wife of Abu Lahab literally carried wood with thorns, and threw them on the paths most used by Rasulullah ﷺ to harm him.

3. It means the wife will also be in the Hellfire, and she will carry woods as fuel for the fire for her husband. This is a form of psychological torture for both of them, for they were once close comrades opposing Rasulullah ﷺ. But in the akhirah, his wife will be made to continually ignite the flames of the Hellfire for her husband.

فِى جِيدِهَا حَبۡلٌ۬ مِّن مَّسَدِۭ 🌸
“A twisted rope of palm-leaf fiber around her neck.”

There are two opinions regarding the meaning of this ayah:

1. Her neck will be tied with a rope from the Hellfire.

2. It refers to a rope that she will use to carry wood to fuel the fire for Abu Lahab.

3. She gave her gold necklace to fund efforts in hindering the da’wah of Rasulullah ﷺ. As a result, she will be given a necklace made from blazing fire in the akhirah.

May Allah protect us and our loved ones from ever entering Jahannam, ameen.

Alhamdulillah, this ends the tafseer on Surah Al-Lahab. To return to the Tafseer Juz 30 series’ table of content, please click please click here. Jazakumullahu khayrun.

Your sister in Deen,
Aida Msr | Light Upon Light
_________
References:
[1] Ustadz Dr. Firanda Andirja’s tafseer class
[2] Tafsir Ibn Kathir
[3] Tafsir As-Sa’di
[4] Tafsir Al-Furqan, by Ustadz Dr. Abdullah Yasin