The Palm-Fibre Rope
Al-Masad
المسد
LEARNING POINTS
An idol-worshipper named Abu Lahab (literally, the Father of Flames) and his wife Um Jamil used to abuse the Prophet ﷺ and attack Islam.
The couple is warned of a horrible punishment in the Fire.
They are told that their money and children will not protect them on Judgment Day.
They should have thought about the truth of Islam instead of fighting it without thinking.
BACKGROUND STORY
When the Prophet ﷺ got the order from Allah to go public with his message, he stood on a small hill by the Ka'bah and called all tribes for something urgent. When everyone came, including his idol-worshipping uncle Abu Lahab, the Prophet announced, 'If I told you that there was an army behind that mountain, coming to attack you, would you believe me?' They all said, 'Of course, you never told a lie.' Then he said, 'Now listen to this: I am Allah's Messenger, warning you of a terrible punishment if you don't quit idol-worship.'
Abu Lahab got so mad and yelled, 'You! May you be doomed! Did you bring us all here just to hear this nonsense?' He turned his back and left. His wife, Um Jamil, promised to sell her expensive necklace and use the money to fight against Islam. She would carry bundles of thorns and throw them in front of the Prophet’s house to hurt his feet.
This surah says that Abu Lahab and his wife are doomed. Her necklace will be replaced with a leash of fire, and she will be carrying thorny firewood to flare up Hell for her and her husband.
Abu Lahab passed away 10 years later, only a week after the idol-worshippers’ defeat at the Battle of Badr. He had a skin condition that caused his body to stink. His family couldn’t bury him for 3 days, so they had to throw stones at him from a distance to cover his smelly body. (Recorded by Imam Al-Qurtubi)
AN EVIL COUPLE
1May the hands of Abu Lahab be doomed, and he himself be doomed! 2His wealth and gains will not help him. 3He will burn in a flaming Fire, 4Along with his wife—the one carrying thorny firewood— 5With a twisted leash around her neck.
تَبَّتۡ يَدَآ أَبِي لَهَبٖ وَتَبَّ 1مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥ وَمَا كَسَبَ 2سَيَصۡلَىٰ نَارٗا ذَاتَ لَهَبٖ 3وَٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ حَمَّالَةَ ٱلۡحَطَبِ 4فِي جِيدِهَا حَبۡلٞ مِّن مَّسَدِۢ5