CHAPTER 111: AL-MASAD (THE PALM FIBRE)

It was revealed in the Mecca period. It consists of five verses. Tabbat is a curse meaning "may it perish/wither." It takes its name from the same word in the first verse. It is also called Surah Al-Lahab and Surah Al-Masad. Abu Lahab and his wife used to throw brushwood and thorns on the paths where the Messenger of Allah would pass at night to torment him. The surah was revealed concerning Abu Lahab, his wife, and those like them who took a stand against Islam and placed obstacles in its way. (H. T. FEYIZLI 1/603)

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

111/1-5 MAY THE HANDS OF ABU LAHAB PERISH

Translation

1- 3- May the hands of Abu Lahab perish [may he be ruined], and he is [already] ruined [destroyed]. 2- His wealth and what he earned [things] did not profit him. 3- He will enter a Fire of blazing flames.

4- 5- And his wife, the carrier of firewood [carrying the load of hatred and mischief against Islam and Muslims], with a twisted rope of palm-fibre [the symbol of porterage] around her neck [will also enter the Fire].

Commentary

(1) ‘May the hands of Abu Lahab perish (may he be ruined), and he is (already) ruined (destroyed).’

The 1st verse, meaning "May the hands of Abu Lahab perish," is a metaphorical expression and is a curse for his destruction. The following verb "tabba" expresses that the curse will be realized; indeed, it has happened. (QUR’AN WAY 5/711)

The verse "May the hands of Abu Lahab perish and be destroyed" shows that enemies of Islam can be cursed, and the sentence "He perished and was destroyed" shows that such a curse will be accepted. (...) Enemies of Islam can be cursed. Noah (as) cursed the disbelievers, saying: "My Lord! Do not leave a single person from the disbelievers on the earth" (21/76, 77). Almighty Allah permitted cursing the hypocrites who hold a grudge against the believers, saying: "Say: Die in your rage" (3/119). (I. KARAGOZ,8/666)

When the verse "And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred" (Ash-Shu'ara 26/214) was revealed, the Prophet called his relatives to the hill of Safa and explicitly invited them to the true religion. Here, his uncle Abu Lahab said: "Did you call us for this? May you perish!" Thereupon, this surah was revealed. (Bukhari, Tafsir 111/1-3; Muslim, Fiten 91). "May his two hands perish" means "may he himself be ruined"; "and he perished" is to report a fact. Indeed, Abu Lahab died of "pustules" a few days after the Battle of Badr; his corpse remained in his house for three days and rotted, and he was removed and buried by men hired from the Sudanese. (From Beyzâvi; H. DONDUREN 2/974)

(2) ‘His wealth and what he earned did not profit him.’

Commentators have said that what is reported as earned by Abu Lahab in the 2nd verse refers to his children, wealth, and prestige. Accordingly, the verse expresses that none of these could save him from the evil end. (QUR’AN WAY 5/711)

(3) ‘He will lean against a fire that,’ tomorrow in the hereafter he will enter a fire that is ‘quite blazing,’ an extremely severe flame and inflammation whose like has not been seen in the world—that is, not just a fire that burns bodies, but the fire of Hell mentioned in the verse: "It is the kindled Fire of Allah, which reaches up to the hearts" (Humazah 104/6, 7). (ELMALILI, 10/51)

(4, 5) ‘And his wife, the carrier of firewood, with a twisted rope around her neck (will enter the fire).’

The wife of Abu Lahab is Umm Jamil, the daughter of Harb b. Umayya. Umm Jamil was the sister of Abu Sufyan and the paternal aunt of Mu'awiya. Her name was Avra. She had been a neighbor to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). She would bring large bundles consisting of thorns, burs, and thorny plants and spread them on the path of our Master the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) at night. —We seek refuge in Allah—she would put thorns in his path so that they would pierce his feet or get caught in his garment. (I. H. BURSEVI 23/675)

The description of Umm Jamil, who was from an aristocratic family of the society she lived in, as a porter carrying wood does not mean that she personally did this work. Because the woman in question was essentially someone who lived in honor and wealth. Therefore, it is not very appropriate for her to attempt to do a job that would damage her reputation in society—even if it is claimed that she did this work at night. In this respect, it is more suitable to the spirit of the verse that the woman in question secretly made up and spread false rumors (tale-bearing/slander) both to torment the Prophet (pbuh), to kindle the fire of hatred among people, and to prevent the spread of Islam. Indeed, it is a fact that the Arabs used the term "carrier of firewood" for those who carry words in this and similar ways. (M. DEMIRCI 3/662, 663)

As for the verse ‘with a twisted rope around her neck,’ the meaning that this is an indication of a type of punishment she will see in the hereafter is preferred. What is meant by the twisted rope is a rope from the ropes of Hell. Indeed, Mujahid and Urwa said on this subject: "A rope twisted from fire"; again, Mujahid said: "An iron collar." After all, don't the Arabs call the pulley "masad"? (S. HAWWA 16/442)