Perish ruined be the hands of Abū Lahab in other words all of him — the use of ‘hands’ here to denote all of him is figurative and is because most actions are performed by them; the statement is an invocation — and perish he! may he be ruined! this tabba is a predicate as where one says ahlakahu’Llāhu wa-qad halak ‘God destroyed him and he indeed is destroyed’. When the Prophet threatened him with the chastisement he said ‘If what my brother’s son says is true then I shall ransom myself from it with my wealth and sons!’; so the following was revealed
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
خسرت يدا أبي لهب وشقي بإيذائه رسول الله محمدا صلى الله عليه وسلم، وقد تحقق خسران أبي لهب.
قال البخاري حدثنا محمد بن سلام حدثنا أبو معاوية حدثنا الأعمش عن عمرو بن مرة عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج إلى البطحاء فصعد الجبل فنادى "يا صباحاه" فاجتمعت إليه قريش فقال "أرأيتم إن حدثتكم أن العدو مصبحكم أو ممسيكم أكنتم تصدقونى؟ - قالوا نعم قال- فإنى نذير لكم بين يدي عذاب شديد فقال أبو لهب ألهذا جمعتنا؟ تبا لك فأنزل الله "تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب" إلى آخرها. وفي رواية فقام ينفض يديه وهو يقول تبا لك سائر اليوم ألهذا جمعتنا؟ فأنزل الله "تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب" الأول دعاء عليه والثانى خبر عنه فأبو لهب هذا هو أحد أعمام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم واسمه عبد العزي بن عبد المطلب وكنيته أبو عتيبة وإنما سمى أبا لهب لإشراق وجهه وكان كثير الأذية لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والبغضة له والازدراء به والتنقص له ولدينه. قال الإمام أحمد حدثنا إبراهيم بن أبي العباس حدثنا عبدالرحمن بن أبي الزناد عن أبيه قال أخبرني رجل يقال له ربيعة بن عباد من بني الديل وكان جاهليا فأسلم قال: رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في الجاهليه في سوق ذي المجاز وهو يقول "يا أيها الناس قولوا لا إله إلا الله تفلحوا" والناس مجمعون عليه ووراءه رجل وضيء الوجه أحول ذو غديرتين يقول إنه صابئ كاذب يتبعه حيث ذهب فسألت عنه فقالوا هذا عمه أبو لهب ثم رواه عن شريح عن ابن أبي الزناد عن أبيه فذكره قال أبو الزناد قلت لربيعة كنت يومئذ صغيرا؟ قال لا والله إتي يومئذ لأعقل أني أزفر القربة تفرد به أحمد. وقال محمد بن إسحاق حدثني حسين بن عبدالله بن عبيدالله بن عباس قال سمعت ربيعة بن عباد الديلى يقول إنى لمع أبي رجل شاب أنظر إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يتبع القبائل ووراءه رجل أحول وضيء الوجه ذو جمة يقف رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على القبيلة فيقول "يا بني فلان إنى رسول الله إليكم آمركم أن تعبدوا الله لا تشركوا به شيئا وأن تصدقوني وتمنعوني حتى أنفذ عن الله ما بعثني به "وإذا فرغ من مقالته قال الآخر من خلفه يا بني فلان هذا يريد منكم أن تسلخوا اللات والعزى وحلفاءكم من الجن من بني مالك بن أقيش إلى ما جاء به من البدعة والضلالة فلا تسمعوا له ولا تتبعوه فقلت لأبي من هذا؟ قال عمه أبو لهب رواه أحمد أيضا والطبراني بهذا اللفظ قوله تعالى "تبت يدا أبي لهب" أى خسر وخاب وضل عمله وسعيه "وتب" أي وقد تب تحقق خسارته وهلاكه.
معنى ( تَبَّتْ ) هلكت وخسرت ، ومنه قوله - تعالى - : ( وَمَا كَيْدُ فِرْعَوْنَ إِلاَّ فِي تَبَابٍ ) - سبحانه - : ( وَمَا زَادُوهُمْ غَيْرَ تَتْبِيبٍ ) وقوله : ( وَتَبَّ ) أى : وقد تب وهلك وخسر ، فالجملة الأولى دعاء عليك بالهلاك والخسران ، والجملة الثانية : إخبار عن أن هذا الدعاء قد استجيب ، وأن الخسران قد نزل به فعلا .أى : خسرت وخابت يدا أبى لهب ، وقد نزل هذا الهلاك والخسران به ، بسبب عداوته الشديدة للحق ، الذى جاء به النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم من عند ربه - سبحانه - .والمراد باليدين هنا : ذاته ونفسه ، من باب إطلاق الجزء وإرادة الكل ، كما فى قوله - تعالى - : ( ذلك بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ ) ويجوز أن يكون المراد باليدين حقيقتهما ، وذلك لأنه كان يقول : يعدنى محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم بأشياء ، لا أدرى أنها كائنة ، يزعم أنها بعد الموت ، فلم يضع فى يدى شئ من ذلك ، ثم ينفخ فى يديه ويقول : تبا لكما ما أرى فيكما شيئا .
القول في تأويل قوله جل ثناؤه وتقدست أسماؤه: تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (1)يقول تعالى ذكره: خسرت يدا أبي لهب, وخسر هو. وإنما عُنِي بقوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) تبّ عمله. وكان بعض أهل العربية يقول: قوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) : دعاء عليه من الله.وأما قوله: ( وَتَبَّ ) فإنه خبر. ويُذكر أن ذلك في قراءة عبد الله: " تَبَّتْ يَدَا أبِي لَهَبٍ وَقَدْ تَبَّ". وفي دخول " قد " فيه دلالة على أنه خبر, ويمثِّل ذلك بقول القائل, لآخر: أهلكك الله, وقد أهلكك, وجعلك صالحا وقد جعلك.وبنحو الذي قلنا في معنى قوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر, قال: ثنا يزيد, قال: ثنا سعيد, عن قتادة ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) : أي خسرت وتب.حدثني يونس, قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب, قال: قال ابن زيد, في قول الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ ) قال: التبّ: الخسران, قال: قال أبو لهب للنبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ماذا أُعطَى يا محمد إن آمنت بك؟ قال؟ " كمَا يُعْطَى المُسْلِمُون ", فقال: ما لي عليهم فضل ؟ قال: " وأيّ شَيْءٍ تَبْتَغِي؟" قال: تبا لهذا من دين تبا, أن أكون أنا وهؤلاء سواء, فأنـزل الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) يقول: بما عملت أيديهم.حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى, قال: ثنا ابن ثور, عن معمر, عن قتادة ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) قال: خسرت يدا أبي لهب وخسر.وقيل: إن هذه السورة نـزلت في أبي لهب, لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لما خص بالدعوة عشيرته, إذ نـزل عليه: وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ وجمعهم للدعاء, قال له أبو لهب: تبا لك سائر اليوم, ألهذا دعوتنا ؟* ذكر الأخبار الواردة بذلك:حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا أبو معاوية, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس قال: صعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم الصفا, فقال: " يا صَباحاهُ!" فاجتمعت إليه قريش, فقالوا: مالك ؟ قال: " أرأيْتُكُمْ إنْ أخْبَرْتُكُمْ أنَّ العَدُوَّ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ أوْ مُمَسِّيكُمْ, أما كُنْتُمْ تُصَدقُونَنِي؟" قالوا: بلى, قال: " فإني نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَينَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ", فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك, ألهذا دعوتنا وجمعتنا ؟! فأنـزل الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) إلى آخرها .حدثني أبو السائب, قال: ثنا أبو معاوية, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس, مثله.حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا ابن نمير, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو بن مرة, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس, قال: لما نـزلت وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ قام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على الصَّفا ثم نادَى: " يا صَباحاهُ" فاجتمع الناس إليه, فبين رجل يجيء, وبين آخر يبعث رسوله, فقال: " يا بَنِي هاشِمٍ, يا بَنِي عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ, يا بَنِي فِهْرٍ, يا بَنِي... يا بَنِي أرَأَيْتُكُمْ لَوْ أخْبَرْتُكُمْ أنَّ خَيْلا بِسَفْحِ هَذَا الجَبَلِ" -يريد تغير عليكم- صَدَّقْتُمُونِي؟" قالوا ": نعم, قال: " فإني نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ", فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك سائر اليوم, ألهذا دعوتنا ؟ فنـزلت: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ ).حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا أبو أسامة, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو بن مرة, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس قال: لما نـزلت هذه الآية: وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ ورهطك منهم المخلصين, خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم, حتى صعد الصفا, فهتف: " يا صَباحاهُ" فقالوا: " من هذا الذي يهتف ؟ فقالوا: محمد, فاجتمعوا إليه ", فقال: " يا بَنِي فُلانٍ, يا بَنِي فُلانٍ, يا بَنِي عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ, يا بَنِي عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ", فاجتمعوا إليه, فقال: " أرَأَيْتُكُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أنَّ خَيْلا تَخْرُجُ بِسَفْحِ هَذَا الجَبَلِ أكُنْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ؟" قالوا: ما جربنا عليك كذبا, قال " فإنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ", فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك ما جمعتنا إلا لهذا ؟ ثم قام فنـزلت هذه السورة: " تَبَّتْ يَدَا أبِي لَهَبٍ وَقَدْ تَبَّ" كذا قرا الأعمش إلى آخر السورة .حدثنا ابن حميد, قال: ثنا مهران, عن سفيان, في قوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) قال: حين أرسل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إليه وإلى غيره, وكان أبو لهب عمّ النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم, وكان اسمه عبد العزى, فذكرهم, فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك, في هذا أرسلت إلينا ؟ فأنـزل الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) .
مكية( تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب ) أخبرنا أحمد بن عبد الله الصالحي ، أخبرنا أبو بكر أحمد بن الحسن الحيري ، أخبرنا حاجب بن أحمد الطوسي ، حدثنا محمد بن حماد ، حدثنا أبو معاوية عن الأعمش ، عن عمرو بن مرة ، عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس قال : صعد رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ذات يوم على الصفا فقال : يا صباحاه ، قال : فاجتمعت إليه قريش ، فقالوا له : مالك ؟ قال : أرأيتم لو أخبرتكم أن مصبحكم أو ممسيكم أما كنتم تصدقوني ؟ قالوا : بلى ، قال : فإني نذير لكم بين يدي عذاب شديد ، فقال أبو لهب : تبا لك ، ألهذا دعوتنا جميعا ؟ فأنزل الله - عز وجل - : " تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب " إلى آخرها .قوله : ( تبت ) أي : خابت وخسرت يدا أبي لهب ، [ أي هو ] ، أخبر عن يديه ، والمراد به نفسه على عادة العرب في التعبير ببعض الشيء عن كله .وقيل : " اليد " صلة ، كما يقال : يد الدهر ويد الرزايا والبلايا .وقيل : المراد بها ماله وملكه ، يقال : فلان قليل ذات اليد ، يعنون به المال ، و " التباب " : الخسار والهلاك .وأبو لهب : هو ابن عبد المطلب عم النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - واسمه عبد العزى . قال مقاتل : كني بأبي لهب لحسنه وإشراق وجهه .وقرأ ابن كثير " أبي لهب " ساكنة الهاء ، وهي مثل : نهر ونهر . واتفقوا في " ذات لهب " أنها مفتوحة الهاء لوفاق الفواصل .( وتب ) أبو لهب ، وقرأ عبد الله : وقد تب . قال الفراء : الأول دعاء ، والثاني خبر ، كما يقال : أهلكه الله ، وقد فعل .
تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (1)افتتاح السورة بالتبات مشعر بأنها نزلت لتوبيخ ووعيد ، فذلك براعة استهلال مثل ما تفتتح أشعار الهجاء بما يؤذن بالذم والشتم ومنه قوله تعالى : { ويل للمطففين } [ المطففين : 1 ] إذ افتتحت السورة المشتملة على وعيد المطففين للفظ الويل ومن هذا القبيل قول عبد الرحمان بن الحكم من شعراء «الحماسة» : ... لَحَا الله قَيْساً قَيسَ عَيلان إنهاأضاعت ثُغور المسلمين وولَّتِ ... وقول أبي تمام في طالعةِ هجاء: ... النارُ والعارُ والمكروه والعطبومنه أخذ أبو بكر بن الخازن قوله في طالع قصيدة هناء بمولد: ... مجشري فقد أنجز الإِقبال ما وعدوالتَّبُّ : الخسران والهلاك ، والكلام دعاء وتقريع لأبي لهب دافع الله به عن نبيئه بمثل اللفظ الذي شَتَم به أبو لهب محمداً صلى الله عليه وسلم جزاءً وفاقاً .وإسناد التبّ إلى اليدين لِما روي من أن أبا لهب لما قال للنبيء : «تباً لك سائرَ اليوم ألهذا جمعتنا» أخذ بيده حجراً ليرميه به . وروي عن طارق المحاربي قال : «بينا أنا بسوق ذي المجاز إذا أنا برجل حديث السن يقول : أيها الناس قولوا : لا إله إلا الله تفلحوا ، وإذا رجل خلفَه يرميه قد أدمى ساقيه وعرقوبيه ويقول : «يا أيها الناس إنه كذاب فلا تصدقوه» . فقلت : من هذا؟ فقالوا : هذا محمد يزعم أنه نبيء ، وهذا عمه أبو لهب ، فوقع الدعاء على يديه لأنهما سبب أذى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كما يقال للذي يتكلم بمكروه : «بفيك الحجارة أو بفيك الكثكث» .وقول النابغة: ... قعود الذي أبياتهم يثمدونهمرمى الله في تلك الأكف الكوانع ... ويقال بضد ذلك للذي يقول كلاماً حسناً : لا فُضَّ فُوك ، وقال أعرابي من بني أسد: ... دَعَوْتُ لِمَا نابنِي مِسْوَراًفلبَّى فلبَّيْ يَديْ مِسْورِ ... لأنه دعاه لِما نابه من العدوِّ للنَّصر ، والنصر يكون بعمل اليد بالضرب أو الطعن .وأبو لهب : هو عبد العزى بن عبد المطلب وهو عمّ النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وكنيته أبو عتبة تكنية باسم ابنه ، وأمّا كنيته بأبي لهب في الآية فقيل : كان يكنّى بذلك في الجاهلية ( لحسنه وإشراققِ وجهه ) وأنه اشتهر بتلك الكنية كما اقتضاه حديث طارق المحاربي ، ومثله حديث عن ربيعة بن عباد الديلي في «مسند أحمد» ، فسماه القرآن بكنيته دون اسمه لأن في اسمه عبادة العزى ، وذلك لا يُقره القرآن ، أو لأنه كان بكنيته أشهر منه باسمه العَلَممِ ، أو لأن في كنيته ما يتأتى به التوجيه بكونه صائراً إلى النار ، وذلك كناية عن كونه جهنمياً ، لأن اللهب ألسنةُ النار إذا اشتعلت وزال عنها الدخان . والأبُ : يطلق على ملازم ما أضيف إليه كقولهم : «أبوها وَكيَّالها» وكما كني إبراهيم عليه السلام : أبا الضيفان وكنَّى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عبدَ الرحمان بن صَخْر الدَّوْسي : أبا هريرة لأنه حمل هِرَّةً في كم قميصه ، وكُني شهرُ رمضان : أبَا البَركات ، وكني الذئب : أبا جَعدةٍ والجعدة سخلة المعز لأنه يلازم طلبها لافتراسها ، فكانت كنية أبي لهب صالحة موافقة لحاله من استحقاقه لهب جهنم فصار هذا التوجيه كناية عن كونه جهنمياً لينتقل من جعل أبي لهب بمعنى ملازم اللهب إلى لازم تلك الملازمة في العرف ، وهو أنه من أهل جهنم وهو لزوم ادعائي مبني على التفاؤل بالأسماء ونحوها كما أشار إليه التفتزاني في مبحث العَلَمِيَّة من «شرح المفتاح» وأنشد قول الشاعر: ... قصدت أبا المحاسن كي أراهلشوق كان يجذبني إليه ... فلما أن رأيتُ رأيت فرداًولم أر من بنيه ابنا لديه ... وقد يكون أبو لهب كنيته الحطب كما أنبأ عنه ما روي عن أبي هريرة : " إن ابنة أبي لهب قالت للنبيء صلى الله عليه وسلم إن الناس يصيحون بي ويقولون إني ابنةُ حطب النار " الحديث .وقرأ الجمهور لفظ { لهب } بفتح الهاء ، وقرأه ابن كثير بسكون الهاء وهو لغة لأنهم كثيراً ما يسكنون عين الكلمة المتحركة مع الفاء ، وقد يكون ذلك لأن { لهب } صار جزءَ عَلَم والعرب قد يغيرون بعض حركات الاسم إذا نقلوه إلى العلمية كما قالوا : شُمْس بضم الشين ، لشَمْس بن مالك الشاعر الذي ذكره تأبط شراً في قوله: ... إنّي لمُهْدٍ من ثَنائِي فقاصدبه لابن عَمِّ الصدققِ شُمْس بننِ مالك ... قال أبو الفتح بن جنّيّ في كتاب «إعراب الحماسة» : «يجوز أن يكون ضم الشين على وجه تغيير الأعلام نحو مَعدِ يكرب . وتَهْلُك ومَوْهَب وغير ذلك مما غُيِّر عن حال نظائره لأجل العلمية الحادثة فيه اه .وكما قالوا : أبو سُلْمى بضم السين كُنية والدِ زهير بن أبي سُلمى لأنهم نقلوا اسم سَلمى بفتح السين من أسماء النساء إلى جعله اسم رجل يكنى به لأنهم لا يكنون بأسماء النساء غالباً . ولذلك لم يسكن ابن كثير الهاء من قوله تعالى : { ذات لهب } وقراءةُ ابن كثير قراءة أهل مكة فلعل أهل مكة اشتهرت بينهم كنية أبي لهب بسكون الهاء تحقيقاً لكثرة دورانها على الألسنة في زمانه .وجملة : { وتب } إما معطوفة على جملة : { تبت يدا أبي لهب } عطف الدعاء على الدعاء إذا كان إسناد التبات إلى اليدين لأنهما آلة الأذى بالرمي بالحجارة كما في خبر طارق المحاربي ، فأعيد الدعاء على جميعه إغلاظاً له في الشتم والتقريع ، وتفيدُ بذلك تأكيداً لجملة : { تبت يدا أبي لهب } لأنها بمعناها ، وإنما اختلفتا بالكلية والجزئية ، وذلك الاختلاف هو مقتضِي عطفها ، وإلا لكان التوكيد غير معطوف لأن التوكيد اللفظي لا يعطف بالواو كما تقدم في سورة الكافرون .وإمّا أن تكون في موضع الحال ، والواو واوَ الحال ولا تكون دعاء إنما هي تحقيق لحصول ما دُعي عليه به كقول النابغة: ... جَزَى ربُّه عني عديَّ بن حاتمجَزَاء الكلاب العاويات وقَدْ فَعَلْ ... فيكون الكلام قبله مستعملاً في الذم والشماتة به أو لطلب الازدياد ، ويؤيد هذا الوجه قراءة عبد الله بن مسعود «وقد تَب» فيتمحض الكلام قبله لمعنى الذم والتحقير دون معنى طلب حصول التبات له ، وذلك كقول عبد الله بن رواحة حين خروجه إلى غزوة مُؤتة التي استشهد فيها: ... حتَّى يقولوا إذا مَرُّوا على جَدثيأرْشَدَك اللَّهُ من غَازٍ وقَدْ رَشِدا ... يعني ويقولوا : وقد رشدا ، فيصير قوله : أرشدك الله من غازٍ ، لمجرد الثناء والغبطة بما حصّله من الشهادة .
أبو لهب هو عم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، وكان شديد العداوة [والأذية] للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، فلا فيه دين، ولا حمية للقرابة -قبحه الله- فذمه الله بهذا الذم العظيم، الذي هو خزي عليه إلى يوم القيامة فقال: { تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ } أي: خسرت يداه، وشقى { وَتَبَّ } فلم يربح،
سورة تبتوهي مكية بإجماع . وهي خمس آياتبسم الله الرحمن الرحيمتبت يدا أبي لهب وتبفيه ثلاث مسائل :الأولى : قوله تعالى : تبت يدا أبي لهب في الصحيحين وغيرهما ( واللفظ لمسلم ) عن ابن عباس قال : لما نزلت وأنذر عشيرتك الأقربين ( ورهطك منهم المخلصين ) ، خرج رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - حتى صعد الصفا ، فهتف : يا صباحاه ! فقالوا : من هذا الذي يهتف ؟ قالوا محمد . فاجتمعوا إليه . فقال : يا بني فلان ، يا بني فلان ، يا بني فلان ، يا بني عبد مناف ، يا بني عبد المطلب فاجتمعوا إليه . فقال : أرأيتكم لو أخبرتكم أن خيلا تخرج بسفح هذا الجبل أكنتم مصدقي ؟ قالوا : ما جربنا عليك كذبا . قال : فإني نذير لكم بين يدي عذاب شديد . فقال أبو لهب : تبا لك ، أما جمعتنا إلا لهذا ! ثم قام ، فنزلت هذه السورة : [ ص: 210 ] تبت يدا أبي لهب وقد تب كذا قرأ الأعمش إلى آخر السورة . زاد الحميدي وغيره : فلما سمعت امرأته ما نزل في زوجها وفيها من القرآن ، أتت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وهو جالس في المسجد عند الكعبة ، ومعه أبو بكر - رضي الله عنه - ، وفي يدها فهر من حجارة ، فلما وقفت عليه أخذ الله بصرها عن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ، فلا ترى إلا أبا بكر . فقالت : يا أبا بكر ، إن صاحبك قد بلغني أنه يهجوني ، والله لو وجدته لضربت بهذا الفهر فاه ، والله إني لشاعرة :مذمما عصينا وأمره أبينا ودينه قليناثم انصرفت . فقال أبو بكر : يا رسول الله ، أما تراها رأتك ؟ قال : " ما رأتني ، لقد أخذ الله بصرها عني " . وكانت قريش إنما تسمي رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - مذمما ؛ يسبونه ، وكان يقول : " ألا تعجبون لما صرف الله عني من أذى قريش ، يسبون ويهجون مذمما وأنا محمد " . وقيل : إن سبب نزولها ما حكاه عبد الرحمن بن زيد أن أبا لهب أتى النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال : ماذا أعطى إن آمنت بك يا محمد ؟ فقال : " كما يعطى المسلمون " قال ما لي عليهم فضل ؟ . قال : " وأي شيء تبغي " ؟ قال : تبا لهذا من دين ، أن أكون أنا وهؤلاء سواء ؛ فأنزل الله تعالى فيه . تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب .وقول ثالث حكاه عبد الرحمن بن كيسان قال : كان إذا وفد على النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وقد انطلق إليهم أبو لهب فيسألونه عن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ويقولون له : أنت أعلم به منا . فيقول لهم أبو لهب : إنه كذاب ساحر . فيرجعون عنه ولا يلقونه . فأتى وفد ، ففعل معهم مثل ذلك ، فقالوا : لا ننصرف حتى نراه ، ونسمع كلامه . فقال لهم أبو لهب : إنا لم نزل نعالجه فتبا له وتعسا . فأخبر بذلك رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فاكتأب لذلك ؛ فأنزل الله تعالى : تبت يدا أبي لهب . . . السورة . وقيل : إن أبا لهب أراد أن يرمي النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بحجر ، فمنعه الله من ذلك ، وأنزل الله تعالى : تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب للمنع الذي وقع به . ومعنى تبت : خسرت ؛ قال قتادة . وقيل : خابت ؛ قال ابن عباس . وقيل : ضلت ؛ قاله عطاء . وقيل : هلكت ؛ قاله ابن جبير . وقال يمان بن رئاب : صفرت من كل خبر . حكى الأصمعي عن أبي عمرو بن العلاء أنه لما قتل عثمان - رحمه الله - سمع الناس هاتفا يقول :لقد خلوك وانصرفوا فما أبوا ولا رجعواولم يوفوا بنذرهم فيا تبا لما صنعواوخص اليدين بالتباب ، لأن العمل أكثر ما يكون بهما ؛ أي خسرتا وخسر هو . وقيل : [ ص: 211 ] المراد باليدين نفسه . وقد يعبر عن النفس باليد ، كما قال الله تعالى : بما قدمت يداك . أي نفسك . وهذا مهيع كلام العرب ؛ تعبر ببعض الشيء عن كله ؛ تقول : أصابته يد الدهر ، ويد الرزايا والمنايا ؛ أي أصابه كل ذلك . قال الشاعر :لما أكبت يد الرزايا عليه نادى ألا مجيروتب قال الفراء : التب الأول : دعاء والثاني خبر ؛ كما يقال : أهلكه الله وقد هلك . وفي قراءة عبد الله وأبي وقد تب وأبو لهب اسمه عبد العزى ، وهو ابن عبد المطلب عم النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - . وامرأته العوراء أم جميل ، أخت أبي سفيان بن حرب ، وكلاهما كان شديد العداوة للنبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - .قال طارق بن عبد الله المحاربي : إني بسوق ذي المجاز ، إذ أنا بإنسان يقول : " يأيها الناس ، قولوا لا إله إلا الله تفلحوا " ، وإذا رجل خلفه يرميه ، قد أدمى ساقيه وعرقوبيه ويقول : يأيها الناس ، إنه كذاب فلا تصدقوه . فقلت من هذا ؟ فقالوا : محمد ، زعم أنه نبي . وهذا عمه أبو لهب يزعم أنه كذاب . وروى عطاء عن ابن عباس قال : قال أبو لهب : سحركم محمد إن أحدنا ليأكل الجذعة ، ويشرب العس من اللبن فلا يشبع ، وإن محمدا قد أشبعكم من فخذ شاة ، وأرواكم من عس لبن .الثانية : قوله تعالى : أبي لهب قيل : سمي باللهب لحسنه ، وإشراق وجهه . وقد ظن قوم أن في هذا دليلا على تكنية المشرك ؛ وهو باطل ، وإنما كناه الله بأبي لهب - عند العلماء - لمعان أربعة :الأول : أنه كان اسمه عبد العزى ، والعزى : صنم ، ولم يضف الله في كتابه العبودية إلى صنم .الثاني : أنه كان بكنيته أشهر منه باسمه ؛ فصرح بها .الثالث : أن الاسم أشرف من الكنية ، فحطه الله - عز وجل - عن الأشرف إلى الأنقص ؛ إذا لم يكن بد من الإخبار عنه ، ولذلك دعا الله تعالى الأنبياء بأسمائهم ، ولم يكن عن أحد منهم . ويدلك على شرف الاسم على الكنية : أن الله تعالى يسمى ولا يكنى ، وإن كان ذلك لظهوره وبيانه ؛ واستحالة نسبة الكنية إليه ، لتقدسه عنها .الرابع : أن الله تعالى أراد أن يحقق نسبته ، بأن يدخله النار ، فيكون أبا لها ، تحقيقا للنسب ، وإمضاء للفأل والطيرة التي اختارها لنفسه . وقد قيل : اسمه كنيته . فكان أهله يسمونه ( أبا لهب ) ، لتلهب وجهه وحسنه ؛ فصرفهم الله عن أن يقولوا : أبو [ ص: 212 ] النور ، وأبو الضياء ، الذي هو المشترك بين المحبوب والمكروه ، وأجرى على ألسنتهم أن يضيفوه إلى ( لهب ) الذي هو مخصوص بالمكروه المذموم ، وهو النار . ثم حقق ذلك بأن يجعلها مقره . وقرأ مجاهد وحميد وابن كثير وابن محيصن . ( أبي لهب ) بإسكان الهاء . ولم يختلفوا في ( ذات لهب ) إنها مفتوحة ؛ لأنهم راعوا فيها رءوس الآي .الثالثة : قال ابن عباس : لما خلق الله - عز وجل - القلم قال له : اكتب ما هو كائن ، وكان فيما كتب تبت يدا أبي لهب . وقال منصور : سئل الحسن عن قوله تعالى : تبت يدا أبي لهب . هل كان في أم الكتاب ؟ وهل كان أبو لهب يستطيع ألا يصلى النار ؟ فقال : والله ما كان يستطيع ألا يصلاها ، وإنها لفي كتاب الله من قبل أن يخلق أبو لهب وأبواه . ويؤيده قول موسى لآدم : أنت الذي خلقك الله بيده ، ونفخ فيك من روحه ، وأسكنك جنته ، وأسجد لك ملائكته ، خيبت الناس ، وأخرجتهم من الجنة . قال آدم : وأنت موسى الذي اصطفاك بكلامه ، وأعطاك التوراة ، تلومني على أمر كتبه الله علي قبل أن يخلق الله السماوات والأرض . قال النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : فحج آدم موسى . وقد تقدم هذا .وفي حديث همام عن أبي هريرة أن آدم قال لموسى : " بكم وجدت الله كتب التوراة قبل أن يخلقني " ؟ قال : بألفي عام قال : فهل وجدت فيها : وعصى آدم ربه فغوى قال : نعم قال : أفتلومني على أمر وكتب الله علي أن أفعله من قبل أن أخلق بألفي عام . فحج آدم موسى " . وفي حديث طاوس وابن هرمز والأعرج عن أبي هريرة : " بأربعين عاما " .
This chapter, containing five verses, was revealed at Makkah. This is the only passage in the Quran where an opponent of the Prophet is denounced by name. Abu Lahab, whose real name was Abdul Uzza, was a first cousin of the Prophet’s father. He was the only member of the Prophet’s clan who bitterly opposed him. Abu Lahab made it his business to torment the Prophet, and his wife took pleasure in strewing thorn bushes in the path the Prophet was expected to take. Consumed with grief on seeing many of the Quraysh leaders of the unbelievers killed at Badr, Abu Lahab died a week after Badr. Though this chapter refers, in the first instance, to a particular incident, it carries the general message that cruelty and haughtiness ultimately recoil upon oneself. Abu Lahab, the name of an actual person, has come to denote a particular kind of character. ‘Abu Lahab’ who was an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad has come to be a symbol of such an opponent of the call for Truth as will stoop in his hostility to meanness. Just as the Prophet had to face this character, similarly others of his followers (ummah) may have to face just such a character. However, if the dayee has become active for the sake of God in the real sense, then God’s help will be given to him. The inimical efforts of people like Abu Lahab will, by God’s grace, become ineffective and, in spite of all their means and resources, the antagonists will perish. They will themselves burn in the fire of their own jealousy and enmity. Their aim may have been to ensure that the call of God came to a miserable end, but the opponents themselves will be the ones to suffer that everlasting fate.
Name and Nickname of Abu Lahab
Abu Lahab [ Father of Flame ] was the Nickname of ` Abd-ul-` Uzza, one of the sons of ` Abdul-Muttalib. As he was ruddy in complexion, he was nicknamed Abu Lahab [ Father of Flame ]. The Qur'an did not mention his real name, because it smacked of paganism, and the last element 'lahab' [ Flame ] in the nickname has also nexus with the flame of Hell. This person was the inveterate enemy and persecutor of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and violently opposed Islam. Whenever the Holy Prophet ﷺ invited the people to Islamic Faith, he would stand up and cry lie to his message. [ Ibn Kathir ]
Cause of Revelation
It is recorded in the two Sahihs that when the verse وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ (Warn your closest relatives - 26:214) was revealed, the Holy Prophet ﷺ ascended the mount Safa and cried out to the tribe of Quraish in a manner that was known among them for warning of an attack by the enemy. Some narratives maintain that he called the different Makkah clans by name, the clan of Banu ` Abd Munaf, Banu ` Abdul-Muttalib and others. All the clans of Quraish gathered around him, and he said to them: 'If I were to tell you that the enemy is about to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you believe me?' They all unanimously replied in the affirmative. Then he said: 'Verily, I am a warner sent to you before the coming of a severe torment (as a result of disbelief or paganism). Abu Lahab then responded: تَبَاً لَکَ اَلِھٰذَا جَمَعتَنَا 'Ruin may seize you! Is it for this purpose that you have called us together?' and picked up a stone to hit him. Thus this Surah was revealed.
Verse [ 111:1] تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he! ) The word yad literally means a 'hand'. Because hands play a very important role in all of human works and actions, often yad (hand) refers to the human person, as in the phrase ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ (...All this is due to what your hands have sent forth...22:10). Baihaqi has recorded on the authority of Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas ؓ that one day Abu Lahab said to the people that Muhammad says that such-and-such a thing will happen after death. Then, pointing to his hands, said that none of those things have come into these hands; then he addressed his hands and said: تَبّاً لکما ما اریٰ فیکما شیٔاً ممّا قال محمد (Perish you! I do not see any of the things Muhammad said in you.) Therefore, the Qur'an attributes his destruction to his hands.
The verb tabba is derived from tabab which means 'to perish'. In verse [ 11, the first sentence تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ (Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab) is in the form of a prayer invoking or imprecating destruction upon Abu Lahab, and the second sentence wa tabba is the declarative sentence prophesying the consequence of the invocation. The first sentence was invoked against him to satisfy the indignation of the Muslims, because when Abu Lahab imprecated destruction upon the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، it was the desire of the Muslims that imprecation be invoked against him. Allah thus fulfilled their desire, and also informed them that the invocation has taken effect and he perished. Seven days after the battle of Badr, he developed a terrible case of plague because of which people avoided him. They regarded the disease as infectious and were afraid that it might be transmitted by contact, so they forced him to live in an isolated house, and they did not come into contact with him at all. He at last died in this state. His dead body lay untouched in his house for three days. When his body began to rot giving out unbearable stench, people taunted his sons, and they hired laborers to take it away and bury it. They dug a pit in the ground, pushed his body into it with a stick and covered it with stones. [ Bayan-ul-Qur’ an from Ruh ].
Verse [ 111:2] مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ (Neither his wealth availed him, nor what he earned.) The phrase ma kasab [ what he earned ] could refer to the profits that accrued to him from investment of his wealth in business, and it could also imply 'children', for the children of a person are also referred to (in Arabic) as his earning. Sayyidah ` A'ishah ؓ reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ان اطیب ما اکل الرّجل من کسبہ وان ولدہ من کسبہ
"The best and the purest thing a man eats is from his earnings and his children are part of his earnings".
This means that eating from the earnings of one's children is tantamount to eating from one's own earnings. [ Qurtubi ]
Therefore, Sayyidah ` A'ishah, Mujahid, 'Ata’, Ibn Sirin and others interpret ma kasab [ what he earned ] as referring to 'children'. Allah had granted Abu Lahab abundant wealth and many children, and these two factors led him to be ungrateful, and caused him to be proud and arrogant. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ says that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called his people to faith and warned them about the Divine punishment, Abu Lahab said: "Even if what my nephew says is true, I will save myself from the painful torment on the Day of Judgment with my wealth and my children." Thus Allah revealed verse [ 2] مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ that is, when the Divine torment seized him in this world, neither his wealth nor his children benefited him!
And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (The power of Abu Lahab will perish): '(The power of Abu Lahab will perish) this is because when Allah said to His Prophet (pbuh) (And warn your tribe of near kindred [26: 214]) he called them and said: �Say: there is no god but Allah� and his uncle-the brother of his father from their mother's side-'Abd al-'Uzza whose agnomen was Abu Lahab said: �May you perish! Is this why you summoned us?� Allah then revealed His saying (The power of Abu Lahab will perish) He says: the hand of Abu Lahab is deprived of all good (and he will perish) he lost himself by rejecting belief in Allah's divine Oneness.
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and may he perish too!He said:That is, may his hands be ruined [lit. lost], and may he perish too! The first loss is the loss of his wealth and the other loss is in the loss of his soul. The meaning of loss is mentioned in what comes after this.He says:
Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Reason for the Revelation of this Surah and the Arrogance of Abu Lahab toward the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet went out to the valley of Al-Batha and he ascended the mountain. Then he cried out,
«يَا صَبَاحَاه»
(O people, come at once!) So the Quraysh gathered around him. Then he said,
«أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ حَدَّثْتُكُمْ أَنَّ الْعَدُوَّ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ، أَوْ مُمَسِّيكُمْ أَكُنْتُمْ تُصَدِّقُونِّي»
؟ (If I told you all that the enemy was going to attack you in the morning, or in the evening, would you all believe me) They replied, "Yes." Then he said,
«فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيد»
(Verily, I am a warner (sent) to you all before the coming of a severe torment.) Then Abu Lahab said, "Have you gathered us for this May you perish!" Thus, Allah revealed,
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) to the end of the Surah. In another narration it states that he stood up dusting of his hands and said, "Perish you for the rest of this day! Have you gathered us for this" Then Allah revealed,
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) The first part is a supplication against him and the second is information about him. This man Abu Lahab was one of the uncles of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.His name was `Abdul-`Uzza bin Abdul-Muttalib. His surname was Abu `Utaybah and he was only called Abu Lahab because of the brightness of his face. He used to often cause harm to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He hated and scorned him and his religion. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Az-Zinad that a man called Rabi`ah bin `Abbad from the tribe of Bani Ad-Dil, who was a man of pre-Islamic ignorance who accepted Islam, said to him, "I saw the Prophet in the time of pre-Islamic ignorance in the market of Dhul-Majaz and he was saying,
«يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، قُولُوا: لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ تُفْلِحُوا»
(O people! Say there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and you will be successful.) The people were gathered around him and behind him there was a man with a bright face, squint (or cross) eyes and two braids in his hair. He was saying, "Verily, he is an apostate (from our religion) and a liar!" This man was following him (the Prophet ) around wherever he went. So, I asked who was he and they (the people) said, "This is his uncle, Abu Lahab." Ahmad also recorded this narration from Surayj, who reported it from Ibn Abu Az-Zinad, who reported it from his father (Abu Zinad) who mentioned this same narration. However in this report, Abu Zinad said, "I said to Rabi`ah, `Were you a child at that time' He replied, `No. By Allah, that day I was most intelligent, and I was the strongest blower of the flute (for music)."' Ahmad was alone in recording this Hadith. Concerning Allah's statement,
مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ
(His wealth and his children (Kasab) will not benefit him!) Ibn `Abbas and others have said,
وَمَا كَسَبَ
(and his children (Kasab) will not benefit him!) "Kasab means his children." A similar statement has been reported from `A'ishah, Mujahid, `Ata', Al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin. It has been mentioned from Ibn Mas`ud that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called his people to faith, Abu Lahab said, "Even if what my nephew says is true, I will ransom myself (i.e., save myself) from the painful torment on the Day of Judgement with my wealth and my children." Thus, Allah revealed,
مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ
(His wealth and his children will not benefit him!) Then Allah says,
سَيَصْلَى نَاراً ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ
(He will enter a Fire full of flames!) meaning, it has flames, evil and severe burning.
The Destiny of Umm Jamil, the Wife of Abu Lahab
وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ
(And his wife too, who carries wood.) His wife was among the leading women of the Quraysh and she was known as Umm Jamil. Her name was `Arwah bint Harb bin Umayyah and she was the sister of Abu Sufyan. She was supportive of her husband in his disbelief, rejection and obstinacy. Therefore, she will be helping to administer his punishment in the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgement. Thus, Allah says,
وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ - فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ
(Who carries wood. In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) meaning, she will carry the firewood and throw it upon her husband to increase that which he is in (of torment), and she will be ready and prepared to do so.
فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ
(In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) Mujahid and `Urwah both said, "From the palm fiber of the Fire." Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas, `Atiyah Al-Jadali, Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Zayd that she used to place thorns in the path of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Al-Jawhari said, "Al-Masad refers to fibers, it is also a rope made from fibers or palm leaves. It is also made from the skins of camels or their furs. It is said (in Arabic) Masadtul-Habla and Amsaduhu Masadan, when you tightly fasten its twine." Mujahid said,
فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ
(In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) "This means a collar of iron." Don't you see that the Arabs call a pulley cable a Masad
A Story of Abu Lahab's Wife harming the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Ibn Abi Hatim said that his father and Abu Zur`ah both said that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr Al-Humaydi told them that Sufyan informed them that Al-Walid bin Kathir related from Ibn Tadrus who reported that Asma' bint Abi Bakr said, "When
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ
(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he)!) was revealed, the one-eyed Umm Jamil bint Harb came out wailing, and she had a stone in her hand. She was saying, `He criticizes our father, and his religion is our scorn, and his command is to disobey us.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting in the Masjid (of the Ka`bah) and Abu Bakr was with him. When Abu Bakr saw her he said, `O Messenger of Allah! She is coming and I fear that she will see you.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied,
«إِنَّهَا لَنْ تَرَانِي»
(Verily, she will not see me.) Then he recited some of the Qur'an as a protection for himself. This is as Allah says,
وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرءَانَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا
(And when you recite the Qur'an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil.) (17:45) So she advanced until she was standing in front of Abu Bakr and she did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . She then said, `O Abu Bakr! Verily, I have been informed that your friend is making defamatory poetry about me.' Abu Bakr replied, `Nay! By the Lord of this House (the Ka`bah) he is not defaming you.' So she turned away saying, `Indeed the Quraysh know that I am the daughter of their leader."' Al-Walid or another person said in a different version of this Hadith, "So Umm Jamil stumbled over her waist gown while she was making circuits (Tawaf) around the House (the Ka`bah) and she said, `Cursed be the reviler.' Then Umm Hakim bint `Abdul-Muttalib said, `I am a chaste woman so I will not speak abusively and I am refined so I do not know. Both of us are children of the same uncle. And after all the Quraysh know best." This is the end of the Tafsir of this Surah, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
Perish the hands of Abū Lahab, and perish he! What did Abū Lahab do in the Beginningless that his portion was the brand of deprivation? What did Abū Bakr bring forth in the Beginningless that the crown of felicity and generosity was placed on the head of his passing days? You say that Abū Lahab came to be wretched because he was an unbeliever and that Abū Bakr came to be felicitous because he was a submitter. The reality is the opposite. Know that unbelief lies in wretchedness, not wretchedness in unbelief, and submis- sion lies in felicity, not felicity in submission. This is a work that was over and done with in the Beginningless. The Pir of the Tariqah said, “Alas for the decree that has gone before me! Alack for the words spoken by the Self-Seer! I do not know if I should live happy or distraught. I fear what the Power- ful said in the Beginningless.” The dog of the Companions of the Cave had the color of unbelief, and the garment of Balaam Beor had the embroidery of the religion. But beginningless wretchedness and felicity were waiting in ambush from both directions. Hence, when good fortune showed its face, the form of that dog's skin was placed on Balaam: So his likeness is the likeness of a dog [7:176]. And Balaam's cloak was put on that dog, for it was said, “They were three, and the fourth of them was their dog” [18:22].
القول في تأويل قوله جل ثناؤه وتقدست أسماؤه: تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (1)يقول تعالى ذكره: خسرت يدا أبي لهب, وخسر هو. وإنما عُنِي بقوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) تبّ عمله. وكان بعض أهل العربية يقول: قوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) : دعاء عليه من الله.وأما قوله: ( وَتَبَّ ) فإنه خبر. ويُذكر أن ذلك في قراءة عبد الله: " تَبَّتْ يَدَا أبِي لَهَبٍ وَقَدْ تَبَّ". وفي دخول " قد " فيه دلالة على أنه خبر, ويمثِّل ذلك بقول القائل, لآخر: أهلكك الله, وقد أهلكك, وجعلك صالحا وقد جعلك.وبنحو الذي قلنا في معنى قوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثنا بشر, قال: ثنا يزيد, قال: ثنا سعيد, عن قتادة ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) : أي خسرت وتب.حدثني يونس, قال: أخبرنا ابن وهب, قال: قال ابن زيد, في قول الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ ) قال: التبّ: الخسران, قال: قال أبو لهب للنبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: ماذا أُعطَى يا محمد إن آمنت بك؟ قال؟ " كمَا يُعْطَى المُسْلِمُون ", فقال: ما لي عليهم فضل ؟ قال: " وأيّ شَيْءٍ تَبْتَغِي؟" قال: تبا لهذا من دين تبا, أن أكون أنا وهؤلاء سواء, فأنـزل الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) يقول: بما عملت أيديهم.حدثنا ابن عبد الأعلى, قال: ثنا ابن ثور, عن معمر, عن قتادة ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) قال: خسرت يدا أبي لهب وخسر.وقيل: إن هذه السورة نـزلت في أبي لهب, لأن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لما خص بالدعوة عشيرته, إذ نـزل عليه: وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ وجمعهم للدعاء, قال له أبو لهب: تبا لك سائر اليوم, ألهذا دعوتنا ؟* ذكر الأخبار الواردة بذلك:حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا أبو معاوية, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس قال: صعد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ذات يوم الصفا, فقال: " يا صَباحاهُ!" فاجتمعت إليه قريش, فقالوا: مالك ؟ قال: " أرأيْتُكُمْ إنْ أخْبَرْتُكُمْ أنَّ العَدُوَّ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ أوْ مُمَسِّيكُمْ, أما كُنْتُمْ تُصَدقُونَنِي؟" قالوا: بلى, قال: " فإني نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَينَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ", فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك, ألهذا دعوتنا وجمعتنا ؟! فأنـزل الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) إلى آخرها .حدثني أبو السائب, قال: ثنا أبو معاوية, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس, مثله.حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا ابن نمير, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو بن مرة, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس, قال: لما نـزلت وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ قام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم على الصَّفا ثم نادَى: " يا صَباحاهُ" فاجتمع الناس إليه, فبين رجل يجيء, وبين آخر يبعث رسوله, فقال: " يا بَنِي هاشِمٍ, يا بَنِي عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ, يا بَنِي فِهْرٍ, يا بَنِي... يا بَنِي أرَأَيْتُكُمْ لَوْ أخْبَرْتُكُمْ أنَّ خَيْلا بِسَفْحِ هَذَا الجَبَلِ" -يريد تغير عليكم- صَدَّقْتُمُونِي؟" قالوا ": نعم, قال: " فإني نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ", فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك سائر اليوم, ألهذا دعوتنا ؟ فنـزلت: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ ).حدثنا أبو كُرَيب, قال: ثنا أبو أسامة, عن الأعمش, عن عمرو بن مرة, عن سعيد بن جبير, عن ابن عباس قال: لما نـزلت هذه الآية: وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ ورهطك منهم المخلصين, خرج رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم, حتى صعد الصفا, فهتف: " يا صَباحاهُ" فقالوا: " من هذا الذي يهتف ؟ فقالوا: محمد, فاجتمعوا إليه ", فقال: " يا بَنِي فُلانٍ, يا بَنِي فُلانٍ, يا بَنِي عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ, يا بَنِي عَبْدِ مَنَافٍ", فاجتمعوا إليه, فقال: " أرَأَيْتُكُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أنَّ خَيْلا تَخْرُجُ بِسَفْحِ هَذَا الجَبَلِ أكُنْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ؟" قالوا: ما جربنا عليك كذبا, قال " فإنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ", فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك ما جمعتنا إلا لهذا ؟ ثم قام فنـزلت هذه السورة: " تَبَّتْ يَدَا أبِي لَهَبٍ وَقَدْ تَبَّ" كذا قرا الأعمش إلى آخر السورة .حدثنا ابن حميد, قال: ثنا مهران, عن سفيان, في قوله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) قال: حين أرسل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إليه وإلى غيره, وكان أبو لهب عمّ النبيّ صلى الله عليه وسلم, وكان اسمه عبد العزى, فذكرهم, فقال أبو لهب: تبا لك, في هذا أرسلت إلينا ؟ فأنـزل الله: ( تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ ) .
This chapter, containing five verses, was revealed at Makkah. This is the only passage in the Quran where an opponent of the Prophet is denounced by name. Abu Lahab, whose real name was Abdul Uzza, was a first cousin of the Prophet’s father. He was the only member of the Prophet’s clan who bitterly opposed him. Abu Lahab made it his business to torment the Prophet, and his wife took pleasure in strewing thorn bushes in the path the Prophet was expected to take. Consumed with grief on seeing many of the Quraysh leaders of the unbelievers killed at Badr, Abu Lahab died a week after Badr. Though this chapter refers, in the first instance, to a particular incident, it carries the general message that cruelty and haughtiness ultimately recoil upon oneself. Abu Lahab, the name of an actual person, has come to denote a particular kind of character. ‘Abu Lahab’ who was an uncle of the Prophet Muhammad has come to be a symbol of such an opponent of the call for Truth as will stoop in his hostility to meanness. Just as the Prophet had to face this character, similarly others of his followers (ummah) may have to face just such a character. However, if the dayee has become active for the sake of God in the real sense, then God’s help will be given to him. The inimical efforts of people like Abu Lahab will, by God’s grace, become ineffective and, in spite of all their means and resources, the antagonists will perish. They will themselves burn in the fire of their own jealousy and enmity. Their aim may have been to ensure that the call of God came to a miserable end, but the opponents themselves will be the ones to suffer that everlasting fate.
Name and Nickname of Abu Lahab
Abu Lahab [ Father of Flame ] was the Nickname of ` Abd-ul-` Uzza, one of the sons of ` Abdul-Muttalib. As he was ruddy in complexion, he was nicknamed Abu Lahab [ Father of Flame ]. The Qur'an did not mention his real name, because it smacked of paganism, and the last element 'lahab' [ Flame ] in the nickname has also nexus with the flame of Hell. This person was the inveterate enemy and persecutor of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and violently opposed Islam. Whenever the Holy Prophet ﷺ invited the people to Islamic Faith, he would stand up and cry lie to his message. [ Ibn Kathir ]
Cause of Revelation
It is recorded in the two Sahihs that when the verse وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ (Warn your closest relatives - 26:214) was revealed, the Holy Prophet ﷺ ascended the mount Safa and cried out to the tribe of Quraish in a manner that was known among them for warning of an attack by the enemy. Some narratives maintain that he called the different Makkah clans by name, the clan of Banu ` Abd Munaf, Banu ` Abdul-Muttalib and others. All the clans of Quraish gathered around him, and he said to them: 'If I were to tell you that the enemy is about to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you believe me?' They all unanimously replied in the affirmative. Then he said: 'Verily, I am a warner sent to you before the coming of a severe torment (as a result of disbelief or paganism). Abu Lahab then responded: تَبَاً لَکَ اَلِھٰذَا جَمَعتَنَا 'Ruin may seize you! Is it for this purpose that you have called us together?' and picked up a stone to hit him. Thus this Surah was revealed.
Verse [ 111:1] تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he! ) The word yad literally means a 'hand'. Because hands play a very important role in all of human works and actions, often yad (hand) refers to the human person, as in the phrase ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ (...All this is due to what your hands have sent forth...22:10). Baihaqi has recorded on the authority of Sayyidna Ibn 'Abbas ؓ that one day Abu Lahab said to the people that Muhammad says that such-and-such a thing will happen after death. Then, pointing to his hands, said that none of those things have come into these hands; then he addressed his hands and said: تَبّاً لکما ما اریٰ فیکما شیٔاً ممّا قال محمد (Perish you! I do not see any of the things Muhammad said in you.) Therefore, the Qur'an attributes his destruction to his hands.
The verb tabba is derived from tabab which means 'to perish'. In verse [ 11, the first sentence تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ (Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab) is in the form of a prayer invoking or imprecating destruction upon Abu Lahab, and the second sentence wa tabba is the declarative sentence prophesying the consequence of the invocation. The first sentence was invoked against him to satisfy the indignation of the Muslims, because when Abu Lahab imprecated destruction upon the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، it was the desire of the Muslims that imprecation be invoked against him. Allah thus fulfilled their desire, and also informed them that the invocation has taken effect and he perished. Seven days after the battle of Badr, he developed a terrible case of plague because of which people avoided him. They regarded the disease as infectious and were afraid that it might be transmitted by contact, so they forced him to live in an isolated house, and they did not come into contact with him at all. He at last died in this state. His dead body lay untouched in his house for three days. When his body began to rot giving out unbearable stench, people taunted his sons, and they hired laborers to take it away and bury it. They dug a pit in the ground, pushed his body into it with a stick and covered it with stones. [ Bayan-ul-Qur’ an from Ruh ].
Verse [ 111:2] مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ (Neither his wealth availed him, nor what he earned.) The phrase ma kasab [ what he earned ] could refer to the profits that accrued to him from investment of his wealth in business, and it could also imply 'children', for the children of a person are also referred to (in Arabic) as his earning. Sayyidah ` A'ishah ؓ reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ان اطیب ما اکل الرّجل من کسبہ وان ولدہ من کسبہ
"The best and the purest thing a man eats is from his earnings and his children are part of his earnings".
This means that eating from the earnings of one's children is tantamount to eating from one's own earnings. [ Qurtubi ]
Therefore, Sayyidah ` A'ishah, Mujahid, 'Ata’, Ibn Sirin and others interpret ma kasab [ what he earned ] as referring to 'children'. Allah had granted Abu Lahab abundant wealth and many children, and these two factors led him to be ungrateful, and caused him to be proud and arrogant. Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ says that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called his people to faith and warned them about the Divine punishment, Abu Lahab said: "Even if what my nephew says is true, I will save myself from the painful torment on the Day of Judgment with my wealth and my children." Thus Allah revealed verse [ 2] مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ that is, when the Divine torment seized him in this world, neither his wealth nor his children benefited him!
Which was revealed in Makkah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Reason for the Revelation of this Surah and the Arrogance of Abu Lahab toward the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet went out to the valley of Al-Batha and he ascended the mountain. Then he cried out,
«يَا صَبَاحَاه»
(O people, come at once!) So the Quraysh gathered around him. Then he said,
«أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ حَدَّثْتُكُمْ أَنَّ الْعَدُوَّ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ، أَوْ مُمَسِّيكُمْ أَكُنْتُمْ تُصَدِّقُونِّي»
؟ (If I told you all that the enemy was going to attack you in the morning, or in the evening, would you all believe me) They replied, "Yes." Then he said,
«فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيد»
(Verily, I am a warner (sent) to you all before the coming of a severe torment.) Then Abu Lahab said, "Have you gathered us for this May you perish!" Thus, Allah revealed,
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) to the end of the Surah. In another narration it states that he stood up dusting of his hands and said, "Perish you for the rest of this day! Have you gathered us for this" Then Allah revealed,
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) The first part is a supplication against him and the second is information about him. This man Abu Lahab was one of the uncles of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.His name was `Abdul-`Uzza bin Abdul-Muttalib. His surname was Abu `Utaybah and he was only called Abu Lahab because of the brightness of his face. He used to often cause harm to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He hated and scorned him and his religion. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Az-Zinad that a man called Rabi`ah bin `Abbad from the tribe of Bani Ad-Dil, who was a man of pre-Islamic ignorance who accepted Islam, said to him, "I saw the Prophet in the time of pre-Islamic ignorance in the market of Dhul-Majaz and he was saying,
«يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، قُولُوا: لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ تُفْلِحُوا»
(O people! Say there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and you will be successful.) The people were gathered around him and behind him there was a man with a bright face, squint (or cross) eyes and two braids in his hair. He was saying, "Verily, he is an apostate (from our religion) and a liar!" This man was following him (the Prophet ) around wherever he went. So, I asked who was he and they (the people) said, "This is his uncle, Abu Lahab." Ahmad also recorded this narration from Surayj, who reported it from Ibn Abu Az-Zinad, who reported it from his father (Abu Zinad) who mentioned this same narration. However in this report, Abu Zinad said, "I said to Rabi`ah, `Were you a child at that time' He replied, `No. By Allah, that day I was most intelligent, and I was the strongest blower of the flute (for music)."' Ahmad was alone in recording this Hadith. Concerning Allah's statement,
مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ
(His wealth and his children (Kasab) will not benefit him!) Ibn `Abbas and others have said,
وَمَا كَسَبَ
(and his children (Kasab) will not benefit him!) "Kasab means his children." A similar statement has been reported from `A'ishah, Mujahid, `Ata', Al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin. It has been mentioned from Ibn Mas`ud that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called his people to faith, Abu Lahab said, "Even if what my nephew says is true, I will ransom myself (i.e., save myself) from the painful torment on the Day of Judgement with my wealth and my children." Thus, Allah revealed,
مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ
(His wealth and his children will not benefit him!) Then Allah says,
سَيَصْلَى نَاراً ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ
(He will enter a Fire full of flames!) meaning, it has flames, evil and severe burning.
The Destiny of Umm Jamil, the Wife of Abu Lahab
وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ
(And his wife too, who carries wood.) His wife was among the leading women of the Quraysh and she was known as Umm Jamil. Her name was `Arwah bint Harb bin Umayyah and she was the sister of Abu Sufyan. She was supportive of her husband in his disbelief, rejection and obstinacy. Therefore, she will be helping to administer his punishment in the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgement. Thus, Allah says,
وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ - فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ
(Who carries wood. In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) meaning, she will carry the firewood and throw it upon her husband to increase that which he is in (of torment), and she will be ready and prepared to do so.
فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ
(In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) Mujahid and `Urwah both said, "From the palm fiber of the Fire." Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas, `Atiyah Al-Jadali, Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Zayd that she used to place thorns in the path of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Al-Jawhari said, "Al-Masad refers to fibers, it is also a rope made from fibers or palm leaves. It is also made from the skins of camels or their furs. It is said (in Arabic) Masadtul-Habla and Amsaduhu Masadan, when you tightly fasten its twine." Mujahid said,
فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ
(In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) "This means a collar of iron." Don't you see that the Arabs call a pulley cable a Masad
A Story of Abu Lahab's Wife harming the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
Ibn Abi Hatim said that his father and Abu Zur`ah both said that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr Al-Humaydi told them that Sufyan informed them that Al-Walid bin Kathir related from Ibn Tadrus who reported that Asma' bint Abi Bakr said, "When
تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ
(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he)!) was revealed, the one-eyed Umm Jamil bint Harb came out wailing, and she had a stone in her hand. She was saying, `He criticizes our father, and his religion is our scorn, and his command is to disobey us.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting in the Masjid (of the Ka`bah) and Abu Bakr was with him. When Abu Bakr saw her he said, `O Messenger of Allah! She is coming and I fear that she will see you.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied,
«إِنَّهَا لَنْ تَرَانِي»
(Verily, she will not see me.) Then he recited some of the Qur'an as a protection for himself. This is as Allah says,
وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرءَانَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا
(And when you recite the Qur'an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil.) (17:45) So she advanced until she was standing in front of Abu Bakr and she did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . She then said, `O Abu Bakr! Verily, I have been informed that your friend is making defamatory poetry about me.' Abu Bakr replied, `Nay! By the Lord of this House (the Ka`bah) he is not defaming you.' So she turned away saying, `Indeed the Quraysh know that I am the daughter of their leader."' Al-Walid or another person said in a different version of this Hadith, "So Umm Jamil stumbled over her waist gown while she was making circuits (Tawaf) around the House (the Ka`bah) and she said, `Cursed be the reviler.' Then Umm Hakim bint `Abdul-Muttalib said, `I am a chaste woman so I will not speak abusively and I am refined so I do not know. Both of us are children of the same uncle. And after all the Quraysh know best." This is the end of the Tafsir of this Surah, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.