Surah Al-Masad, (Arabic: المسد) also referred to as "The Palm Fiber," is the 111th chapter of the Quran, and is the 6th surah in the chronological order of revelation. It was revealed after Surah Al-Fatiha and before Surah At-Takwir. This early Meccan surah reflects the intense opposition that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ faced from his own family, his uncle Abu Lahab a prominent enemy of Islam, and his wife. It serves as a reminder of the consequences that await those who oppose the message of Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ.
Highlights:
In the Holy Quran, Allah ﷻ specifically names six individuals as villains, and Abu Lahab is one of them. However, Surah Al-Masad is unique because it is the only chapter entirely dedicated to condemning a single person by name. This surah was revealed as a direct response to Abu Lahab's persistent and strong opposition to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his message. The fact that an entire surah is devoted to his condemnation highlights the severity of his actions and the consequences he faced for his hostility towards Islam.
This distinction also emphasizes the seriousness of his opposition, as Allah ﷻ chose to immortalize his fate in the Quran, making his example a lasting warning to all who oppose the truth. The surah not only condemns Abu Lahab but also illustrates the ultimate futility of power and wealth when used against the path of righteousness.
Family Relations:
Abu Lahab was one of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ uncles, named Abd al-Uzza ibn Abd al-Muttalib. He was also known by the nickname Abu `Ataba and was called Abu Lahab due to the redness of his cheeks and the brightness of his face.
The nickname "Abu Lahab," which means "Father of Flame" or "Father of the Blaze," symbolically represents his fiery opposition to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the message of Islam. It aligns with the Quranic description of his ultimate fate, which involves punishment in a blazing fire (Hell).
Using his nickname helps to clearly identify and distinguish him in the Quranic text. Abu Lahab was a well-known figure in Mecca, and his nickname provided immediate recognition and context for the audience.
His wife was Arwa bint Harb ibn Umayyah ibn Abd Shams, nicknamed by 'Um Jamil'. She was the sister of Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, making her the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ maternal aunt. Abu Sufyan was a prominent leader of the Quraysh tribe and initially an opponent of Islam, though he later converted to the faith.
They had three children: Utbah, Muattib, and Utaibah. Utaibah met his end at the jaws of a lion. Utbah and Muattib later converted to Islam, joined the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the Battle of Hunayn, and continued to live in Mecca. At the begining of Prophet Muhammed's ﷺ prophethood, Abu Lahab's sons Utbah and Utaibah were married to the Prophet’s ﷺ daughters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with them).
The Revelation:
There are multiple reasons to the revelation of Surah Al Masad:
This first being that it was revealed about Abu Lahab because he belittled the Prophet ﷺ when he informed them that he was a warner to them. This is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah ﷻ be pleased with him): "One day, the Prophet ﷺ climbed Mount Safa and called out, 'O morning!' So, Quraysh gathered around him and said, 'What is the matter with you?' He said, 'If I were to tell you that an enemy is going to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you believe me?' They said, 'Yes.' He said, 'Indeed, I am a warner to you of a severe punishment.' Then Abu Lahab said, 'May you perish! Is this why you gathered us?' So, Allah ﷻ revealed: {May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he}."
The second reason is Abu Lahab's continuous efforts to discredit the Prophet ﷺ by telling visitors that arrived into Mecca as they heard of the Prophet's ﷺ message that he was a liar and a sorcerer. His actions caused distress to the Prophet ﷺ, which contributed to the revelation of this surah, highlighting Abu Lahab’s eventual downfall.
Abu Lahab did not leave any means or method unused in his opposition to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions. His enmity and hatred toward Islam were evident in many instances. For example, he led a group that was planning to kill the Prophet ﷺ. His hostility was also clear when he instructed his sons, Utbah and Utaibah, to divorce the Prophet’s ﷺ daughters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum (may Allah ﷻ be pleased with them), after the Prophethood began. This was a strategy to distract the Prophet ﷺ with his personal matters, thereby hindering his mission.
The third reason being Abu Lahab’s wife, who was a fierce opponent of Islam and played an active role in her husband's campaign against the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. She is mentioned in Surah Al-Masad as "the carrier of firewood," which symbolizes her efforts to spread malicious gossip and cause harm to the Prophet ﷺ. Umm Jamil was known for placing thorns in the Prophet's ﷺ path to injure him. Her involvement in these actions made her a target of divine condemnation alongside her husband. The surah predicts her punishment in the afterlife, where she is depicted with a rope of palm fiber around her neck, emphasizing the severity of her sins.
Lessons:
The surah illustrates that wealth, when employed to harm others or oppose righteousness, becomes a source of harm rather than benefit, and no amount of worldly resources can shield one from divine justice if misused. It emphasizes that true benefit from resources comes from using them ethically and in alignment with moral principles, rather than for personal gain or in opposition to truth. Ultimately, Surah Al-Masad warns against using power and resources to oppress or harm others, highlighting that such actions will not lead to ultimate success or reward.
Abu Lahab's Fate:
Abu Lahab died in Mecca after the Battle of Badr, suffering from a severe and contagious disease that is described in some accounts as leprosy or a similar affliction. This illness caused both physical and psychological torment, leading to his isolation and abandonment by his sons due to fear of infection. After his death, his body remained unburied for three days as his sons refrained from approaching him. Eventually, they dug a hole to bury him, but because of the fear of contamination, they pushed his body into the grave with a stick and threw stones at him from a distance to cover him.
His death, marked by isolation and illness, is seen as a fulfillment of the Quranic prophecy and a demonstration of divine justice for those who oppose truth and righteousness.
Translation:
1. May the hands of Abu Lahab perish, and he ˹himself˺ perish!
2. Neither his wealth nor ˹worldly˺ gains will benefit him.
3. He will burn in a flaming Fire,
4. And ˹so will˺ his wife, the carrier of ˹thorny˺ kindling,
5. Around her neck will be a rope of 'twisted' palm-fibre.
Merits:
1. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever recites it, I pray that Allah ﷻ will not place him with Abu Lahab in the same abode (in Hell), and will be granted the reward of the righteous, and for every verse he recites, he will receive the reward of freeing a slave."
2. Surah Al Masad is said to cure aliments of the abdomen.
Translation and Pronunciation:
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