As Many People know about it already that it's not a verse from Holy Quran but it's a sentence we use before starting Many things like Reading QURAN AL HAKIM, Whenever we start something new, When we get angry or negative thoughts enter our head (as they're the biggest weapon of satin).




SURAH AL MASAD. (AkaAbu Lahab)
Chapter 111 - 1 ~ 5 (Total 5 Ayat in Surah AL MASAD)
This is a Makki Surah








Surah Masad is one of the shortest Surah's of Quran and its dedicated to the historical account of one particular enemy / NON Believer of ISLAM Religion - Namely Abu Lahab and His Wife . One of the facts is ALLAH KARIM has not dedicated a complete SURAH for any other enemy of ISLAM (Like Abu Jahal) other then Abu Lahab. So its a very particular case. Why such an emphasis on one enemy. This we'll try to find out.


But Before we start going through the Ayats of SURAH MASAD we'll have to look at history and understand about Abu Lahab and his wife. As per history Abu Lahab is one of the famous person in Makkah and by some accounts he is also the Treasurer of Holy city that time. So Heavily influential, politically powerful, Young an also Good Looking. 


Abu Lahab (nickname meaning Father Of Fire)
Original Name : Abd-Al-Uzza
Wife Name : Umm Jamil
1st Son : Utbah
2nd Son : Utaybah


Why nicknamed Abu Lahab. Lahab means "Flickering Red Flame at the tip of Fire" .Normally "Abu" in arabic is used for "Father of (followed by his First Son name) " but this not means Abu Lahab is Father of Flame. Abu Lahab cheeks were always very red so he got this nick name. So Red flame which is a symbol of beauty in arabic tradition. His status was like a celebrity. In Arbas their were two very famous and wealthy tribes. Hashemi Tribe and Ummiyah Tribe. Abu Lahab is the grandson of Hashem. In Arabic culture the tribe matters a lot. Family background is really important.


Now who is the other person mentioned in this Surah. His wife who herself is a very big celebrity cause she is the grand daughter of Ummiyah. Also she is very beautiful therefore her name is Umm Jamil. Umm meaning mother of (first son/daughter name). Jamil means beautiful in arabic. So Umm Jamil actually means she is one of the prettiest girls in her tribe. So they are like Power Couple what we call now or A List couple who are very much politically powerful.


Case of Abu Lahab is very unique. First he is a NON BELIEVER which is enough to land him in HELL's FIRE but to add on it he is the biggest enemy of Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) and ISLAM. This is like you're already in a hole and you're digging it deeper. He is one enemy who has gone out of his way to go against ISLAM and PROPHET MOHAMMED (PBUH).


It's a very interesting fact that he was the next door neighbor and Uncle of Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH). In old days the houses were just separated with walls  and won't have proper roof. SO whenever our PROPHET will recite QURAN or pray Abu'Lahab will throw trash, dead animals and other things on PROPHET to disturb him. He will throw filth on PROPHET and sometimes our PROPHET will cry out in desperation. In old times ARABS has some nobility and they had high values of neighbors but Abu LAHAB was the worst neighbor of all. He will cross all lines to hurt PROPHET MOHAMMED (PBUH)


Now to add on being neighbor he was also uncle of our PROPHET (Direct Blood relative). Now as we know that Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) lost couple of his sons at very early age. One of them was Qasim. So when Qasim died Abu Lahab came out of his house dancing. He went to the common gathering area (Majlis) and started saying "Batra MOHAMMED" - "No one will say your (MOHAMMED) name later" because in Arab culture father of family name is carried ahead by their sons. So he celebrates the death of Qasim. Now take a pause and think whom do you know celebrates the death of a child. Now to add on it think how low a person can be to celebrate the death of a child in his own family. All animosity aside what kind of disgusting human being does it. In a battle when an enemy looses a child other side not celebrates but they stop and feel for other as a nobility. How low can you be. This is something different. So much layers of animosity. 


Not only that he was also father-in-law. Two of Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) daughters were married to his sons (Utbah and Utaybah). One thing is when Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) declared ISLAM religion and started preaching ISLAM to others he made sure that both his sons divorce the Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) daughters and his son Utaybah went to Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) house and spit on him. Now in ARAB culture spitting, throwing a shoe is something very disgraceful / disrespect . At this time Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) made a Duaa against his son to ALLAH KARIM that "May a animal of ALLAH destroy Utaybah". Abu Lahab heard this Duaa and became paranoid that something will hurt his son. Now this shows something interesting that although he not believes in ALLAH KARIM but still he is scared of it and knows deep inside that what Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) is saying is right. Now Abu Lahab is travelling with his sons on a journey and he puts a special tent around his sons. He surrounds the camp with animals (horses) and lots of guards. Why animals cause Duaa said clearly about ALLAH KARIM's animal hurting Abu Lahabs son. A Lion comes at the night. Passes through all the animals , guards. Now interesting is when Lion comes near animal what they do. Make noises right? But in this case not even one animal was heard crying or warning. Lion comes inside the camp. Eats Utaybah. Which makes Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) Duaa to ALLAH KARIM come true.


ALLAH KARIM states that non believers will burn in fire of HELL but ALLAH KARIM specially dedicating a Surah towards abu Lahab and his spouse shows how angry ALLAH KARIM is towards this enemy of ISLAM.  


Looking more in history when ALLAH KARIM instructs Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) to spread the religion of ISLAM he invites all the leaders of Quraish to his house. During that dinner as Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) wants to speak abu Lahab started to make noise and makes sure Prophet MOHAMMED is not heard. Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) again asks Hazarat Ali (A.S) -who was a kid at that time to again go and invite them again. This time around Leaders of Quraish said ok we ate Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) food but didn't listen to him so this time around let's listen to him. So finally Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) gives invitation to them for ISLAM and towards ALLAH KARIM. Who speaks up.. Abu Lahab. He asks "If i accept this religion what do i get?" Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) inform him that with everyone who accepts this religion will be given paradise, he will be with everyone who has accepted this religion etc etc.. and after all explanation abu Lahab replies "TABAL LI HAZZA DEEN" - (This religion should be destroyed).  I curse this religion. He continues saying curse this religion that the idea of Me and these people (leaders of Quraish and other people) will be equal. I Curse this idea and this religion. It shows that he thinks of himself so high that he can't think of anyone else near him also. 


In old tradition of Arabs the mass communication method was going on top of mountain and saying "WA SABAHA" (Oh What a terrible morning is coming tomorrow) and after that remove their clothes so if people have not heard about them then they will see them naked and will know their is something urgent(emergency). This was their mass communication. Now Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) uses the same method but removes what? The shameless part of removing clothes. A very important lesson of many forums or people saying "TV is evil" , "Internet is evil". What we should learn from that? Using Mass communication is ok but remove the elements of vulgarity , shameless factor from it. Look at the parallels and by saying Internet is evil is not right thing. We have a moral and religious duty of removing the shameless element from it. It's us who have to decide. All elements of mass communication have a factor of shameless in it but this not negates that all methods are evil. It's our job to separate good from evil. We are the one who should be able to judge what this element can be used for?


So Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) invites them "WA SABAHA" and people started to gather near the mountain. Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) asks them if i tell you that their is a complete army of battle horses behind this mountain waiting to attack you. Will you believe me? Everyone says "YES because you're always true"  (This is how much they trusted Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH). Now he gives them the open invitation to ISLAM. he tells them about resurrection (LIFE after Death). You'll be judged for your deeds.  We know that at this famouse incident Hazarat ALI (A.S) accepts the religion of ISLAM and becomes first person to accept Prophet MOHAMMED(PBUH) invitation towards ALLAH KARIM. At this stage Abu Lahab also stands and says " I curse this religion and say death to this religion. You gathered us for this? I thought their was a real emergency". For Abu Lahab Judgment day is not an emergency but war horses are? 


Now Let's visit the Ayats of Surah Masad one by one.














Her sins have collected on her back, weighing her down, in the same way as a wood-carrier piles wood on his back, binding them with a rope of palm-fibre around his neck. The meaning could also be that she will actually carry wood to fuel the fire burning her husband with “a rope of palm-fibre round her neck."


Now at conclusion two themes are being concluded. One for Abu Lahab and one for his wife Umm Jamil. Now we have four types of NON BELIEVERS.


1) Friendly DISBELIEVER
When Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) was expelled from Makkah he comes back under a protection of non believer  namely Mautan who took his 6 sons to Protect Messenger of ALLAH .  Abu Talib is a friendly disbeliever. he supported Prophet MOHAMED (PBUH) but cause of his pride he never accepted ISLAM.


2) Noble Enemy
He shows animosity but fights for a cause in which he believes in. Not accepting that cause is good but he has his own ideology and will protect him. In their nation not their personal agenda. Abu Jahl another enemy of ISLAM. When Prophet MOHAMED (PBUH) makes a Duaa for someone to come to ISLAM it's Abu JAHL cause messenger sees so much good potential in him if he becomes Muslim. He took wrong road but he had potential.


3) Greedy Enemy or some one who don't agree but they won't reject the beauty. Nothing Personal against Messenger. Waleed Ibn Mugheer the great poet listens to QURAN he is standing and thinking how should i respond to this. So when he comes back people ask him so what is it?  What you say?  They ask is it a poetry. He says no it's not cause this will invalid him. So they ask him is this non sense? He says no its not infact its very sweet. And he calls it a Magic (Cause QURAN can't be seen) so they call it Magic which causes separation between families. Something which can be defined. Not insulting the QURAN but not agreeing to it also. He acknowledge that it can't be explained by normal words. They are mesmerized.


4) Worst of the Worst who hates ISLAM. Curses Religion. Death to Religion. Abu Lahab. Why a Surah is dedicated to him cause he is the worst of worst. Below all enemies. First to insult Prophet MOHAMMED (PBUH) publicly.


Now we have Four scenarios of Women mentioned in ISLAM.


1) Wonderful Lady and Wonderful Household.
Example : Mariam who is responsibility of Zakaria. Wonderful lady and Wonderful Guardian

2) Wonderful Lady and Terrible Guardian
Example : Wife of Firoun (Pharaoh) but living in terrible household/Guardian


3) Terrible Women but Great Household
Example : Wife's of Nuh and Luth who are Prophets but their wives were Terrible.

4) Terrible Women with Terrible Guradian
That is Surah Lahab. Tag team of Abu Lahab and Umm Jamil . The worst of worst.




The amazing fact about RELIGION OF ISLAM is that Pharohs was kept away from ISLAM. ALLAH KARIM mentions in QURAN that he kept him away. Now Abu Lahab had this Surah when he was at his prime. He could have accepted ISLAM or just pretended that he is a Muslim by saying Qalimah. He had years and years and this would have negated the book of ALLAH but he made fun but never did that. It's a Miracle of ALLAH. What he promised is what will happen (like Rome defeating Persians which came true).



Abu Lahab's slave 'Ursa Thuwaybah al-Islamiah fed Muhammad milk. After she informed him that his brother's wife Aminah had given birth to a son Abu Lahab freed her due to his happiness, and was rewarded by having his punishment reduced.

It is narrated that 'Ursa said;

“When Abu Lahab died, some of his family members saw him in a dream in a very terrible state. They asked him what he experienced so far and what happened in the grave. He replied, After parting from you, I have not found any rest, good or relief. However because I released Thuwaybah, I get water every Monday from the finger with which I pointed for her to go free and I feel some comfort."
—Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62: Kitabun Nikaah (Wedlock, Marriage), Hâdith Number 38





MAY ALLAH KEEPS US AWAY FROM FOLLOWING PATH OF DIS BELIEVERS. MAY ALLAH KEEP AWAY FROM DEVIL (SAITAN). Spread the word of QURAN. Spread  the word of ALLAH. Be the book of ALLAH be your trusted guide. (Ameen!!!)