Sura al-Masad / al-Lahab

al-Masad /al-Lahab is the 111th sura of the Qur’an, which means ‘The Palm-Fiber Rope / The Flame’, and takes its name from the 3rd and the 5th verses. It is among the earliest Meccan suras and comprises 5 verses, 23 words, 77 letters, and 1 segment. It is the 6th sura in chronological order, revealed after Sura al-Fatiha. al-Masad refers to a palm fibre rope put around the neck of Abu Lahab’s wife, Umm Jamil bint Harb, in Hell and set aflame. It is said to be retribution for her woe to sell a precious necklace to spend on a campaign against the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). The entire sura is a majestic condemnation of an uncle of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him) called ‘Abd al-‘Uzza b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib, known as Abu Lahab—The Father of Flame. He was the most prominent opponent of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him). The sura warns that Abu Lahab’s riches will not help him and that he and his wife will burn in Hell. One day, the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), standing on the top of a hill near Mecca, called the Quraysh and asked them: ‘If I tell you that the enemy is going to attack you, would you not believe me?’ They said: ‘Yes! Why not? We have never found you telling anything but the truth.’ He said: ‘In that case, I am warning you of a painful punishment of the Hereafter if you don’t accept the message of the Oneness of God, Who has sent me as a messenger to you.’ Abu Lahab replied: ‘May your hand perish. Is this the reason for calling us here? Responding to this, God Almighty revealed this sura, dedicating it’s verse to describe the punishment that Abu Lahab and his wife will suffer in Hell.