1. May the hands of Abu Lahab be shattered and he be destroyed. 2. Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall avail him.

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1 رکوعہا و ۃ م ی ۃ 6 س ر الل ہ ب ک ایاہا 5 ا ی الل الل ۱ ی ا ا ا لہ ب ب ۲ ما ک ب ۴ ۳ ۵ ع ما ا ا ما ا ار ا ذا لہ ب ص ل ن س ی ط ب الح م املا حم الۃ ا ف ج ی ہ م ل 1. May the hands of Abu Lahab be shattered and he be destroyed. 2. Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall avail him. 3. He shall soon enter the flaming fire 4. and his wife as well. (Evil is) that woman who carries firewood. 5. Around her neck is a string of palm fibre. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) s father Abdullaah had ten brothers, all the children of his father Abdul Muttalib. One of these ten uncles of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was called Abu Lahab. His real name was Abdul Uzza. When Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam) announced his prophethood, Abu Lahab and his wife were among his staunchest opponents. When Allaah revealed the verse: Warn your closest relatives 1,Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) mounted the hill of Safa and called various tribes of the Quraysh like the Banu Fahar, the Banu Adi, etc by name. Their response was so overwhelming that those who could not present themselves sent someone to represent them. When they had all gathered, he asked them, Will you people believe me if I told you that an army of horsemen were advancing to attack you from behind this mountain? They replied, We shall certainly believe you. We have never known you to be untruthful. The Prophet (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) then took the names of many relatives present and warned them about the life after death. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) then said to them, Purchase your souls (by carrying out deeds that will save you from Jahannam). I cannot save you from Allaah s punishment. 1 Surah 26, verse 214.

2 O children of Abd Manaaf! I cannot save you from Allaah s punishment. O Abbaas bin Abdil Muttalib! I cannot save you from Allaah s punishment. O (my aunt) Safiyya! I cannot save you from Allaah s punishment. O Fatima the daughter of Muhammad! Ask whatever you please from my wealth. I cannot save you from Allaah s punishment. Addressing the entire assembly, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) recited the verse He is but a Warner to you before the advent a severe punishment. 2 Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) then said to them, I am warning you of a severe punishment (if you do not believe in what I preach to you). Thereupon Abu Lahab said, May you be destroyed forever. Have you gathered us for this? It was then that Surah Lahab was revealed, where Allah says, ۲ ما ک ب ع ۱ ما ا ا لہ ب ب ی ا ا ا ما ا May the hands of Abu Lahab be shattered and he be destroyed. Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall avail him. [Bukhari Vol. 2 Pg. 702] A narration of Muslim (Vol. 1 Pg. 14) states that Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) addressed the Quraysh individually and collectively. Addressing the Banu Ka b bin Luway, the Banu Murra bin Ka b, the Banu Abdush Shams, Banu Abd Manaaf and the Banu Haashim, he said, Save yourselves from Jahannam. I cannot save you from Allaah s punishment. It was then that Abu Lahab said what he did and Surah Lahab was revealed. Abu Lahab received the title of Abu Lahab ( Father of flames ) because he was very handsome and had a reddish complexion that resembled the colour of flames. When Abu Lahab cursed Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), Allaah Ta ala used the word Lahab (flames, which was a source of pride to him) to describe the disgraceful punishment that he will suffer in the Hereafter. Allaah describes the fire of Jahannam as DhaataLahab (translated above as flaming fire ) Allaah Ta ala says, ۱ لہ ب ب ی ا ا ا May the hands of Abu Lahab be shattered and he be destroyed. Allaama Qastalaani (A.R) has written that Abu Lahab s hands are mentioned here because he used his hands to throw stones at Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), causing his blessed heels to bleed. 2 Surah Saba (Surah 34), verse 46.

3 Allaah Ta ala mentions that before entering the flaming fire, Abu Lahab will be destroyed. This occurred in this world when he developed a terrible case of small pox which made people avoid him. People were so afraid that the disease might be contagious that they forced him to live in an isolated house and they did not associate with him at all. He finally died in this state. His corpse lay untouched in the house for three days, eventually, when people started taunting his sons, they managed to get someone to place his body against a wall. They then stoned the corpse until it crumbled and was buried beneath the stones. [ Al Bidaaya wan Nihaaya Vol. 3 Pg. 309] ArRowdhulUnf states that Abu Lahab s corpse was bound to a stake and cast down a pit. Thereafter, stones were thrown on top of it. There is presently a mountain near Makkah where tradition has it that Abu Lahab was thrown there. The mountain is also called the mountain of Abu Lahab. Allaah Ta ala says, ۲ ما ک ب ع ما ا ا ما ا Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall avail him. AbuLahab was extremely wealthy and he also had many children. Commentators mention that the things he earned refer to his children because Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, Your children are from the things you earn. 3 Therefore, the wealth and children of Abu Lahab will be useless to him in the Hereafter. "Ma'aalimutTanzeel" states that when Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhiwa-sallam) told the Quraysh that they should save themselves from Jahannam, Abu Lahab told the people that if he were ever to suffer punishment on account of his kufr, he would ransom himself with his wealth. It was in response to this that Allaah Ta ala revealed the verse: ۲ ما ک ب ع ما ا ۱ ما ا ا Neither his wealth nor the things he earned shall avail him. Allaah continues, ۳ ار ا ذا لہ ب ص ل ن He shall soon enter the س ی flaming fire ا well. and his wife as امل Abu Lahab s wife was a woman called Arwa, who was commonly known as Umm Jameel. She was the sister of Abu Sufyaan and, like her husband, vehemently opposed Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam). Although every Kaafir will enter Jahannam, Abu Lahab and his wife have been specifically named as inmates of Jahannam, indicating that that they were a really evil couple. As long as the world exists, people shall be reciting this Surah, proclaiming the despised nature of these two and announcing their final abode. May Allaah Ta ala save us from Jahannam.Aameen. 3 "Mishkaat" Pg. 242.

4 Describing Abu Lahab s wife, Allaah says, ب ۴ اا ط الح (Evil is) that woman who carries firewood. In addition to the many things she did to harm Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam), one of her worst acts was that she used to collect thorny branches and place them on the road Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam) used. Although Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) could easily avoid them, the act indicates her sadistic nature and enmity for Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). She left no stone unturned to harm Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and even did things that caused him the slightest harm. The following interpretations of this verse have also been reported: Despite her wealth, she was extremely miserly and used to carry firewood by herself. She used to carry tales, symbolised by firewood because these tales ignited the fires of discord and enmity between people. The firewood is symbolic of the sins she committed. Just as she assisted her husband to harm Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam), she will assist in punishing him in Jahannam by carrying firewood to fuel the flames burning him. [Ibn Katheer] Allaah says further about her, م ۵ ہ ا ل م Around her neck is a string of palm fibre. ف ج ی Some commentators have stated that this string will be around her neck to carry the firewood. However, this interpretation does not seem appropriate because people do not tie a bundle of firewood around their necks. Other commentators have mentioned that she used to wear an extremely expensive necklace which she told people she would spend to oppose Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). In lieu of this, she will be made to wear a necklace of fire in Jahannam which will resemble a string made of palm fibre. Some commentators have translated string of palm fibre as a woven string. NOTE:Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) had four daughters. Hadhrat Zaynab(R.A) was the eldest and Hadhrat Fatima (R.A) was the youngest. Between these two there were Hadhrat Umm Kulthoom and Hadhrat Ruqayya (R.A). Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) married the three eldest daughters before announcing his prophethood. Hadhrat Zaynab (R.A) was married to Abul Aas bin Rabee (R.A), whilehadhrat Umm Kulthoom (R.A) and Hadhrat Ruqayya (R.A) were married to Utba and Utayba, two sons of Abu Lahab. When Surah Lahab was revealed, the two had not yet started living with their husbands. Abu Lahab told his sons that they either divorce

5 Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) s daughters or completely disassociate themselves from him. While one son merely pronounced the divorce before Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam), the other insulted Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) as well. In response to his abuse, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) prayed, O Allaah! Release one of Your beasts on him. Although not a Muslim, Abu Lahab was alarmed to hear this curse. He said to his son, You will be unable to escape this. Abu Lahab once took this son along with him to Shaam. He told the people in their caravan to take good care of his son because he feared the curse of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). When they camped at a place where there were many wild animals, they piled all their goods, making a small hillock. The son was then placed on top to sleep while the rest of the people slept around the pile. However, no plan can thwart Allaah s decree. That night a lion came to their camp and, sniffing the faces of all those asleep, left them unharmed. It then leapt right on top of the pile, recognised its victim and snapped his head off. The condemned man s shriek was useless because none could save him. "Jam ulfawaa id" reports that the doomed son was Utayba, Hadhrat Umm Kulthoom s husband. It is also reported that when the caravan camped at a placed called Zarqaa, a lion circled the camp. When Utayba saw it, he said, Alas! This lion will not leave without killing me according to Muhammad (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) s curse.sitting where he was, Muhammad (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) has killed me here. Thereafter, the lion left to return at night to complete its task. Dalaa ilunnabuwwah (Pg. 163) reports that the ill-fated son was Utba. It is mentioned in this book that the people of the caravan heard the roar of a lion as they travelled. Hearing this, Utba trembled with fear. The others asked him, Why are you trembling so? You need not worry so much because we all share the same fate. He replied, Muhammad (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) had cursed me. By Allaah! There is none beneath the sky as truthful as he. That night, he did not touch his supper. The people of the caravan slept around him that night and the lion arrived, growling softly. Sniffing at all the others, it left them and attacked only Utba. The doomed man s last words were, I always maintained that Muhammad (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) was the most truthful. Abu Lahab also mentioned, I had always known that this son would never escape the curse of Muhammad (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). Although the narration of Dalaa ilunnabuwwah mentions that this son was Utba, the correct opinion is that he was Utayba because reliable books like Al Isaabah, AsadulGhaaba and Isti aab all mention that Utba became a Muslim. Haafidh Ibn Hajar (A.R) writes in Al Isaaba that when the Muslims conquered Makkah, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) asked

6 Hadhrat Abbaas (R.A), Where are your brother (Abu Lahab) s sons Utba and Mu attab? When Hadhrat Abbaas (R.A) said that the two had left Makkah, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) asked him to bring them to him. He found them in Arafah and they hastily came to accept Islaam. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said, I had asked Allaah for these two sons of my uncle. Both these sons of Abu Lahab participated in the Battle of Hunayn. Utba continued living in Makkah and passed away there. It is truly unfortunate that despite attesting to the truthfulness of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) and being convinced about the imminent punishment, Abu Lahab and his son refused to accept Islaam. When a person becomes obstinate, he will adhere to falsehood even though he may be a rational person. Instead of behaving sensibly he will then fall prey to his carnal passions and carry out deeds that displease his Rabb. May Allaah save us from such behaviour.aameen. NOTE:Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) s eldest daughter Hadhrat Zaynab (R.A) was married to Hadhrat Abul Aas bin Rabee (R.A), who also migrated to Madinah. When he passed away in the 8 th year after Hijrah, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) personally laid his body to rest in the grave. AfterUtba and Utaybadivorced Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) s daughters, Hadhrat Ruqayya (R.A) was married to Hadhrat Uthmaan bin Affaan (R.A). The couple migrated twice to Abyssinia and then to Madinah. Hadhrat Ruqayya (R.A) passed away when Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) had left Madinah for the Battle of Badr. May Allaah be pleased with her and keep her pleased. Aameen. After her demise, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) married his third daughter Hadhrat Umm Kulthoom (R.A) to Hadhrat Uthmaan (R.A). Because Hadhrat Uthmaan (R.A) married two of Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam) s daughters consecutively, he was known as DhunNoorayn ( The Possessor of two lights ). When Hadhrat Umm Kulthoom (R.A) passed away in the 9 th year after Hijrah, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) said that if he had another unmarried daughter, he would have married her also to Hadhrat Uthmaan (R.A). Hadhrat Fatima (R.A) was the youngest daughter of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam). She married Hadhrat Ali (R.A), from whom she bore children. Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam) s lineage proceeds from this marriage. She passed away six months after Rasulullaah (sallallaahualayhi-wa-sallam) 4. 4 Refer to Al Isaabah and AsadulGhaaba for more details. One may also refer to a separate booklet of the author about the daughters of Rasulullaah (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa-sallam).

Surah Duha. In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Did He not find you orphaned and grant you shelter?

Surah Duha. In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Did He not find you orphaned and grant you shelter? Surah Duha رکوعہا 1 س ااتہا 11 ر 93 و ۃ الض ح مک ۃ 11 الل ا الل In the name of Allaah, the Beneficent, the Most Merciful الض ح ۱ day!.by the light of By the night when it settles! ۲ ال ل س ا ا ما ۳ Your