Explanation of Surah No 111 of Quran Al-Lahab (The Flame)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This is very early Meccan Surah and probably was revealed at the time when Islam's worse enemy (an uncle of Prophet PBUH) grew bitter against his Nephew Mohammed (PBUH) for he was chosen as a Messenger (PBUH) for he was chosen as a Messenger by Allah to Preach the True Faith, to worship One True God and cancelling all their false gods and warning them about the Day of Judgement and its rewards and punishments.

Therefore he used to try his level best to defeat the Message of Allah.
The society at that time was such that there was no security for anyone. So for this reason each tribe and family used to unite amongst themselves. But when the Prophet (PBUH) started his Mission to bring his people on Righteous, so Abu Lahab, the Father of Flame, which was his nickname for his fierce hot temper broke the ties of kinship of Prophet, cursing him by saying "Eternal death on him". Abu Lahab was very proud of his wealth and power, may be having many sons; therefore he thought that he could destroy the voice of Allah.

Therefore Allah reveals that the two hands of Abu Lahab will soon perish. He will not succeed to overthrow the power of Islam. Instead Islam will grow higher each day and Abu Lahab soon will be defeated.
This was the future prediction for his fate revealed by Allah. Hence hardly eight years passed after the revelation of this Surah that many of the leaders of Quraish who opposed the True Faith perished at the Battle of Badr and Abu Lahab perished within few days of the news of their defeat at Badr. He died pathetically by malignant tumor. His relatives and children refused to go near him, and no one wanted to bury him. Thus his body got decomposed and smelly and at the end his children paid someone to burn his body. Therefore this was his fate in this world but worse will be in the Hereafter.

Therefore Allah says that all his wealth did not cure him nor his power of children helped him in his illness and in his death nor he could blot Islam. Truly all these were just waste that he was so proud of it.

Abu Lahab was very cruel man and a bitter enemy to his Nephew Prophet Mohammad (PBHU), who was his neighbor. Whenever he will see the Prophet preaching, he will purposely make so much noise, so no one should hear Him. Also at the death of Prophet's two sons, he celebrated and announced that he will no more have his generations to carry the Faith, so the Faith soon get blotted. When this Surah was revealed, so his anger grew, taunting and persecuting the Prophet. So Allah says that Blazing Fire will be his fate.

His wife was also very cruel woman, full of hatred for the Prophet (PBHU). She used to throw the thorns on the way of the Prophet and leave the thorns at outside his door at dark nights to cause him bodily injury. She used to wear a heavy necklace in her neck and used to say that will sell it and use the money to destroy the Prophet. Allah says that on the Day of Account she will have a twisted rope in her neck enough to suffocate her and she will be dragged in her permanent abode of Blazing Fire.

This Surah carries the general lesson that cruelty ultimately ruins itself. The one rages against Holy things is burnt up in his own rage. His hands which are instrument of his action, perished and himself perished and the evil lead to his pathetic destruction. No boasted wealth or power or position could save him.

The Summary is taken from the Book "The Pearls Of Wisdom" by Mrs. Badria Kazim (May Allah shower Blessings And Mercy upon Her)
Mr. Liyakat Shah
INDIA

About Author / Additional Info:
A teacher by profession