Surah Al-Masad (111) — Ayah 1

{سورة اللهب}
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that when (the verse of Surah Ash-Shu'ara) « وَ اَنْذِرْ عَشِيْرَتَكَ الْاَقْرَبِيْنَ » (O Prophet! Warn your closest family members) was revealed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) climbed up Safa and called out: [ يَا بَنِيْ فِهْرٍ! يَا بَنِيْ عَدِيٍّ ! لِبُطُوْنِ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّی اجْتَمَعُوْا، فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَّخْرُجَ أَرْسَلَ رَسُوْلاً لِيَنْظُرَ مَا هُوَ، فَجَاءَ أَبُوْ لَهَبٍ وَقُرَيْشٌ فَقَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ خَيْلاً بِالْوَادِيْ تُرِيْدُ أَنْ تُغِيْرَ عَلَيْكُمْ ، أَكُنْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ؟ قَالُوْا نَعَمْ، مَا جَرَّبْنَا عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا، قَالَ فَإِنِّيْ نَذِيْرٌ لَّكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيْدٍ، فَقَالَ أَبُوْ لَهَبٍ تَبًّا لَكَ سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ، أَلِهٰذَا جَمَعْتَنَا ؟ فَنَزَلَتْ : « تَبَّتْ يَدَاۤ اَبِيْ لَهَبٍ وَّ تَبَّ (1) مَاۤ اَغْنٰى عَنْهُ مَالُهٗ وَ مَا كَسَبَ » ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب : «وأنذر عشیرتک الأقربین…» : ۴۷۷۰ ] "O Banu Fihr! O Banu Adi!" and he called out the names of the clans of Quraysh, until they gathered. If someone could not come himself, he sent someone to see what the matter was. Abu Lahab and other people from Quraysh came, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Tell me, if I inform you that an army is about to attack you from the valley, would you believe me?" They said: "Yes! We have never experienced anything from you except truth (i.e., we have always found you truthful)." He said: "Then I am a warner to you before a severe punishment." Abu Lahab said: "May you perish for the whole day! Is this why you gathered us?" So this Surah was revealed: « تَبَّتْ يَدَاۤ اَبِيْ لَهَبٍ وَّ تَبَّ (1) مَاۤ اَغْنٰى عَنْهُ مَالُهٗ وَ مَا كَسَبَ » "Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and he (himself) perished. His wealth did not avail him, nor what he earned."
(Ayah 1) ➊ {تَبَّتْ يَدَاۤ اَبِيْ لَهَبٍ وَّ تَبَّ:} Abu Lahab was the uncle of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), his name was Abdul-Uzza bin Abdul-Muttalib. {’’ لَهَبٍ ‘‘} means flame, {’’ اَبِيْ لَهَبٍ ‘‘} means father of flame or possessor of flame. He became famous by the name Abu Lahab due to the beauty and redness of his cheeks or due to the intensity and fervor of his temperament, then, because he became a dweller of Hell, he truly became the possessor of flame. This person had intense enmity towards the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Despite the fact that an uncle is like a father, he would oppose him at every opportunity and try to cause harm. Among his enemies, he is the only person whose bad end was foretold in the Qur'an by name. From this, it is understood that in Islam, the distinction between one's own and others is not based on lineage and family, but on faith and disbelief.
➋ Because of his severe opposition to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his supplication for his destruction, Allah Almighty said {’’ تَبَّتْ يَدَاۤ اَبِيْ لَهَبٍ وَّ تَبَّ ‘‘}. This can have two meanings: the first is that the two hands of Abu Lahab perished and he himself perished. This meaning is apparent. The second is that the two hands of Abu Lahab may perish and he (indeed) perished. This is the meaning given by Faraa, that in response to his supplication, instead of the supplication of the believers, Allah Almighty said these words that the two hands of Abu Lahab may perish, then stated that he has perished.
➌ "The two hands of Abu Lahab perished"—here, the mention of hands specifically is because in causing harm, the hands play a more effective role than all other limbs and can inflict more pain. The second reason is that by hands is meant offspring and companions, who are helpers and become one's strength and support. According to the statement of Allah Almighty, this is what happened: his helpers were destroyed in the Battle of Badr, he himself did not go to the battle, and when the news of defeat came, he died from that shock.