Transliteration:( Maa aghnaa 'anhu maaluhoo wa ma kasab )
4. The Lessons from the Destruction of Abu Lahab
If individuals of great nobility, dignity, genealogy, and wealth have been disgraced and dishonored due to their opposition and enmity towards the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ), then the fate of those of lesser rank can only be imagined. This highlights the severity of opposing Allah's Messenger.
Abu Lahab’s real name was Abdul Uzza, the son of Abdul Muttalib, born from Bani bint Hajirah. He was the step-uncle of the Holy Prophet (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) as Abdullah (the Holy Prophet’s father) was from Faatimah bint Amr bin Aid, the second wife of Abdul Muttalib.
When Abu Lahab heard the verses of Surah Al-Masad, he arrogantly declared that if punishment were to befall him, he would ransom himself using his wealth and children.
The wealth, status, and lineage of even the most influential individuals cannot shield them from the wrath of Allah if they oppose His Messenger (صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ). This serves as a stark reminder for all to submit humbly before Allah and avoid arrogance.
The tafsir of Surah Masad verse 2 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Masad ayat 1 which provides the complete commentary from verse 1 through 5.
(111:2) His wealth did not avail him, nor his acquisitions.[2]
2. Abu Lahab was a stingy, materialistic man. Ibn Jarir has stated that once in the pre-Islamic days he was accused of having stolen two golden deer from the treasury of the Kabah. Though later the deer were recovered from another person, the fact that he was accused of stealing indicates the opinion the people of Makkah held of him. About his riches Qadi Rashid bin Zubair writes in his Adh-Dhakhair wat- Tuhaf: He was one of the four richest men of the Quraish, who owned one qintar (about 260 oz) of gold each. His love of wealth can be judged from the fact that when on the occasion of the battle of Badr the fate of his religion was going to be decided forever, and all the Quraish chiefs had personally gone to fight, he sent Aas bin Hisham to fight on his own behalf, telling him: This is in lieu of the debt of four thousand dirhams that you owe to me. Thus, he contrived a plan to realize his debt, for Aas had become bankrupt and there was no hope of the recovery of the debt from him.
Some commentators have taken maa kasaba in the meaning of the earning, i.e. the benefits that accrued to him from his wealth were his kasab (earning), and some other commentators have taken it to imply children, for the Prophet (peace be upon him) has said that a man’s son also is his kasab (earning). (Abu Daud, Ibn Abi Hatim). Both these meanings fully correspond to the fate met by Abu Lahab. For when he was afflicted with the malignant pustule, his wealth availed him nothing, and his children also left him alone to die a miserable, wretched death. They did not even bury him honorably. Thus, within a few years the people witnessed how the prophecy which had been made in this Surah about Abu Lahab was literally fulfilled.
Related Ayat(Verses)/Topics