The Name and Lineage of Abu Lahab
Abu Lahab is recognized as one of the uncles of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). His full name is Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib, and he is known to be among the staunch disbelievers of Quraysh. Throughout his life, Abu Lahab exhibited numerous actions aimed at obstructing the spread of Islam and opposing the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He is also referred to as Abu Utbah. His nickname, “Abu Lahab,” was derived from the redness of his cheeks and the brightness of his face, which ironically mirrors the fiery consequences of his actions.
Abu Lahab’s Opposition to the Prophet and Islam
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent as a messenger and received the divine command to “warn your closest relatives,” he stood on a hill in Mecca calling his people to believe in the oneness of Allah. Instead of supporting his nephew or at least remaining silent, Abu Lahab mockingly scorned the Prophet by exclaiming, “Damn you! Is this why you gathered us today?” His wife also joined him in tormenting the Prophet, but Allah (SWT) took it upon Himself to respond on behalf of His Messenger by revealing Surah Al-Masad.
Abu Lahab is infamous for numerous incidents where he actively harmed the Prophet (peace be upon him) and deterred others from accepting his message. While the Prophet was inviting people to believe in Allah, Abu Lahab actively sought to sway them away, leading to a significant defection of supporters. He tirelessly pursued the Prophet, advising people not to believe him, labeling him a “sabeer” (a word used for one who has left his faith).
Abu Lahab utilized every means at his disposal to harm the Prophet and his followers. His enmity extended to leading a group plotting to assassinate the Prophet (peace be upon him). This hostility was also evident when he pressured his two sons, Utbah and Utaibah, to divorce the daughters of the Prophet, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with them), in an attempt to distract the Prophet with personal matters instead of his mission.
Abu Lahab’s Wife and Children
Abu Lahab’s wife was Umm Jamil, daughter of Harb ibn Umayyah ibn Abd Shams. Their children included Utbah, Mu’tab, and Utaibah. Utaibah met his end at the jaws of a lion and died as a disbeliever. However, Utbah and Mu’tab eventually embraced Islam and participated alongside the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Battle of Hunayn, remaining steadfast in their faith and having descendants in Mecca.
In the Quran, Allah (SWT) refers to Abu Lahab’s wife as the “carrier of firewood” because she would carry thorns and wood to place in the Prophet’s path. It was said that she insulted the Prophet for his poverty, even though she gathered firewood herself, and she was known for engaging in gossip, inciting discord among the people.
Abu Lahab in the Quran
Allah (SWT) condemned Abu Lahab in the Quran, delivering verses about his fate and that of his wife, which will continue to be recited until the Day of Judgment. Allah (SWT) stated: “May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and may he be ruined; his wealth and gains will not benefit him. He will be burned in a fire of blazing flame, and his wife, the bearer of wood, will have a rope of palm fiber around her neck.” (Surah Al-Masad)
In stating, “May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined,” there is a condemnation directed toward him without explicitly using his name, as he was widely known by the title of Abu Lahab. This phrase is a supplication for his destruction and signifies loss and ruin. Allah (SWT) emphasizes that neither his wealth nor his children will provide him with any protection against the torment of the blazing fire. Similarly, his wife’s fate is described as one where she will suffer a burning rope around her neck, signifying her fate in the hellfire.
The Death of Abu Lahab
Abu Lahab met his demise in Mecca following the Battle of Badr, succumbing to the contagious disease of ‘ad-assah,’ a condition that the Arabs regarded with dread. Allah (SWT) compounded his suffering with both physical and psychological afflictions, leading his children to shun him out of fear of contagion. After his death, he remained unburied for three days, as no one dared to approach him. Eventually, a grave was dug for him, and he was disposed of using a stick from a distance, covered with stones to conceal him.