111:5 Al-Masad (The Palm Fibre)

وتجمع على ظهرها من الأوزار بمنزلة من يجمع حطبًا، قد أعد له في عنقه حبلًا { مِنْ مَسَدٍ } أي: من ليف.أو أنها تحمل في النار الحطب على زوجها، متقلدة في عنقها حبلًا من مسد، وعلى كل، ففي هذه السورة، آية باهرة من آيات الله، فإن الله أنزل هذه السورة، وأبو لهب وامرأته لم يهلكا، وأخبر أنهما سيعذبان في النار ولا بد، ومن لازم ذلك أنهما لا يسلمان، فوقع كما أخبر عالم الغيب والشهادة.

قال سعيد بن المسيب كانت لها قلادة فاخرة فقالت لأنفقنها في عداوة محمد يعني فأعقبها الله منها حبلا في جيدها من مسد النار: وقال ابن جرير حدثنا أبو كريب حدثنا وكيع عن سليم مولى الشعبي عن الشعبى قال المسد الليف وقال عروة بن الزبير: المسد سلسلة ذرعها سبعون ذراعا وعن الثوري هو قلادة من نار طولها سبعون ذراعا وقال الجوهري المسد الليف والمسد أيضا حبل من ليف أو خوص وقد يكون من جلود الإبل أو أوبارها ومسدت الحبل أمسده مسدا إذا أجدت فتله. وقال مجاهد "في جيدها حبل من مسد" أي طوق من حديد ألا ترى أن العرب يسمون البكرة مسدا؟ وقال ابن أبي حاتم حدثنا أبى وأبو زرعة قالا حدثنا عبدالله بن الزبير الحميدي حدثنا سفيان حدثنا الوليد بن كثير عن أبي بدرس عن أسماء بنت أبي بكر قالت لما نزلت "تبت يدا أبي لهب" أقبلت العوراء أم جميل بنت حرب ولها ولوله وفي يدها فهر وهي تقول: مذمما أبينا ودينه قلينا وأمره عصينا ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جالس فى المسجد ومعه أبو بكر فلما رآها أبو بكر قال يا رسول الله قد أقبلت وأنا أخاف عليك أن تراك فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إنها لن تراني" وقرأ قرآنا اعتصم به كما قال تعالى "وإذا قرأت القرآن جعلنا بينك وبين الذين لا يؤمنون بالآخرة حجابا مستورا" فأقبلت حتى وقفت على أبي بكر ولم تر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت يا أبا بكر إنى أخبرت أن صاحبك هجانى قال لا ورب هذا البيت ما هجاك فولت وهي تقول قد علمت قريش أني ابنة سيدها. قال: وقال الوليد في حديثه أو غيره فعثرت أم جميل في مرطها وهي تطوف بالبيت فقالت تعس مذمم فقالت أم حكيم بنت عبدالمطلب إني لحصان فما أكلم وثقاف فما أعلم وكلتانا من بني العم وقريش بعد أعلم وقال الحافظ أبو بكر البزار حدثنا إبراهيم بن سعيد وأحمد بن إسحاق قالا حدثنا أبو أحمد حدثنا عبد السلام بن حرب عن عطاء بن السائب عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس قال لما نزلت "تبت يدا أبي لهب" جاءت امرأة أبي لهب ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جالس ومعه أبو بكر فقال له أبو بكر لو تنحيت لا تؤذيك بشيء فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "إنه سيحال بيني وبينها" فأقبلت حتى وقفت على أبي بكر فقالت يا أبا بكر هجانا صاحبك فقال أبو بكر لا ورب هذه البيت ما ينطق بالشعر ولا يتفوه به فقالت إنك لمصدق فلما ولت قال أبو بكر ما رأتك؟ قال "لا ما زال ملك يسترني حتى ولت" ثم قال البزار لا نعلمه يروى بأحسن من هذا الإسناد عن أبي بكر رضي الله عنه. وقد قال بعض أهل العلم في قوله تعالى "في جيدها حبل من مسد" أي في عنقها حبل في نار جهنم ترفع به إلى شفيرها ثم ترمى إلى أسفلها ثم كذلك دائما قال أبو الخطاب بن دحية في كتابه التنوير وقد روى ذلك وعبر بالمسد عن حبل الدلو كما قال أبو حنيفة الدينوري في كتاب النبات كل مسد رشاء وأنشد في ذلك: وبكرة ومحورا صرارا ومسدا من أبق مغارا قال والأبق القنب: وقال آخر: يا مسد الخوص تعوذ مني إن تك لدنا لينا فإني ما شئت من أشمط مقسئن قال العلماء وفي هذه السورة معجزة ظاهرة ودليل واضح على النبوة فإنه منذ نزل قوله تعالى "سيصلى نارا ذات لهب وامرأته حمالة الحطب في جيدها حبل من مسد" فأخبر عنهما بالشقاء وعدم الإيمان لم يقيض لهما أن يؤمنا ولا واحد منهما لا باطنا ولا ظاهرا لا مسرا ولا معلنا فكان هذا من أقوى الأدلة الباهرة الباطنة على النبوة الظاهرة.

Which was revealed in Makkah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

The Reason for the Revelation of this Surah and the Arrogance of Abu Lahab toward the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet went out to the valley of Al-Batha and he ascended the mountain. Then he cried out,

«يَا صَبَاحَاه»

(O people, come at once!) So the Quraysh gathered around him. Then he said,

«أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ حَدَّثْتُكُمْ أَنَّ الْعَدُوَّ مُصَبِّحُكُمْ، أَوْ مُمَسِّيكُمْ أَكُنْتُمْ تُصَدِّقُونِّي»

؟ (If I told you all that the enemy was going to attack you in the morning, or in the evening, would you all believe me) They replied, "Yes." Then he said,

«فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيد»

(Verily, I am a warner (sent) to you all before the coming of a severe torment.) Then Abu Lahab said, "Have you gathered us for this May you perish!" Thus, Allah revealed,

تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ

(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) to the end of the Surah. In another narration it states that he stood up dusting of his hands and said, "Perish you for the rest of this day! Have you gathered us for this" Then Allah revealed,

تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ

(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!) The first part is a supplication against him and the second is information about him. This man Abu Lahab was one of the uncles of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.His name was `Abdul-`Uzza bin Abdul-Muttalib. His surname was Abu `Utaybah and he was only called Abu Lahab because of the brightness of his face. He used to often cause harm to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He hated and scorned him and his religion. Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu Az-Zinad that a man called Rabi`ah bin `Abbad from the tribe of Bani Ad-Dil, who was a man of pre-Islamic ignorance who accepted Islam, said to him, "I saw the Prophet in the time of pre-Islamic ignorance in the market of Dhul-Majaz and he was saying,

«يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، قُولُوا: لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا اللهُ تُفْلِحُوا»

(O people! Say there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and you will be successful.) The people were gathered around him and behind him there was a man with a bright face, squint (or cross) eyes and two braids in his hair. He was saying, "Verily, he is an apostate (from our religion) and a liar!" This man was following him (the Prophet ) around wherever he went. So, I asked who was he and they (the people) said, "This is his uncle, Abu Lahab." Ahmad also recorded this narration from Surayj, who reported it from Ibn Abu Az-Zinad, who reported it from his father (Abu Zinad) who mentioned this same narration. However in this report, Abu Zinad said, "I said to Rabi`ah, `Were you a child at that time' He replied, `No. By Allah, that day I was most intelligent, and I was the strongest blower of the flute (for music)."' Ahmad was alone in recording this Hadith. Concerning Allah's statement,

مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ

(His wealth and his children (Kasab) will not benefit him!) Ibn `Abbas and others have said,

وَمَا كَسَبَ

(and his children (Kasab) will not benefit him!) "Kasab means his children." A similar statement has been reported from `A'ishah, Mujahid, `Ata', Al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin. It has been mentioned from Ibn Mas`ud that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called his people to faith, Abu Lahab said, "Even if what my nephew says is true, I will ransom myself (i.e., save myself) from the painful torment on the Day of Judgement with my wealth and my children." Thus, Allah revealed,

مَآ أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ

(His wealth and his children will not benefit him!) Then Allah says,

سَيَصْلَى نَاراً ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ

(He will enter a Fire full of flames!) meaning, it has flames, evil and severe burning.

The Destiny of Umm Jamil, the Wife of Abu Lahab

وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ

(And his wife too, who carries wood.) His wife was among the leading women of the Quraysh and she was known as Umm Jamil. Her name was `Arwah bint Harb bin Umayyah and she was the sister of Abu Sufyan. She was supportive of her husband in his disbelief, rejection and obstinacy. Therefore, she will be helping to administer his punishment in the fire of Hell on the Day of Judgement. Thus, Allah says,

وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ - فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ

(Who carries wood. In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) meaning, she will carry the firewood and throw it upon her husband to increase that which he is in (of torment), and she will be ready and prepared to do so.

فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ

(In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) Mujahid and `Urwah both said, "From the palm fiber of the Fire." Al-`Awfi narrated from Ibn `Abbas, `Atiyah Al-Jadali, Ad-Dahhak and Ibn Zayd that she used to place thorns in the path of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Al-Jawhari said, "Al-Masad refers to fibers, it is also a rope made from fibers or palm leaves. It is also made from the skins of camels or their furs. It is said (in Arabic) Masadtul-Habla and Amsaduhu Masadan, when you tightly fasten its twine." Mujahid said,

فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ

(In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad.) "This means a collar of iron." Don't you see that the Arabs call a pulley cable a Masad

A Story of Abu Lahab's Wife harming the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

Ibn Abi Hatim said that his father and Abu Zur`ah both said that `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr Al-Humaydi told them that Sufyan informed them that Al-Walid bin Kathir related from Ibn Tadrus who reported that Asma' bint Abi Bakr said, "When

تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ

(Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he)!) was revealed, the one-eyed Umm Jamil bint Harb came out wailing, and she had a stone in her hand. She was saying, `He criticizes our father, and his religion is our scorn, and his command is to disobey us.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was sitting in the Masjid (of the Ka`bah) and Abu Bakr was with him. When Abu Bakr saw her he said, `O Messenger of Allah! She is coming and I fear that she will see you.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied,

«إِنَّهَا لَنْ تَرَانِي»

(Verily, she will not see me.) Then he recited some of the Qur'an as a protection for himself. This is as Allah says,

وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرءَانَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالاٌّخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا

(And when you recite the Qur'an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil.) (17:45) So she advanced until she was standing in front of Abu Bakr and she did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ . She then said, `O Abu Bakr! Verily, I have been informed that your friend is making defamatory poetry about me.' Abu Bakr replied, `Nay! By the Lord of this House (the Ka`bah) he is not defaming you.' So she turned away saying, `Indeed the Quraysh know that I am the daughter of their leader."' Al-Walid or another person said in a different version of this Hadith, "So Umm Jamil stumbled over her waist gown while she was making circuits (Tawaf) around the House (the Ka`bah) and she said, `Cursed be the reviler.' Then Umm Hakim bint `Abdul-Muttalib said, `I am a chaste woman so I will not speak abusively and I am refined so I do not know. Both of us are children of the same uncle. And after all the Quraysh know best." This is the end of the Tafsir of this Surah, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.

with a rope of palm-fibre around her neck fī jīdihā hablun min masadin is a circumstantial qualifier referring to hammālata’l-hatab which in turn is either a description of imra’atahu ‘his wife’ or the predicate of an implied subject.

Verse [ 111:5] فِي جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ (In her neck there is a rope of twisted palm-fibre.) The masd with the letter-s-bearing sukun [ quiescence or rest ] is an infinitive which means 'to twist rope or cord, or to twist it strongly and tightly'. If the word is read as masad with the letters m-s bearing fatha [= a-a ], the word refers to fibres. It is also a rope made of 'twisted fibres of palm tree' or 'tightly braided fibres of coconut tree' or 'cord that has been woven strongly' or 'coil or cable formed by winding iron strands together'. [ al-Qamus ]. Some scholars have preferred to translate it specifically as 'a rope made of twisted fibres of palm tree' and no other string or twine. This is in conformity with the general usage of the Arabs. Basically, it refers to any string or twine or rope or cord or coil or cable formed by intertwining strands of any material. In keeping with this general sense of the word, Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ ، ` Urwah Ibn Zubair ؓ and others said that in this context the phrase حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ "rope of masad" refers to 'rope formed by twisting iron strands'. This will be her condition in Hell where an iron-collar will be in her neck. Sayyidna Mujahid (رح) interprets min masad as min hadid, that is, 'of iron'. [ Mazhari ].

Sha'bi, Muqatil and other commentators have taken the phrase min masad to refer to 'a rope made of twisted fibres of palm tree' and said that Abu Lahab and his wife were extremely wealthy and were looked upon as leaders of their nation but, on account of his wife's mean disposition and miserliness, she used to collect firewood from the jungle, bind them together with a rope, place the bundle on her head and put its rope round her neck, so that it might not fall from her head. This practice of hers one day led to her destruction. She had a bundle of wood on her head and the rope in her neck. She felt tired and sat down. Then fell, was choked and died. According to this second interpretation, the verse describes her mean disposition and the disastrous consequences of her sadistic behavior. [ Mazhari ]. However, such a conduct in Abu Lahab's family, especially of his wife, was hardly conceivable; therefore, most commentators have preferred the first interpretation. Allah knows best!

Al-Hamdulillah

The Commentary on

Surah Al-Lahab

Ends here