Surah Tabbat (Abu Lahab) Meaning: Detailed Explanation and Significance

Surah Tabbat (Abu Lahab) Meaning ~ Hi all readers! Do you know what Surah Tabbat is? It's also known as Surah Abu Lahab or Surah Al-Masad, and it is one of the surahs in the Quran. In general, this surah explains about Abu Lahab and his wife. Many of us may already know that they were both very hostile toward the Prophet Muhammad. For this reason, in this article, I will explain the meaning of the surah. As Muslims, it's important for us to know this. So, make sure to read the article till the end!

Before explaining the meaning of Surah Tabbat, I'd like to mention that it is a Makkiyah surah, which means it was revealed in Mecca before the Prophet Muhammad migrated to Medina. The surah consists of five verses, twenty words, and seventy-seven letters.

The Verses of Surah Tabbat (Abu Lahab)

The verses of Surah Tabbat (Abu Lahab) are as follows:

تَبَّتۡ يَدَآ أَبِي لَهَبٖ وَتَبَّ ١ مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥ وَمَا كَسَبَ ٢ سَيَصۡلَىٰ نَارٗا ذَاتَ لَهَبٖ ٣ وَٱمۡرَأَتُهُۥ حَمَّالَةَ ٱلۡحَطَبِ ٤ فِي جِيدِهَا حَبۡلٞ مِّن مَّسَدِۢ ٥

May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he [1]. His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained [2]. He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame [3]. And his wife [as well] – the carrier of firewood [4]. Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber [5]. (Tabbat [111]; 1-5)

The Meaning of Surah Tabbat (Abu Lahab)

(تَبَّتۡ) This means, "May he be wretched." It is a prayer for his ruin.

(يَدَآ أَبِي لَهَبٖ) Refers to "Abu Lahab's two hands." Abu Lahab's real name was Abdul Uzza bin Abdul Muttalib, making him one of the uncles of the Prophet Muhammad.

(وَتَبَّ) This means, "Abu Lahab has been harmed."

(مَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُ مَالُهُۥ وَمَا كَسَبَ) This signifies that Abu Lahab's wealth and efforts will not protect him from death. Historical accounts tell us that he died seven days after the Battle of Badr.

(سَيَصۡلَىٰ نَارٗا ذَاتَ لَهَبٖ) This means that in the Hereafter, Abu Lahab will enter Hell, a blazing fire.

(وَٱمۡرَأَتُهُ) Refers to Abu Lahab's wife, Umm Jamil al-Aura', the daughter of Harb, making her the sister of Abu Sufyan bin Harb.

(حَمَّالَةَ ٱلۡحَطَبِ) This means that Abu Lahab's wife carried firewood, and she died in a wretched state due to her enmity toward the Prophet Muhammad.

(فِي جِيدِهَا حَبۡلٞ مِّن مَّسَدِۢ) This signifies that around Abu Lahab's wife's neck was an iron chain.

All readers! That is a brief explanation of the meaning of Surah Tabbat (Abu Lahab). Do you understand? If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

I think that's enough for this article. I hope it's beneficial! Ameen!

See you in the next article!