Al-Lahab
الْمَسَد
Meaning: The Flame / The Palm Fiber
A story about an uncle of the Prophet who opposed his message. Lesson: wealth doesn't save us in the hereafter.
تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
Tabbat yadaa abii lahabin wa tabb
May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he!
مَا أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ
Maa aghnaa 'anhu maaluhuu wa maa kasab
His wealth and whatever he earned will not benefit him.
سَيَصْلَىٰ نَارًا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ
Sayaslaa naaran dzaata lahab
He will burn in a blazing fire,
وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ
Wamra-atuhuu hammaalatal-hatab
and his wife, the carrier of firewood (the spreader of slander),
فِي جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌ مِنْ مَسَدٍ
Fii jiidihaa hablum-min masad
around her neck a rope of twisted palm fiber.
Tafsir for Children
Abu Lahab was a blood-uncle of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He was very wealthy, but chose to be the strongest enemy of Islam's message. Allah revealed this surah as a warning: family ties don't save us, wealth doesn't save us — only faith and good deeds do. For children: don't be proud of wealth or family status — what Allah sees is our heart.
When to recite
When reading through Juz 'Amma. When a child needs to understand that worldly wealth isn't the measure of honor.
- Themes
- sejarahakhiratperingatan
- Verse count
- 5