Al-Masadd

Sūrat al-Masad (Arabic: سورة المسد‎) or Sūrat al-Lahab (Arabic: سورة اﻟﻠﻬﺐ‎) (The Palm Fibre or The Flame) is the 111th Sura of the Qur'an with 5 ayat. It is a Makkan surah.

Introduction and Summary to Surah 111- Al Masad or Al Lahab

This very early Makkan Surah, though it referred in the first instance to a particular incident in a cruel and relentless persecution, carries the general lesson that cruelty ultimately ruins itself. The man who rages against holy things is burnt up in his own rage. The epithet Abu-Lahab is often thought to refer to Muhammad's uncle, Abd-al-Uzza, one of his most inveterate opponents and other fiery tempered enemies of Islam. His hands, which are the instruments of his action, perish, and he perishes himself. No boasted wealth or position will save him. The women, who are made for nobler emotions, may, if they go wrong, feed unholy rage with fiercer fuel -- to their own loss. For they may twist the torturing rope round their own neck. It is a common experience that people perish by the very means by which they seek to destroy others.

Arabic Verses and Transliteration

Arabic:

بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

1. تَبَّتۡ یَدَاۤ اَبِیۡ لَہَبٍ وَّ تَبَّ
   
   
2. مَاۤ اَغۡنٰی عَنۡہُ مَالُہٗ وَ مَا کَسَبَ
   
   
3. سَیَصۡلٰی نَارًا ذَاتَ لَہَبٍۚ
   
   
4. وَامۡرَاَتُہٗ ؕ حَمَّالَۃَ الۡحَطَبِۚ
   
   
5. فِیۡ جِیۡدِہَا حَبۡلٌ مِّنۡ مَّسَدٍ

Transliteration:
1 Tabbat yada abi lahabin watabb
2 Ma aghna anhu maluhu wama kasab
3 Sayasla naran zata lahab
4 Waamratuhu hammalataalhatab
5 Fi jeediha hablum min massad

English Translation of verses

English Translation by Muhammad Shameem, Mohammad Wali Raazi and Muhammad Taqi Usmani:

Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he! [1] Neither his wealth availed him, nor what he earned. [2] He will soon enter a fire, full of flames, [3] and his wife as well, the wicked carrier of firewood. [4] In her neck there is a rope of twisted palm-fibre. [5]

English Translation by Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall:

The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish. [1] His wealth and gains will not exempt him. [2] He will be plunged in flaming fire, [3] And his wife, the wood carrier, [4] Will have upon her neck a halter of palm fibre. [5]

English Translation by Yusuf Ali:

Perish the hands of the Father of Flame! Perish he! [1] No profit to him from all his wealth, and all his gains! [2] Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of Blazing Flame! [3] His wife shall carry the (crackling) wood - As fuel!- [4] A twisted rope of palm-leaf fibre round her (own) neck! [5]

Wikisource has original text related to this article: Qur'an - Al-Masadd (English)