Sūrah 111 · Meccan

How Sūrah Al-Masad was revealed.

Where and when it came down, what it teaches, and the hadith about it — all on one calm page.

Read Al-Masad → The revelation story
Where revealed Meccan

Revealed in the Meccan period, before the migration to Madīnah.

Order of revelation #6

Its place in the traditional order in which the sūrahs were revealed.

Length 5 ayahs

1 reading sections in the Muṣḥaf.

The revelation story

How and when it came down.

This Meccan surah is a focused condemnation of the Prophet's (ﷺ) uncle, Abū Lahab, and his wife, for their relentless persecution of the Prophet (ﷺ) and Islam. Its purpose is to deliver an explicit prophecy of their ruin, refute Abū Lahab's confidence in his wealth, and assure both of them of the guaranteed punishment of the Fire.

Themes and purpose:

This Meccan surah is a focused condemnation of the Prophet's (ﷺ) uncle, Abū Lahab, and his wife, for their relentless persecution of the Prophet (ﷺ) and Islam. Its purpose is to deliver an explicit prophecy of their ruin, refute Abū Lahab's confidence in his wealth, and assure both of them of the guaranteed punishment of the Fire.

Context of Revelation:

Era: Makkan by consensus.

Context: The surah was revealed immediately after the Prophet (ﷺ) ascended Mount Ṣafā to announce his prophetic warning to the Quraysh tribe. His uncle, Abū Lahab, publicly cursed him in response, saying, "Tabban lak (Woe to you!)."

Chronology: It is counted as the sixth surah in the order of revelation, revealed after Sūrat al-Fātiḥah and before al-Takwīr.

Name and Ayah Count:

Name: The surah is known as "Sūrat Tabbat" (Perished), "Sūrat Abī Lahab" (The Father of Flame) and "Sūrat al-Lahab" (The Flame), based on the first ayah; another famous name is "Sūrat al-Masad" (The Palm Fibre/Rope) [5].

Unique Feature: It is the only surah to condemn a specific living opponent of the Prophet (ﷺ) by name (i.e. his nickname).

Verse Count: 5 ayahs.

Surah Overview:

  • The Curse and Prophecy: Pronouncing the destruction and failure of the power of Abū Lahab, and affirming that his wealth and children will not benefit him. [1-2]
  • Punishment: Warning Abū Lahab of his inevitable entry into a flaming Fire. [3]
  • Condemning His Wife: Pronouncing the same fate upon his wife (Umm Jamīl) for actively aiding her husband in his hateful deeds. [4]
  • The Palm Fibre: Describing the torment of his wife, who will carry firewood as she once carried tales and thorns to harm the Prophet (ﷺ) and will have a rope of palm fibre (masad) around her neck in the Fire. [5]

Sūrah background — via the Quran Foundation Content API. Shown as supplied by the provider. We do not edit, summarise or generate it.

Hadith about this sūrah

What the hadith say.

These 6 narrations in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī are connected to specific āyāt of this sūrah — a linkage reviewed by the Quran Foundation. Open any one to read it in full, in Arabic and English.

  1. Relates to āyah1
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1394 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4801
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4971

    حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ ‏﴿‏وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ‏﴾‏ وَرَهْطَكَ مِنْهُمُ الْمُخْلَصِينَ، خَرَجَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى صَعِدَ الصَّفَا فَهَتَفَ ‏"‏ يَا صَبَاحَاهْ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالُوا مَنْ هَذَا، فَاجْتَمَعُوا إِلَيْهِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ خَيْلاً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ سَفْحِ هَذَا الْجَبَلِ أَكُنْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا مَا جَرَّبْنَا عَلَيْكَ كَذِبًا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو لَهَبٍ تَبًّا لَكَ مَا جَمَعْتَنَا إِلاَّ لِهَذَا ثُمَّ قَامَ فَنَزَلَتْ ‏﴿‏تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ‏﴾‏ وَقَدْ تَبَّ هَكَذَا قَرَأَهَا الأَعْمَشُ يَوْمَئِذٍ‏.‏

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When the Verse:-- 'And warn your tribe of near kindred.' (26.214) was revealed. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) went out, and when he had ascended As-Safa mountain, he shouted, "O Sabahah!" The people said, "Who is that?" "Then they gathered around him, whereupon he said, "Do you see? If I inform you that cavalrymen are proceeding up the side of this mountain, will you believe me?" They said, "We have never heard you telling a lie." Then he said, "I am a plain warner to you of a coming severe punishment." Abu Lahab said, "May you perish! You gathered us only for this reason? " Then Abu Lahab went away. So the "Surat:--ul--LAHAB" 'Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!' (111.1) was revealed.

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    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4972 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4973
  2. Relates to āyah1–2
    Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4770

    حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ ‏﴿‏وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ‏﴾‏ صَعِدَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الصَّفَا فَجَعَلَ يُنَادِي ‏"‏ يَا بَنِي فِهْرٍ، يَا بَنِي عَدِيٍّ ‏"‏‏.‏ لِبُطُونِ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى اجْتَمَعُوا، فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولاً لِيَنْظُرَ مَا هُوَ، فَجَاءَ أَبُو لَهَبٍ وَقُرَيْشٌ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ خَيْلاً بِالْوَادِي تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُغِيرَ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَكُنْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا نَعَمْ، مَا جَرَّبْنَا عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَبُو لَهَبٍ تَبًّا لَكَ سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ، أَلِهَذَا جَمَعْتَنَا فَنَزَلَتْ ‏﴿‏تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ * مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ‏﴾‏

    Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When the Verse:--'And warn your tribe of near-kindred, was revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) ascended the Safa (mountain) and started calling, "O Bani Fihr! O Bani `Adi!" addressing various tribes of Quraish till they were assembled. Those who could not come themselves, sent their messengers to see what was there. Abu Lahab and other people from Quraish came and the Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Suppose I told you that there is an (enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?" They said, "Yes, for we have not found you telling anything other than the truth." He then said, "I am a warner to you in face of a terrific punishment." Abu Lahab said (to the Prophet) "May your hands perish all this day. Is it for this purpose you have gathered us?" Then it was revealed: "Perish the hands of Abu Lahab (one of the Prophet's uncles), and perish he! His wealth and his children will not profit him...." (111.1-5)

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The link between each āyah and these narrations is the Quran Foundation's reviewed reference map. The wording is reproduced verbatim from a public-domain edition of Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and is not edited, summarised or generated; every narration also opens at Sunnah.com so it can be checked against another copy.

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