Surah Masad ayat 4 Tafsir Quran 111:4

﴿وَامْرَأَتُهُ حَمَّالَةَ الْحَطَبِ﴾
[ المسد: 4]

111:4 And his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood.

and his wife wa’mra’atuhu is a supplement to the person of the verb yaslā ‘he will enter’ separated by the clause of the direct object and its qualification — and this was Umm Jamīl — the carrier read hammālatu or hammālata of firewood cactus and thorns which she used to fling into the path of the Prophet s.

Along with his slanderous wife who carried bundles of thorny wood (and laid them in the Prophet’s path to cause him bodily injury and to render his mission vain)

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.

(111:4) along with his wife, *3 that carrier of slanderous tales; *4

And his wife [as well] - the meaning

*3) Her name was Arwa' and her nickname ( kunyat ) Umm Jamil.
She was sister of Abu Sufyan and was no less bitter than her husband, Abu Lahab, in her enmity to the Holy Messenger ( upon whom be peace ) Hadrat Abu Bakr's daughter, Hadrat Asma', has related that when this Surah was revealed, and Umm Jamil heard it, she was filled with rage and went out in search of the Holy Prophet ( upon whom be peace ).
She carried a handful of stones and she was crying some verses of her own, satirizing the Holy Prophet.
She came to the Ka`bah, where the Holy Prophet was sitting with Hadrat Abu Bakr.
The latter said: " O Messenger of AIIah, there she comes and I fear lest she should utter something derogatory to you. " The Holy Prophet replied: " She will not see me. " The same thing happened.
She could not see the Holy Prophet although he was there.
She said to Hadrat Abu Bakr: " I hear that your Companion has satirized me. " Hadrat Abu Bakr replied: " No, by the Lord of this house, he has not satirized you. " Hearing this she went off.
( lbn Abi Hatim, Ibn Hisham; Bazzar has related an incident on the authority of Hadrat 'Abdullah bin `Abbas also, which closely resembles this ).
What Hadrat Abu Bakr meant was that she had not been satirized by the Holy Prophet ( upon whom be peace ), but by AIlah Himself.

*4) The words in the original are hammalat al-hatab, which literally mean: " carrier of the wood ".
The commentators have given several meanings of it.
Hadrat `Abdullah bin `Abbas, Ibn Zaid, Dahhak and Rabi` bin Anas say: She used to strew thorns at the Holy Prophet's door in the night; therefore, she has been described as carrier of the wood.
Qatadah, Ikrimah Hasan Bari, Mujahid and Sufyan Thauri say: She used to carry evil tales and slander from one person to another in order to create hatred between them; therefore, she has been called the bearer of wood idiomatically.
Sa`id bin Jubair says: The one who is loading himself with the burden of sin, is described idiomatically in Arabic as: Fulan-un Yahtatibu ala zahri bi ( so and so is loading wood on his back ); therefore, hummalat al-hatab means: 'The one who carries the burden of sin.
Another meaning also which the commentators have given is: she will do this in the Hereafter, i.e.
she will bring and supply wood to the fire in which Abu Lahab would be burning.

 

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.

( And his wife ) Umm Jamilah Bint Harth Ibn Umayyah with him, ( the wood carrier ) the talebearer who used to go between the Muslims and disbelievers and spread lies among them about each other; it is also said that she used to throw thorns in the way of the mosque whenever she saw the Prophet ( pbuh ) heading that way.

And his wife too, who carries wood (thorns of Sadan which she used to put on the way of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), or use to slander him).

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