Who is 'Abi Lahab' in Sura 111
By: A Mohamed
In Sura 111, we come across the phrase Abi Lahab which means 'father of flame'. In Islamic tradition, it is claimed that the Quranic phrase Abi Lahab refers to the uncle and enemy of prophet Muhammad and whose real name was Abd al-Uzza ibn Abd al-Muttalib. The name 'Abd al-Uzz?' means the slave of the pagan goddess Uzza.
The purpose of this article is to investigate whether the Quranic phrase Abi Lahab refers to the uncle of the prophet (Abd al-Uzza ibn Abd al-Muttalib) or is merely a description that fits all the dwellers of the Fire.
The Name
The first observation is that if Abi Lahab truly refers to the uncle of the prophet, why did God not use his real name? In reply, it is stated that Abu Lahab (variation of Abi Lahab) was the nickname given to Abd al-Uzza ibn Abd al-Muttalib in his childhood by his father because of his beauty and charm due to his red (inflamed) cheeks.
The immediate observation regarding this claim is that a person is not given the nickname Abu (father) or Um (mother) in his/her childhood but only after they have children. For example, if a man has a son who is named Ali, his father would be given the nickname Abu-Ali and his mother would be given the nickname Um-Ali. For any person to be called 'father of ...' while he is still a child would be abnormal. As a result, the credibility of the claim that his father gave him that name while he was still a child must be put to question.
Are the descriptions in Sura 111 unique or collective
The next point of investigation is to determine whether the Quranic descriptions given in Sura 111 are personal descriptions that are unique to the uncle of the prophet and his wife or are they collective descriptions that apply to all the dwellers of the Fire.
The Quranic evidence shown in the table below confirms two matters:
1- The descriptions in Sura 111 apply to all the dwellers of the Fire.
2- The descriptions in Sura 111 are found in other Quranic verses in identical words.
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Keywords
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Keywords in Sura 111
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Same words apply to all disbelievers
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Doomed
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(111:1) Doomed are the hands of Abi Lahab
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[11:101] We did not wrong them. Rather, they wronged themselves. Their gods, whom they called upon besides God, did not avail them in any way when the command of your Lord was issued. They only added to their doom.
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Wealth will not avail
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[111:2] His wealth did not avail him
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[3:10] Those who disbelieve, neither their wealth nor their children will avail them in any way against God. Those are fuel for the Fire.
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Roast in the Fire
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[111:3] He will roast in a flaming Fire.
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[4:56] Those who disbelieved in Our revelations, We will roast them in a Fire.
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Fuel for the Fire
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[111:4] And his wife, the firewood carrier.
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[66:6] O you who believe, safeguard yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.
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Shackles around the necks
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[111:5] around her neck is a fibre rope.
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[36:8] We have placed shackles around their necks up to their chins, and so their heads are forced back.
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Conclusion
1- The Quranic phrase Abi Lahab is not a personal name but a reference to all dwellers of the Fire.
2- The uncle of the prophet was not the only man destined to the Fire nor was he the only one who fits the descriptions in Sura 111. The Quranic verses above confirm that the phrase Abi Lahab (father of flame) describes anyone destined to the Fire.
3- It is therefore irrational to treat descriptions that apply to all dwellers of the Fire as descriptions that address only one person.
In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful.
[111:1] Doomed are the hands of Abi Lahab, and doomed is he.
[111:2] His wealth did not avail him, nor did what he earned.
[111:3] He will roast in a flaming Fire.
[111:4] And his wife, the firewood carrier,
[111:5] around her neck is a fibre rope.