Al-Masad


Twisted Strands is the 111th chapter of the Quran with 5 verses. In the 1730s the chapter title was known as Abu Laheb by translator George Sale.

‘abu lahab

Verse 1 mentions ‘abu lahab. Quranite Sam Gerrans chooses to maintain the literal translation, "father of flame", denoting the type of person made perfectly clear from the context of the chapter.
Traditional Islam names Abu Lahab as an adversary of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. This surah takes its name from verse 5 in which the phrase “ḥablun min masad” occurs that mentions the palm fibre rope that in hellfire shall be twisted around the neck of the wife of Muhammad’s uncle, who bitterly opposed Islam; for she took great pride in wearing an ostentatious necklace she became known for and would slip by night to strew thorns and prickly plants in Muhammad’s path to injure his feet. Thus, regarding the timing and contextual background of the revelation, it is believed an earlier "Meccan surah".

Surah Al-Masadd in ahadith

Since this is the only place in the Quran where an enemy of Islam has been condemned by name, the study of hadith is pivotal to grasp the special trait of the character of this person, which became the basis of this condemnation by name, as ḥadīṯ is literally "speech"; recorded saying or tradition of Muhammad validated by isnad; with sira these comprise the sunnah and reveal shariah.