1. Why does the Qur'an Mention a Person Such As Abu Lahab Who Was An Inveterate Enemy of Islam? What is the Wisdom in Doing So? How does it Befit the Dignity and Purport of the Divine Book?

2. Abu Lahab was one of the uncles of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. His real name was 'Abd al Uzza. He was popularly called Abu Lahab (literally, "the father of flame") on account of his ruddy complexion and hot, fiery temper. He was one of the most inveterate enemies of early Islam. His hostility came from his inborn arrogance, pride in his great wealth and children, and a dislike of the messages the Prophet conveyed. Abu Lahab's wife, Umm Jamil, was equally vehement in her spite and cruelty against the Prophet and his followers. Her hatred was so intense that, in order to cause the Prophet bodily injury, she would often make up bundles of thorns with ropes of twisted palm fiber and, under the cover of darkness, strew them around his house and on the paths he was expected to take. Also, she used her considerable wealth and great eloquence in persistently slandering the Prophet and his message.

3. Abu Lahab and his wife used their will and wealth in the wrong way. Though they lived very close to the Prophet, they never tried to understand his message. While the Prophet and the Muslims were marching toward the Ka'ba, they scattered thorns and set up fires to prevent their progress. They spent their life in unrelenting rage and hatred, cruel plots and persecutions; their punishment was to be the same kind as what they had relentlessly inflicted on Muslims. Not only did Abu Lahab not benefit from the Prophet, in spite of his kinship with him, he became his most inveterate enemy. Therefore, a terrible end and punishment in both this world and the next were his due. His hands, the instruments of his action, perished, and he perished himself. His words, power and influence proved futile.

4. The Prophet's wife, Khadija (umm al mu'minun—mother of believers), died at that time. In the same year, later known as the "year of sadness," died another uncle of the Prophet, Abu Talib, beloved by him, and who was the Muslims' most significant and reliable protector. But for the authority and influence of Abu Talib, the idolaters in Makka would not have hesitated to kill the Messenger outright. However, though he protected the Muslims as kinsfolk, as best he could, Abu Talib himself did not embrace Islam. He was one of those whom the Prophet particularly desired should believe. When Abu Talib was on his deathbed, the Messenger again invited him to belief, but idolaters like Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab surrounded him so as to prevent his embracing Islam. The Prophet was deeply grieved that Abu Talib had passed away in unbelief.

5. There are several verses in the Qur'an that allude directly or indirectly to people who did whatever they could to abuse and persecute the Prophet, to run down his doctrine, and to injure those who believed in him. One of these inveterate enemies was WalidibnMughira, father of Khalid soon to become Islam's first great military commander. Walid was pondering ways to slander the Prophet and to undermine the wonderful influence that the Qur'anic verses had on their listeners. He hesitated over which accusation to use, whether "poet" or "magician" or "soothsayer." Eventually he determined in favor of saying "magic" of the Qur'an and "magician" of the Prophet. To this incident, the Qur'an refers in the verse: • . . . And Woe to him! How he determined! . . . (Muddathir 74:19)