Tafsir al-Uthaymin Juz Amma - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (345)

Tafsir al-Uthaymin Juz AmmaIbn al-'Uthaymin

As for the one who supported and assisted him while remaining in disbelief, it was Abū Tālib. Abū Tālib stood firmly by the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—defending and supporting him. Yet—Allah’s refuge is sought—the decree of punishment had already been passed against him. He did not embrace Islam, even at the end of his life. In his very last moment in this world, the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—invited him to embrace Islam, but he refused and died declaring that he followed the religion of Abd al-Muttalib. (1) The Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—interceded for him, and so he is in a shallow part of the Fire, wearing two sandals that cause his brain to boil. (2)

As for the third—the one who obstinately resisted and opposed him—it was Abū Lahab. Allah revealed an entire surah concerning him. It is recited in obligatory and voluntary prayers, silently and aloud, and a person is rewarded for reciting it with ten good deeds for every letter. Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says:

“May the hands of Abū Lahab perish, and may he perish!”

This was a response to Abū Lahab. When the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—gathered them to call them to Allah, giving glad tidings and warning them, Abū Lahab said, “May you perish! Is this why you gathered us?” (3) His words, “Is this why you gathered us?” express contempt. He meant that this was an insignificant matter for which there was no need to gather the leaders of Quraysh. This resembles His saying:

“Is this the one who mentions your gods?” [al-Anbiyā: 36]

The intent was to belittle him, as though he were of no consequence and unworthy of attention. Likewise, they said:

“Why was this Quran not sent down to a great man from one of the two cities?” [al-Zukhruf: 31]

In sum, Abū Lahab said, “May you perish! Is this why you gathered us?” Allah therefore answered him with this surah:

“May the hands of Abū Lahab perish, and may he perish!”

The word tabāb means loss, as Allah Most High says:

“Pharaoh’s plot ended only in ruin.” [Ghāfir: 37]

That is, loss. And He began by mentioning his hands before—

(1) Recorded by al-Bukhārī in the Book of Quranic Exegesis, chapter on the verse, “Indeed, you cannot guide whom you love,” no. 4772; and by Muslim in the Book of Faith, chapter on the validity of embracing Islam at the approach of death and the proof that whoever dies upon shirk will be among the inhabitants of Hellfire, no. 24 (39). (2) Its source citation was given above, p. 204. (3) Recorded by al-Bukhārī in the Book of Quranic Exegesis, chapter on the verse, “He will burn in a Fire of blazing flame,” no. 4973.

أما الذي ساند وساعد مع بقائه على الكفر فهو أبو طالب، فأبو طالب قام مع النبي ﷺ خير قيام في الدفاع عنه ومساندته ولكنه ـ والعياذ بالله ـ قد سبقت له كلمة العذاب، لم يُسلم حتى في آخر حياته في آخر لحظة من الدنيا عرض عليه النبي ﷺ أن يسلم لكنه أبى بل ومات على قوله: إنه على ملة عبد المطلب، (١) فشفع له النبي ﵊ حتى كان في ضحضاح من نار، وعليه نعلان يغلي منهما دماغه (٢) . أما الثالث: الذي عاند وعارض فهو أبو لهب. أنزل الله فيه سورة كاملة تُتلى في الصلوات فرضها ونفلها، في السر والعلن، يُثاب المرء على تلاوتها، على كل حرف عشر حسنات. يقول الله ﷿: ﴿تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب﴾ وهذا رد على أبي لهب حين جمعهم النبي ﷺ ليدعوهم إلى الله فبشر وأنذر، قال أبو لهب: تبًّا لك ألهذا جمعتنا (٣) ، قوله: «ألهذا جمعتنا» إشارة للتحقير، يعني هذا أمر حقير لا يحتاج أن يُجمع له زعماء قريش وهذا كقوله: ﴿أهذا الذي يذكر آلهتكم﴾ [الآنبياء: ٣٦] . والمعنى تحقيره، فليس بشيء ولا يهتم به كما قالوا: ﴿وقالوا لولا نزل هذا القرآن على رجل من القريتين عظيم﴾ [الزخرف: ٣١] . فالحاصل أن أبا لهب قال: تبًّا لك ألهذا جمعتنا، فرد الله عليه بهذه السورة: ﴿تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب﴾ والتباب الخسار. كما قال تعالى: ﴿وما كيد فرعون إلا في تباب﴾ [غافر: ٣٧] . أي: خسار. وبدأ بيديه قبل

(١) أخرجه البخاري كتاب التفسير باب) إِنَّكَ لا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْت) (٤٧٧٢) ومسلم كتاب الإيمان باب الدليل على صحة إسلام حضرة الموت والدليل على أن من مات على الشرك فهو من أصحاب الجحيم (٢٤) (٣٩) . (٢) تقدم تخريجه ص (٢٠٤) . (٣) أخرجه البخاري كتاب التفسير باب قوله:) سَيَصْلَى نَاراً ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ) (٤٩٧٣) .