Abū Lahab (father of flame); since his ultimate fate was a blazing fire, this byname was all the more fitting and appropriate for him, and he was most deserving and worthy of it.

When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Medina—which was then named Yathrib and known by no other name—he changed its name to Taybah (1). Once the reproach implied by “Yathrib” had been dispelled by the goodness conveyed by “Taybah,” the city deserved this name and gained further goodness through it. Its goodness thus made it worthy of the name, while the name added goodness to its existing goodness.

Since a good name implies what it signifies and readily calls it forth, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to one of the Arab tribes while calling them to Allah and His oneness: “O sons of ‘Abd Allāh, Allah has made your name and your father’s name good” (2). Consider how he called them to servitude to Allah through the goodness of their father’s name and the meaning it contained that called for (3) this invitation.

Consider, too, the names of the six men who fought in single combat on the day of Badr, and how divine decree brought their names into correspondence with their circumstances that day. The unbelievers were Shaybah, ‘Utbah, and al-Walīd: three names associated with weakness. Al-Walīd (the newborn) represents weakness at its beginning, and Shaybah (grey hair) represents it at its end, as Allah Most High says:

“Allah is the One who created you in a state of weakness