Surah Tabbat

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah sanctify his soul—said:

“Surah Tabbat”

This surah was revealed concerning this man and his wife, who belonged to the two noblest clans of Quraysh. He was ‘Alī’s paternal uncle, and she was Mu‘āwiyah’s paternal aunt. These two clans—Banū Umayyah and Banū Hāshim—were the ones between whom the caliphate passed within the Muslim community. Abū Bakr and ‘Umar, however, belonged to two tribes more distantly related to him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. A degree of concord prevailed during their rule that was not achieved after them.

Among those who disbelieved in him, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, none is condemned by name in the Quran except this man and his wife. This shows that lineage carries no weight; rather, a person of noble standing deserves greater condemnation for failing to fulfil his duty. As Allah Most High says:

“O wives of the Prophet! Whoever among you commits a blatant indecency will have her punishment doubled”—to the end of the verse.

Al-Nahhās said:

“May the hands of Abū Lahab perish”

is a supplication for his ruin. In ‘Abd Allāh’s reading, it says: “And he has indeed perished.” His words,

“and what he earned,”

mean his children. For His words: