1. Ruin to the hands of Abu Lahab and ruin to him! When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, called his people, saying, “I am a warner to you of a terrible punishment,” his uncle, Abu Lahab, said, “Ruin to you! Did you gather us for this?” Then this was revealed. “The hands” means “all of him”: it is used metaphorically to denote the entire person because most actions are done using the hands. This sentence is an imprecation. When the Prophet warned him about the punishment, he said, “If what my nephew says is true, then I will ransom myself from it with my wealth and children,” so the next ayat was revealed.

2. His wealth has not helped him – nor have his children – nor has anything he has earned.

3. He will burn in a Flaming Fire – “dhat lahab” means a fire with flames. This alludes to his nickname, Abu Lahab, lit. “Father of Flame,” by which he was called due to the redness of his face;

4. …and so will his wife, the firewood-carrier, burn. She was named Umm Jamil. She carried wood and thorns and threw them in the path of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

5. …with a rope of twisted fibre round her neck. This describes her appearance at the time.