The literal meaning of the first phrase is “Broken are the hands of Aboo Lahab” and that is a proverb to indicate utter failure in one’s plans, goals, wishes, etc., on which a person may have put all his power, money, efforts and/or energies. Although it was a prophesy, past tense was used to indicate its inevitability.

His failure became evident when the majority of his cohorts and accomplices were killed in the battle of Badr. He himself had not participated in the battle because he had sent another person on his behalf in return of a 4,000 dirham loan which the person was unable to pay back to Aboo Lahab. So, when the news of defeat reached him in Makkah, he was so shocked that he fell ill, contracted some infectious disease such as malignant pustule or smallpox and died in seven days. During his sickness, he was abandoned by his family for fear of contracting the disease. They did not even approach his body to bury him after his death. The corpse was rotting for a few days. Then his sons hired some slaves to dispose of his body.

As mentioned earlier, he was one of the four wealthiest men of Makkah, and was extremely greedy and miserly. But all the wealth he accumulated proved to be useless for him.

The Arabic word for “his works” literally means “what he earned”. Some commentators think it means the profits he was earning on his wealth, but the profits are part of the wealth already described. Others think that it means his sons, who were of no help when he needed them in sickness and death.

His wife was very fond of jewellery and used to wear a heavy golden necklace. In her opposition to the Islamic mission and the Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, she was like her husband. Some of her behaviour in this respect has already been mentioned above. When this Soorah was revealed and became known to the public, she went looking for the Prophet in a very angry mood. She was reciting poems of condemnation against the Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. The Prophet was in the Holy Ka’bah along with Aboo Bakr. When Aboo Bakr saw her coming, he expressed his concern that she would misbehave. The Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam comforted Aboo Bakr by assuring him that she would not be able to see him. She approached them, did not see the Prophet but complained to Aboo Bakr that your friend (the Prophet) has said some verse of condemnation about me. Aboo Bakr denied the allegation and she left. Aboo Bakr was right in denying it, firstly, because it was not poetry of condemnation that she was implying, and secondly, it was not from the Prophet ŝall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam but from Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala.

In the Hereafter, she will be carrying the huge burden of her sins and misbehaviour, and instead of a golden necklace, she will have a thick and coarse rope around her neck.