Surah Al-Masad (The Palm Fiber)

Al-Masad is the 111th chapter of the Quran, containing five ayahs, and is traditionally classified as Meccan. It is also known as Al-Lahab, meaning "The Flame." The surah addresses a prominent opponent of the Prophet Muhammad, an uncle known by the epithet Abu Lahab, who actively opposed and harmed the early Muslim community. It declares that his wealth and gains will not benefit him and foretells his ruin. His wife, who is described as taking part in the hostility toward the Prophet, is also mentioned. The surah is notable as one of the few passages that names a specific contemporary opponent, and it stands as a statement that hostility toward the divine message brings loss to its perpetrator. Its themes center on accountability, the futility of wealth and status when set against wrongdoing, and the consequences of persistent enmity toward the truth.