"Perish the Hands of Abu Lahab" — The Fastest Surah Revealed in Response to Denial
asbab
Level: basic
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تَبَّتۡ يَدَآ أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ
— المسد 1
Verse: "Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he." (111:1)
Occasion (Agreed upon): Ibn Abbas narrated: the Prophet climbed Al-Safa and called out. People gathered and he asked if they would believe his warning. They said yes. He said: "I am a warner to you before a severe punishment." Abu Lahab said: "Perish you! Is this why you gathered us?!" The surah was then revealed.
Lesson: The denier is recompensed with the worst of what he said — "tabba" came as a direct response to "tabban lak."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari (4971); Sahih Muslim (208); Lubab Al-Nuqul
Question: What word did Abu Lahab say that the surah directly responded to?
Answer: "Tabban lak" (Perish you) — the divine response came: "Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he" — the recompense mirrors the deed even in words.