2. His wealth and what he earned did not profit him (4)
4. If persons of great nobility, dignity and of genealogy and people of wealth have become disgraced and dishonoured because of their opposition and enmity of the Holy Prophet then what about those of lesser rank?
1. Abu Lahab's name was Abdul Uzza and was the son of Abdul Muttalib born from Bani bint Hajirah. He was the step-uncle of the Holy Prophet because Abdullah was from Faatimah bint Amro bin Aid, who was the second wife of Hazrat Abdul Muttalib. His filial appellation was Abu Lahab because he was very handsome and wealthy. The Holy Prophet's daughters, Ruqayyah and Umme Kulthum, were given in marriage to his sons. Utbah and Utaibah. After the revelation of this Surah, Abu Lahab had them divorced from his sons. Utbah was torn apart by a lion after smelling his face (Tafseer Azizi, Madarijun Nabuwah). By perishing of his two hands means the destruction of himself.
2. Although Abu Lahab's destruction took place a week after the Battle of Badr. By sickness of the black grain known in Arabic as Adsa. The people of Arabia would regard it as ( an infectious disease and would thereby safeguard themselves from it. For this reason the dead body of this reprobate remained untouched. Due to the bursting of the stomach, terrible odour emanated from it. As a result of it, the dead body was thrown away by hiring manual labourers (Tafseer Baidawi). But since this destruction was a certainty, it is mentioned in the past. It should be remembered that 'perish' is a word of curse and 'perished' is its confirmation. Thus, it is not repetitive. In Allah Almighty's words, a curse is used for the expression of wrath.
3. Reason for its Revelation: After listening to the two previous verses of this Surah, Abu Lahab said that in the words of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلمif punishment were to come to me, I will give my wealth and children in compensation for my life. At that point in time, this verse was revealed. By "his wealth" means wealth that he had inherited By and by "that which he earned" is meant the wealth that he had earned with his own effort. as Or, by "what he earned" refers to the status and by dignity he had earned.
In other words, the wealthy, the dignity and the children were unable to save Abu Lahab from the punishment of Allah Almighty, just as Qarun's wealth was unable to save him from Divine punishment.