مَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُ مَالُهُۥ وَمَا كَسَبَ 2
Translations
His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained.
Transliteration
Mā aghná 'anhu māluhu wa mā kasab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Abū Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), stating that his wealth and his earnings will not benefit him on the Day of Judgment. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurṭubī interpret this as emphasizing that material possessions are utterly useless in the Hereafter, particularly for those who rejected the truth and opposed the Prophet. The ayah demonstrates that worldly riches cannot save a person from divine punishment if they persist in disbelief and wickedness.
Revelation Context
Sūrah Al-Masad was revealed in Mecca and specifically targets Abū Lahab (ʿAbd al-ʿUzzā ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib) and his wife Umm Jamīlah, both of whom were bitter enemies of the Prophet and actively worked against the spread of Islam. This surah is the only one in the Quran that names a specific individual by a nickname, underscoring the severity of their opposition and the certainty of their punishment.
Related Hadiths
Abū Hurairah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'On the Day of Resurrection, wealth and children will be of no benefit, except he who comes to Allah with a sound heart' (Surah Ash-Shuʿarāʾ 26:88-89). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Bukhārī narrates that the Prophet said regarding Abū Lahab: 'He will never believe, and he will die upon disbelief.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that true success lies not in accumulating material wealth, but in faith and righteous deeds that benefit us in the eternal life. For believers, it serves as a sobering reminder to prioritize spiritual wealth and obedience to Allah over the endless pursuit of worldly gains that ultimately cannot save us from divine accountability.