المسد
A short surah revealed in Makkah, when one of the Prophet Muhammad's own uncles, Abu Lahab, tried to harm him. Allah responded with a clear promise: those who oppose the truth cannot stop it.
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In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Perish the hands of Abu Lahab, and perish he!
His wealth and whatever he gained will not benefit him.
He will burn in a Fire of blazing flames.
And his wife, the carrier of firewood,
around her neck a rope of twisted palm fiber.
About Al-Masad
Al-Masad is the 111th surah of the Quran. Its name means "the palm fiber" or "twisted fiber," taken from the rope mentioned in the very last verse. The surah is sometimes also called Al-Lahab, "the flame," after the nickname given in the first verse.
This surah was revealed in Makkah, very early in the Prophet Muhammad's mission. One of his own uncles, a powerful man known as Abu Lahab, opposed him fiercely. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) gathered his family to share Allah's message for the first time, Abu Lahab insulted him publicly. Surah Al-Masad was revealed in response, naming Abu Lahab directly and promising that his wealth would not protect him from the consequences of opposing Allah's truth.
For Muslim children, the deeper lesson is gentle and reassuring: Allah always defends His messengers. The Prophet was protected, the truth survived, and Islam grew despite the harshest opposition. The surah teaches that no person, no matter how powerful or wealthy, can stop what Allah has decided.
Surah Al-Masad was revealed while Abu Lahab was still alive, openly predicting that his wealth would not save him and that he would face consequences for opposing the Prophet. He lived for years afterward but never accepted Islam, and the prophecy held true. Many Muslim scholars point to this surah as a powerful sign of the Quran's truthfulness.
Explore more short surahs →Surahs paired with Al-Masad
Al-Masad is a Makkan surah from Juz Amma. These short surahs share themes of Allah's power, the protection of His messengers, and the eventual triumph of truth:
For Parents
What does Al-Masad mean?
Al-Masad means "the palm fiber" or "twisted fiber." It refers to the rope of palm fiber mentioned in the last verse of the surah. The surah is also known as Al-Lahab ("the flame"), referring to the nickname given to Abu Lahab in verse 1. The name Al-Masad appears at the very end of the surah and gives the chapter its formal name.
Who was Abu Lahab?
Abu Lahab was a paternal uncle of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but unlike most of the Prophet's family, he strongly rejected Islam and worked to harm the Prophet and his followers. His real name was Abd al-Uzza, but he was called Abu Lahab ("father of the flame") because of his fiery red cheeks. He and his wife Umm Jamil were among the earliest and harshest opponents of the Prophet in Makkah.
Why was Surah Al-Masad revealed?
According to authentic narrations, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was first commanded to invite his family openly to Islam, he gathered his relatives on the hill of Safa near the Kaaba and called them to believe in Allah. Abu Lahab, his uncle, responded with mockery. Surah Al-Masad was revealed shortly after, naming Abu Lahab directly and predicting that he would not benefit from his wealth.
Is this surah scary for children?
The surah does describe consequences for Abu Lahab in the Fire, which can sound intense. But the deeper message is reassuring: Allah always defends His messengers, and no person, no matter how powerful, can stop Allah's truth. For children, the lesson is gentle: when someone tried to hurt the Prophet for telling the truth, Allah promised to take care of it. The Quran does not dwell on punishment, it makes a promise and moves on. Parents can emphasize the comfort: the Prophet was protected, and Islam grew anyway.
How long is Surah Al-Masad?
Surah Al-Masad is only 5 verses long. It is one of the shorter surahs of the Quran, found near the end of the Mushaf. The whole surah takes less than 30 seconds to recite, which makes it easy for children to memorize. Its short length also makes it a common surah for daily prayers.
Where in the Quran is Al-Masad?
Al-Masad is the 111th surah of the Quran. It is located near the very end of the Mushaf, in the 30th juz (the last section, often called "Juz Amma"). Its neighbors are Surah An-Nasr (110) before it and Surah Al-Ikhlas (112) after it. All the surahs in Juz Amma are short and are often the first surahs Muslim children learn.
Was Al-Masad revealed in Makkah or Madinah?
Al-Masad is a Makkan surah, meaning it was revealed during the Makkan period of the Prophet Muhammad's mission, before he migrated to Madinah. Makkan surahs tend to be shorter and focus on foundational beliefs: the truth of the message and the consequences of accepting or rejecting it. Al-Masad is one of the earliest surahs in the Quran to name a specific opponent of Islam by name.
How can my child memorize Al-Masad?
Al-Masad is excellent for children to memorize because it is short (just 5 verses) and has a strong rhythmic pattern with repeating end-sounds (lahab, kasab, lahab, hatab, masad). The audio recitation by Sofia on this page is slow and clear, designed for kids to listen and repeat. Try playing one verse at a time, repeating after Sofia, then moving to the next. Many families teach Al-Masad alongside its neighbors An-Nasr and Al-Ikhlas as part of a Juz Amma rotation.