Who is Abu Lahab, His Family & Cause of His Death

Who is Abu Lahab?

Abu Lahab ibn Abd al-Muttalib was not just the Prophet Muhammad’s uncle—he was also one of his most bitter enemies. Despite their blood ties, Abu Lahab became a symbol of relentless hostility toward Islam, fueled by pride, arrogance, and the toxic influence of his wife, Umm Jamil. His legacy, preserved in the Quran and Islamic tradition, is one of fiery enmity and divine justice. From his striking nickname to the cursed fate he and his wife met, Abu Lahab’s story is both tragic and instructive.

Continue reading to uncover the full extent of Abu Lahab’s opposition to the Prophet ﷺ, the roles his family played, and the dramatic details of their downfall as recorded in both history and revelation.

Abu Lahab's Real Name & Lineage

Abu Lahab, whose real name was Abd al-Uzza ibn Abdul Muttalib, was one of the uncles of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He belonged to the disbelieving tribe of Quraysh and had numerous instances where he opposed Islam and harbored enmity towards the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

He was nicknamed Abu Utbah and called Abu Lahab due to the redness of his cheeks and the whiteness of his face. His nickname aligned with his fate, as his name became synonymous with flames, reflecting his deeds and ultimate consequences.

Reason for the Kunya "Abu Lahab"

Many explanations have been offered for why the Prophet’s uncle, Abd al-Uzza, came to be called Abu Lahab. One view holds that this kunya refers to his face, which shone with such blazing (lahab) beauty that what he once took pride in in this world became the cause of his punishment in the Hereafter. Another says that his actual kunya was Abu ‘Utba, and that “Abu Lahab” was merely a descriptive title bestowed on him because of his handsome appearance. Yet other opinions interpret the name to mean that he will be made to burn in a fire of intense flame, arguing that it was intended as an insult rather than an honor.

Abu Lahab Family Tree

His father was Shayba ibn Hashim, better known as Abdul Muttalib, the venerable chief of the Quraysh and grandfather of the Prophet Muhammad. His mother was Lubna bint Hajar of the Banu Khuza’a tribe, who bore him as her only child. His paternal half-brothers included Al-Harith, Abu Talib (who later became the Prophet’s guardian and steadfast protector), Az-Zubayr, Abdullah, Al-Abbas, Hamza, Hajl, and Al-Muqawwim.

Name of Abu Lahab’s Wife

Abu Lahab’s wife was Umm Jamil Arwa bint Harb ibn Umayya. She was married to Abu Lahab ibn Abd al-Muttalib and was the sister of Abu Sufyan (Sakhr ibn Harb), one of the leaders of Quraysh. She is mentioned in Sūrat al-Masad simply as “the wife of Abu Lahab,” without naming her explicitly.

By marriage, she was the Prophet Muḥammad’s (ﷺ) aunt-in-law, and two of her sons, ‘Utbah and ‘Utaybah, were wed to the Prophet’s daughters Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum. Moreover, she lived next door to the Prophet (ﷺ), her house adjoined that of Khadīja bint Khuwaylid, and in both the pre-Islamic period and early Islam, the bond between neighbors carried great social importance.

Abu Lahad Sons & Daughters

Abu Lahab had three sons, Utbah, Muʿtab, and Utaybah, and three daughters: Durrah, Khalidah, and Izzah. Utbah, Muʿtab, and Durrah were among the Prophet’s Companions, whereas Utaybah was killed by a lion as an unbeliever.

It is also reported that he had only two daughters, Durrah and Subayʿah. Two of his children embraced Islam on the Day of the Conquest. His daughters Durrah and Subayʿah likewise converted to Islam.

Abu Lahab's Opposition to the Prophet Muhammad and Islam

The kinship between Abu Lahab and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not compel Abu Lahab to show kindness toward Islam or its followers, nor to support them, as the Prophet’s uncle, Abu Talib, did by defending and protecting him. On the contrary, Abu Lahab became one of the most intense and formidable enemies of the Messenger (peace be upon him), never hesitating to drive him away or to repel the vulnerable Muslims, even though he had been overjoyed at the Prophet’s birth and delighted by the news.

Perhaps his enmity stemmed from his materialistic nature, always pursuing wealth and gain. His hatred was further fueled by his wife, Arwa bint Umayya ibn Harb, a foolish woman notorious for her slander, who would go about publicly denouncing and belittling Muhammad (peace be upon him), which only deepened Abu Lahab’s resentment toward his nephew.

Abu Lahab & His Wife's Hostility and Actions Against the Prophet

Abu Lahab became infamous for actively hurting the Prophet and deterring people from his call. Whenever the Prophet called people to believe in Allah, Abu Lahab would divert them from faith, causing people to turn away from the Prophet's message. He relentlessly pursued the Prophet, urging people not to believe in him, calling him a magician.

He left no stone unturned in opposing the Prophet and his companions. His hostility towards Islam was evident in various instances, including leading a group intending to assassinate the Prophet. It became evident when he ordered his sons, Utbah and Utaybah, to divorce the Prophet's daughters, Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum, after the Prophethood began to distract the Prophet from his mission by engaging him in personal matters.

The Harm Inflicted by Abu Lahab’s Wife on the Prophet

According to Islamic narratives, Abu Lahab’s wife would collect thorny shrubs known as hask and sadan and place them in the Prophet’s path to harm him and his companions. On one occasion, she went out carrying a stone to strike him as he sat with Abu Bakr by the Kaaba, but God blinded her so she could not see him. She asked Abu Bakr where the Prophet was; he told her that he had heard the Messenger had spoken ill of her and her husband and that she would have struck him with the stone if she had found him. When she left, Abu Bakr asked the Prophet about it, and he replied that God had made her sight fail regarding him.

She owned a precious necklace which she swore by al-Lat and al-Uzza to sell and use the proceeds to harm the Messenger. God replaced it with a rope called masad (a rope of fire around her neck). Her malice did not end there: she summoned her sons Utbah and Utaybah and ordered them to divorce the Prophet’s daughters. They obeyed and divorced Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum. Utaybah then went to the Prophet intending to harm him; when he saw him, he declared that the Prophet was an unbeliever in the star when it falls, spat in his face, and divorced Umm Kulthum. In response, the Prophet prayed, “O Allah, unleash one of Your dogs upon him,” and a lion killed Utaybah.

The Fate of Abu Lahab and His Wife is Mentioned in the Holy Quran

In the Quran, Allah described Abu Lahab's wife as the carrier of firewood because she used to carry thorns and wood, placing them in the path of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Some interpretations suggest this could signify her mockery of the Prophet's poverty despite her own affluence or her spreading of gossip and fueling of discord among people.

The Quran speaks of the fate of Abu Lahab and his wife until the Day of Judgment. Allah cursed Abu Lahab and highlighted that neither his wealth nor his children would avail him. Their fate was the blazing fire, with a rope of palm fiber around the wife's neck, dragging her towards the fire.

How Did Abu Lahab Die?

Abu Lahab’s death was both a lesson and a miracle. He was struck by a malignant disease called Al-‘adasa, a pustule resembling a lentil that appears on the sufferer’s body and spreads. This illness, a form of plague, proved fatal, and indeed it claimed his life. At that time, the Arabs feared this contagious disease, and because of its infectiousness, Abu Lahab’s two sons refused to wash or bury him. His corpse lay in his chamber until it putrefied and its stench became overwhelming. Eventually, a man reproached his sons for their conduct and offered to help. They washed him from a distance, casting water over him, then carried him outside Mecca to a spot by the wall, where they heaped stones over him.

When Did Abu Lahab Die?

He died a few days after the Battle of Badr. This is confirmed by the hadith narrated by Abu Rafi‘, the Prophet’s freedman, who said:

“Abu Lahab stayed behind at Badr, and al-As ibn Hisham was sent in his place. Umm al-Fadl seized a pillar from the chamber, struck him with it, splitting his skull with an ugly gash, and exclaimed, ‘O enemy of Allah, you waxed bold because your master was absent, yet you appear here humiliated!’ By Allah, he did not live more than seven nights before Allah struck him with Al-‘adasa”.

How Did Abu Lahab's Wife Die?

The end of Abu Lahab’s wife Arwa bint Umayya ibn Harb was fittingly of the same sort as her deeds. While carrying a large bundle of hask (a plant whose fruit bears thorns that cling to sheep’s wool) to place in the Prophet’s path, she sat on a stone to rest and was seized from behind. She had been binding the wood into a rope, hanging it around her neck and twisting it tightly, and God strangled her with it until she perished; in the end, it proved to be a rope of fire.