تَبَّتْ (be ruined): Be broken apart and destructed.

The hands symbolize the man as a whole because most of the human’s deeds are done by his hands. For that, Allah (swt) says:

  ﴾ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ  ﴿

 (That is for what your hands have put forth.) (Ali-Imran: 182)

Abu Lahah is the uncle of the Prophet (saws) and his real name is Abdul Uzzah. He was called so because he had reddish face but he is called in this Surah by his nickname because he is going to be in the fire forever so that his nickname matched his destiny.

This verse is not an invocation because Allah’s (swt) command definitely comes true and is fulfilled does not need anyone else to fulfill it, the proof of this is Allah’s (swt) saying (and ruined is he), indeed, it really happened and was fulfilled accordingly.

In life his destruction cut him off although he was one of the most famous and wealthiest people in Makkah but he dies in a humiliating way that cannot be imagined to happen for the lowest ranked and positioned in Makkah society. Abu Rafi’, the Prophet’s (saws) servant, narrated what happened to Abi Lahab:

(Allah stroke him by so-called Al-Adassa disease and killed him. His two sons kept his dead body for two or three days until the dead body started to stink. One day, a Qurayshi man said to his sons, “Woe on you! Shame on you! Your father’s dead body began to stink in your house” They said, “We are afraid of his disease!”. Quraysh was avoiding this disease of “Addasah” same as avoiding the plague. The man said, “Come on! I will help you.” He said: I swear by Allah, they washed him by sprinkling some water from distance. Then, they dragged it to the upper part of Makkah and buried the body there. Then, they covered it with stones.)[1]

Thus, Allah’s promise was fulfilled in life before the hereafter.

The reason of this Surah’s revelation: When the verse of:

   ﴾وَأَنذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الْأَقْرَبِينَ﴿

 (And warn, [O Muhammad], your closest kindred.) (Ash-Shuara: 214)

was revealed, the Prophet (saws) ascended Safa mountain and said, “Oh Sabah! “ All the Quraish gathered round him and said, “What is the matter?” He said, Look, if I told you that an enemy is going to attack you in the morning or in the evening, would you not believe me?” They said, “Yes, we will believe you.” He said, “I am a warner to you in face of a terrible punishment.” On that Abu Lahab said, “May you perish! Is it for this thing that you have gathered us?” So Allah revealed: ‘Perish the hands of Abu Lahab!…”[2]

[1] Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer, Hadith No. 916.

[2] Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 4687.