Ayah for the day
This is the interpretation that Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) thought was correct.
Al-Hafiz Abu Ya`la Al-Mawusili recorded that Asma’ bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
“When the Ayah, تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ (Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab and perish he!), (111:1) was revealed, the one-eyed woman Umm Jamil (the wife of Abu Lahab) came with a stone pestle in her hand, screaming, `What was sent to us is somebody blameworthy, or, we reject somebody blameworthy
(Abu Musa – one of the narrators – said, it is I who am not sure what was said);
we shun his religion and disobey whatever he commands!’
The Messenger of Allah was sitting with Abu Bakr by his side. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, `This woman has come and I am afraid she will see you.’
The Prophet said, إِنَّهَا لَنْ تَرَانِي (Certainly she will not see me), and he recited Qur’an through which he was protected from her:
وَإِذَا قَرَأْتَ الْقُرانَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُوْمِنُونَ بِالاخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُورًا
And when you recite the Qur’an, We put between you and those who believe not in the Hereafter, an invisible veil.
She came and found Abu Bakr, but she did not see the Prophet.
She said, `O Abu Bakr, I have heard that your companion is lampooning me.’
Abu Bakr said, No, by the Lord of this House (the Kabah), he is not lampooning you.’
Then she went away, saying, `The Quraysh know that I am the daughter of their master.”
English – Footnote (Hilali)
It is said as regards (V.17:45) in the Book of Tafsir (Imam Qurtubi): Narrated Sa’id bin Jubair [radhi-yAllahu ‘anhu]: “When the Surah No. 111 (Tabbat Yada) was revealed, the wife of Abu Lahab came looking for the Prophet (ﷺ) while Abu Bakr [radhi-yAllahu ‘anhu], was sitting beside him. Abu Bakr said to the Prophet : “I wish if you get aside (or go away) as she is coming to us, she may harm you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “There will be a screen set between me and her.” So she did not see him. She said to Abu Bakr: “Your companion is saying poetry against me,” Abu Bakr said: “By Allah, he does not say poetry.” She said: “Do you believe that?” Then she left. Abu Bakr said, “O Allah’s Messenger! She did not see you.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “An angel was screening me from her.” (This Hadith is quoted in Musnad Abu Ya’la.)
It is said that if the above Verse (17:45) is recited by a real believer (of Islamic Monotheism) he will be screened from a disbeliever. (Allah knows better.)
(Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, vol.10, page 269)
