Abu Lahab was Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) uncle, step brother of his father Abdullah (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ). He was fair complexioned and a rich man in Makka. He was next door neighbor of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

He opposed the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) all through his life in which his wife Umm Jameel also participated. She used to collect firewood for her home. It is reported that she used to collect thorns along with firewood and spread them in front of the house of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). She would also spread trash in front of the door of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم).

Abu Lahab did not participate in the battle of Badr along with Makkan Pagans, probably because he was sick.

It is reported that when the news of the Makkan defeat at the Battle of Badr reached Makka, there was a lot of dismay among the locals. However, Abu Rafi (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), who was Abbas’s (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) freedman could not control his overjoy. Abu Lahb was very furious at the joy of Abu Rafi (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) and in spite of his sickness, attacked him and beat him mercilessly. Several people saw this beating, but no one joined Abu Lahab in this attack. They also did not prevent Abu Lahb from beating Abu Rafi (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ). Lubaba bint al-Harith (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا), the sister of Ummul Momineen Maimuna bint al-Harith (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) happened to be in the crowd. Seeing the beating of Abu Rafi (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) she grabbed a nearby tent-pole and hit Abu Lahb on his head saying you are beating him because Abbas (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) is absent?’ It is reported that Abu Lahab's head was seriously injured in this incident. A week after this incident, he died. His death occurred in an awfully bad shape as he was afflicted by a contiguous disease and the people of his house left him alone, fearing contagion. When he died, no one came near his body for several days. When the dead body started to get decomposed and the stink spread in the neighborhood, the neighbors objected to his sons. They finally got his body removed with the help of some African slaves. It is reported that they dug a pit and threw his body into it by pushing it with wood sticks and covered the ditch with earth and stones..