Eventually, the clans of the Quraysh boycotted Muhammad's lean and lowly group of followers socially and economically. "Abu Lahab," we are told by Ibn Hisham, "was the only person who sided with the disbelieving Quraysh against his own clan. This boycott continued for three years. The poorest of Muhammad's followers began to starve. This, however, did not move Abu Lahab." Ishaq:161 "Lahab and his wife Umm mocked and laughed at him so the Qur'an came down on their wickedness. Umm carried thorns and cast them in the Apostle's way." According to Maududi: "When his uncle was condemned by name, the people learned that the Messenger could treat a relative harshly in the matter of religion. When his own uncle was taken to task publicly the people understood that there was no place for the ties of blood in this religion." Which is to say that Muhammad was in fact guilty of undermining the family unit.

The "Palm Fiber" revelation is so indicative of Muhammad, such a window into his soul, I have provided five translations:

Qur'an 111:1 Yusuf Ali: "Perish the hands of the Father of Flame! Perish he!" Noble: "Perish the two hands of Abu Lahab (the Prophet's uncle), and perish he! Pickthal: "The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish." Shakir: "Perdition overtake both hands of Abu Lahab, and he will perish." Ahmed Ali: "Destroyed will be the hands of Abu Lahab, and he himself will perish." Qur'an 111:2 Yusuf Ali: "No profit to him from all his wealth, and all his gains!" Noble: "His wealth and his children will not benefit him!" Pickthal: "His wealth and gains will not exempt him." Shakir: "His wealth and what he earns will not avail him." Ahmed Ali: "Of no avail shall be his wealth, nor what he has acquired." Qur'an 111:3 Yusuf Ali: "Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of Blazing Flame!" Noble: "He will be burnt in a Fire of blazing flames!" Pickthal: "He will be plunged in flaming Fire," Shakir: "He shall soon burn in fire that flames," Ahmed Ali: "He will be roasted in the fire," Qur'an 111:4 Yusuf Ali: "His wife shall carry the (crackling) wood - As fuel! Noble: "And his wife, too, who carries wood (thorns which she put in the Prophet's way). Pickthal: "And his wife, the wood-carrier," Shakir: "And his wife, the bearer of fuel," Ahmed Ali: "And his wife, the portress of fire wood," Qur'an 111:5 Yusuf Ali: "A twisted rope of palm-leaf fibre round her (own) neck! Noble: "In her neck is a twisted rope of Masad (palm fiber). Pickthal: "Will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fibre." Shakir: "Upon her neck a halter of strongly twisted rope." Ahmed Ali: "Will have a strap of coir rope around her neck."

Abu Lahab mouths off and tosses stones, so Muhammad sics his god on his uncle and curses his cousin. Then, by way of confession, the prophet makes a point of telling us that neither inherited wealth, nor monies earned will exempt his uncle from torment. The reason for the differentiation between old and new money was that Muhammad coveted the things that Lahab inherited - Qusayy's religious scam. The prophet wanted us to know that the custodianship of the Ka'aba wouldn't save Lahab because he had laid his claim. The Ka'aba Inc. belonged to Muhammad. Allah told him so.

Sometimes the smallest details tell us the most. Why do you suppose god would contradict himself to tell us that Abu's wife would be porting the firewood for hell when elsewhere men's bodies are said to be the hell's fuel. Here's a clue: Arab fires were often fueled by the sa'd.n shrubs that bore the thorns Abu's wife spread at Muhammad's door. Yes, Muhammad's mind was as twisted as the rope around Umm's neck. Bukhari:V6N356 "Lodged in her neck is a twisted rope of palm fiber, the chain of which is in the Fire of Hell."