Is There Still Hellfire for One Who Freed a Slave-Girl Out of Joy at the Prophet's ﷺ Birth?

Question

Question: on the occasion of the beloved Prophet's ﷺ birth, his uncle Abu Lahab freed a slave-girl, with which the Exalted Lord was greatly pleased; why then did he still end up in Hell? And [it is said that] every year, on the date of the beloved Prophet's birth, his punishment is reduced—to what extent is this correct?

Answer

The freeing of the slave-girl is recorded in books of history, and a certain lightening of the punishment is related in a dream-narration. That Abu Lahab would enter Hell on account of his disbelief is mentioned in the Qur’an: [ar]سَيَصْلَىٰ نَارًا ذَاتَ لَهَبٍ[/ar] “He will burn in a flaming Fire” (Surah al-Lahab, 111:3).

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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