The earthly world is specially made for us, the men and women, so Divinely created as offspring of Prophet Adam (عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ) and his wife Eve. And for our sustenance, innumerable eatables have been created to which every living being has access too. This blessing is for this world only. A Day would soon come when a bifurcation will be made: One category which will have an abode in Jannah will have access to all good things and eatables. Beside other other things, Al Qur'an mentions four categories of tree including the fruit trees, olive trees, palm trees, and lote trees.
BUT FOR THOSE UNLUCKY AND THE DOOMED WHO WILL BE THROWN INTO THE PIT OF BURNING FIRE OF HELL WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FIFTH CATEGORY OF TREES: THE "CURSED" ZAQQUM TREE.
Zaqqūm tree is the most dreadful for the Zaqqūm tree (Shajarat al-Zaqqūm) grows at the bottom of Hell (Jahannam), not in this world. Zaqqūm is a tree of the cactus species found in Tihamah. It is bitter in taste, obnoxious in smell and sheds a milk like juice when cut or broken. The fruits of Zaqqūm are shaped like heads of devils (Qur'an 37:62-68). Some Muslim scholars believe in a literal meaning of this tree grown in fire, showing the inverted flora of hell. The inhabitants of hell are forced to eat the tree's fruits, which tears their bodies apart and releases bodily fluids as a punishment.
That is why Al Qur'an has exclusively mentioned the Zaqqūm tree as a warning to the sinners and idolaters or the polytheists to mend their way, repent and seek forgiveness of Allah before they are thrown into the pit of hell and forced to eat the "fruit" of the Zaqqūm tree.
Where Zaqqūm tree is mentioned in the Qur’an
It appears in several places:
- Surah Ad-Dukhan (44:43-46)
- "Indeed, the tree of Zaqqūm will be food for the sinful.
- Like molten brass, it will boil in their bellies.
- Like the boiling of scalding water."
- Surah Al-Waqi‘ah (56:52-54)
- "Then you will surely eat from the tree of Zaqqūm
- And fill your bellies with it,
- Then drink on top of that scalding water."
- Surah Al Isra (17:60) And recall when We said to you, (O Muhammad), that your Lord encompasses these people; and that We have made that vision that We have shown you, and the tree accursed in the Qur'an, but as a trial for people. We go about warning them, but each warning leads them to greater transgression.
- Surah As-Saffat (37:62-66)
- "Is that (Paradise) a better accommodation or the tree of Zaqqūm?
- Indeed, We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers.
- Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of Hellfire,
- Its emerging fruit as if it were heads of devils.
- And indeed, they will eat from it and fill their bellies with it."
- Explanation by Ibn Kathir: When this revelation was made in the Quran, the people of ancient Arabia started mocking it. One of the chiefs said, ‘How can a tree grow amidst the fire of hell?’ Another chief said, ‘Muhammad is terrifying us by talking of Zaqqum, when the fact is that dates and butter are called Zaqqum, in the Berber language.’ Abu Jahl took some people home and asked his maidservant to bring some dates and butter and when they were brought, he said to his companions, ‘Eat this. This is the Zaqqum with which you are being threatened by Muhammad.’ (Tafsir al-Mazhari). Such Quranic statements were misused by unbelievers to demonstrate the untrustworthiness of the Quran. God might well have refrained from using such a word as would give unbelievers the opportunity to raise unnecessary issues, but He did not do so. The reason is that this creates the very situation in which a man is meant to be tried. In order to achieve salvation, he has to prove that by avoiding unnecessary issues he has given his full attention to the truth; that, by carefully avoiding misunderstandings, he has managed to discover the real purpose of the argument; that he has concentrated entirely on facts, although there were many opportunities for his mind to be diverted from them. God’s selected few are those who rise above traditional religion and discover the real Truth; who rise above outward appearances and realise the real meaning of occurrences; who recognize God’s representative and become his supporters.
Hadiths that mention Zaqqūm tree
- The Prophet (pbuh) sates the following about the tree of Zaqqūm: “If one drop from the tree of Zaqqūm were to fall into the seas of the world, it would turn the life of everybody upside down. What about the state of those who will eat Zaqqūm?” (Tirmidhi, Jahannam, 4; Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 2/294)
- Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Regarding: 'And We granted the vision (Ascension to the Heaven "Miraj") which We showed you (O Muhammad as an actual eye witness) but as a trial for mankind.' (17.60) It was an actual eyewitness which was shown to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) during the night he was taken on a journey (through the heavens). And the cursed tree is the tree of Az-Zaqqum (a bitter pungent tree which grows at the bottom of Hell). Sahih al-Bukhari 4716
Why It’s Mentioned
- Mention of this cursed and dreadful tree serves as a warning to disbelievers and wrongdoers about the torment of Hell.
- It highlights the contrast between the blessings of Paradise and the punishments of Hell.
- The tree is a symbol of ultimate suffering, as its fruits are repulsive and its consumption causes extreme torment.
Key Lessons
- Accountability: Actions have consequences in the afterlife.
- Contrast: Qur’an often juxtaposes the rewards of Jannah with the punishments of Jahannam to encourage righteousness.
- Spiritual Reality: The Zaqqūm tree is not metaphorical in Islamic belief; it is part of the unseen reality of the Hereafter.
Every warning in Al Qur'an is to forewarn the sinners and the wrongdoers to reform their lives and turn to One True God in repentance of their cursed and dark past. Those who seek repentance before angel of death knocks at their door will be pardoned. But those who shrug off such warnings and continue to follow a life and path of Satan will be the utter losers and inhabitants of hell, where the boiling water will be their drink and thorns of the Zaqqūm tree their food - neither of the two difficult to drink and eat, but will be forced to do so again and again.
Time is now to change our life course and repent, lest we end up in a place so detestable and cursed. Decide now: Is it better to eat from the tree of Zaqqum and drink boiling water or to eat the food of Paradise and drink from the rivers of Paradise?
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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