As-Saffat 37:62
Those who set the Ranks · Juz 23 · Page 448
أَذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ نُّزُلًا أَمۡ شَجَرَةُ ٱلزَّقُّومِ ٦٢
Is that [i.e., Paradise] a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqūm?
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 37:62
Commentary
After having described the conditions prevailing in Jahannam and Jannah briefly, Allah Ta’ ala has invited every human being to compare and decide as to which of the two conditions is better. It was said: أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ that is, 'there are these blessings of Jannah mentioned here - are they better? Or, is it the tree of Zaqqum the fruits of which will be fed to the people of Jahannam?
The reality of Zaqqum
A tree by the name of Zaqqum is found in the territory of Tihamah, a part of the Arabian Peninsula, and ` Allamah ` Alusi has written that it is also found in other barren deserts. Some say that this is the same tree known as تھوھڑ thohar (Euphorbia neriifolia or antiquorum) in Urdu and Hindi. Some others point out to another tree known as nagphan (hood of serpent) found in India as being the zaqqum that appears to be more likely. Now, commentators differ in this matter. What tree is it the fruit from which the people of Jahannam will be given to eat? Is it one of the trees found somewhere in this world, or is it some other tree? Some support the view that it is what is found growing in this world. Some others say that the zaqqum of Jahannam is an entirely different thing. It has nothing to do with the earthly zaqqum. Apparently, the way there are snakes and scorpions in the mortal world, it seems they are there in Jahannam as well. But, it goes without saying, that the snakes and scorpions of the Jahannam will be far ferocious than their counterparts here. Similarly, the zaqqum of Jahannam will, though, be like the zaqqum of this world in terms of its genus, but it will be far too gruesome to look at, and far too unpalatable to eat. And Allah is pure and high who knows best.
Page 448
37:52
يَقُولُ أَءِنَّكَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُصَدِّقِينَ ٥٢
Who would say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe
37:53
أَءِذَا مِتۡنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَابٗا وَعِظَٰمًا أَءِنَّا لَمَدِينُونَ ٥٣
That when we have died and become dust and bones, we will indeed be recompensed?'"
37:54
قَالَ هَلۡ أَنتُم مُّطَّلِعُونَ ٥٤
He will say,1 "Would you [care to] look?"
1 translator’s note
- To his companions in Paradise. ↩
37:55
فَٱطَّلَعَ فَرَءَاهُ فِي سَوَآءِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٥٥
And he will look and see him1 in the midst of the Hellfire.
1 translator’s note
- The companion who had tried to dissuade him from belief on earth. ↩
37:56
قَالَ تَٱللَّهِ إِن كِدتَّ لَتُرۡدِينِ ٥٦
He will say, "By Allāh, you almost ruined me.
37:57
وَلَوۡلَا نِعۡمَةُ رَبِّي لَكُنتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُحۡضَرِينَ ٥٧
If not for the favor of my Lord, I would have been of those brought in [to Hell].
37:58
أَفَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَيِّتِينَ ٥٨
Then, are we not to die
37:59
إِلَّا مَوۡتَتَنَا ٱلۡأُولَىٰ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمُعَذَّبِينَ ٥٩
Except for our first death, and we will not be punished?"
37:60
إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ ٦٠
Indeed, this is the great attainment.
37:61
لِمِثۡلِ هَٰذَا فَلۡيَعۡمَلِ ٱلۡعَٰمِلُونَ ٦١
For the like of this let the workers [on earth] work.
37:62
أَذَٰلِكَ خَيۡرٞ نُّزُلًا أَمۡ شَجَرَةُ ٱلزَّقُّومِ ٦٢
Is that [i.e., Paradise] a better accommodation or the tree of zaqqūm?
37:63
إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰهَا فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٦٣
Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.
37:64
إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٞ تَخۡرُجُ فِيٓ أَصۡلِ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٦٤
Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,
37:65
طَلۡعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَٰطِينِ ٦٥
Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.
37:66
فَإِنَّهُمۡ لَأٓكِلُونَ مِنۡهَا فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنۡهَا ٱلۡبُطُونَ ٦٦
And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies.
37:67
ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمۡ عَلَيۡهَا لَشَوۡبٗا مِّنۡ حَمِيمٖ ٦٧
Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water.
37:68
ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرۡجِعَهُمۡ لَإِلَى ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ٦٨
Then indeed, their return will be to the Hellfire.
37:69
إِنَّهُمۡ أَلۡفَوۡاْ ءَابَآءَهُمۡ ضَآلِّينَ ٦٩
Indeed they found their fathers astray.
37:70
فَهُمۡ عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِمۡ يُهۡرَعُونَ ٧٠
So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps.
37:71
وَلَقَدۡ ضَلَّ قَبۡلَهُمۡ أَكۡثَرُ ٱلۡأَوَّلِينَ ٧١
And there had already strayed before them most of the former peoples,
37:72
وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِيهِم مُّنذِرِينَ ٧٢
And We had already sent among them warners.
37:73
فَٱنظُرۡ كَيۡفَ كَانَ عَٰقِبَةُ ٱلۡمُنذَرِينَ ٧٣
Then look how was the end of those who were warned -
37:74
إِلَّا عِبَادَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡمُخۡلَصِينَ ٧٤
But not the chosen servants of Allāh.
37:75
وَلَقَدۡ نَادَىٰنَا نُوحٞ فَلَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمُجِيبُونَ ٧٥
And Noah had certainly called Us, and [We are] the best of responders.
37:76
وَنَجَّيۡنَٰهُ وَأَهۡلَهُۥ مِنَ ٱلۡكَرۡبِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ ٧٦
And We saved him and his family from the great affliction.