As-Saffat 37:63
Those who set the Ranks · Juz 23 · Page 448
إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَٰهَا فِتۡنَةٗ لِّلظَّٰلِمِينَ ٦٣
Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 37:63
In verse 63, it was said: إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّالِمِينَ (We have made it [ the tree of zaqqum ] a test ['fitnah'] for the unjust). Here, according to some commentators, فِتْنَةً (fitnah) means punishment, that is, 'have turned this tree into a source of punishment.' But, most commentators say that it is more appropriate to translate 'fitnah' at this place as 'trial' or 'test'. The purpose here is to say that Allah wishes to test as to who believes in it, and who ridicules it. Consequently, what happened was that the disbelievers of Arabia failed this test. Rather than fear this punishment and believe, they opted for the method of confrontation and ridicule. According to Hadith narrations, when the verses of the Qur'an in which it has been mentioned that the disbelievers will be made to eat the fruit of zaqqum, Abu Jahl said to his accomplices: "Your friend (Sayyidna Muhammad al-Mustafa ﷺ) says that there is a tree in the Fire - although, fire eats the tree - while we, by God, do know this much that zaqqum is the name of butter-topped dates. So, come and eat this date and butter" (ad-Durr-ul-Manthur, p. 277, v. 5). In fact, in the language of the Berbers, dates topped with butter or cream were known as zaqqum, therefore, Abu Jahl made use of this opportunity to ridicule the prophet of Islam. To the two things he said,
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.