Tafseer of Those drawn up in Ranks · As-Saaffaat · 37:64
Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Then He informed them of the characteristic of this tree and said: إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ ("It is a tree that springs forth in the bottom of the Hellfire").
And in accordance with what we have said concerning that, the exegetes (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: أَذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ نـزلا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ ("Is that a better reception, or the Zaqqūm tree?") until he reaches فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ ("in the bottom of the Hellfire"), he said: When the Zaqqūm tree was mentioned, the wrongdoers were put to the test, and they said: "This companion of yours informs you that in the Fire there is a tree, while the Fire devours the trees!" Then Allah sent down what you hear: It is a tree that springs forth in the bottom of the Hellfire, nourished by the Fire, and created out of it.
Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Aḥmad ibn al-Mufaḍḍal related to us, saying: Asbāṭ related to us, on the authority of al-Suddī, he said: Abū Jahl said, when إِنَّ شَجَرَةَ الزَّقُّومِ ("Verily, the Zaqqūm tree") was sent down: "Do you know it in the language of the Arabs? I will bring it to you." Then he called a servant-girl and said: "Bring me dates and butter." Then he said: "Take it, eat your fill of zaqqūm; this is the zaqqūm with which Muḥammad frightens you." Then Allah sent down its explanation: أَذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُزُلا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُّومِ * إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِلظَّالِمِينَ ("Is that a better reception, or the Zaqqūm tree? Verily, We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers"), he said: for Abū Jahl and his companions.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both of them — on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His words: إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاهَا فِتْنَةً لِلظَّالِمِينَ ("Verily, We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers"), he said: the statement of Abū Jahl: "The zaqqūm is only the date and the butter; with that I eat my fill."
