Zaqqum/ The Cursed Tree:-
The tree of Zaqqum, mentioned in the Qur'an refers to a particular tree and no where else in the Arabic language or any other language. Let's look at where it is mentioned in the Qur'an. In the Holy Qur’an, this tree (plant) has been mentioned thrice under the name of Zaqqum and at one place it has been referred to as Shajr al-Maluna i.e. the ‘Cursed Tree’.
Qur'anic References :
1. SURAH Bani-Israel-Children of Israel V:60
Behold ! We told thee that thy Lord doth encompass mankind round about; We granted the vision which We showed thee, but as a trial for men,-as also the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur’an: We put terror (and warning) into them, but it only increases their inordinate transgression !
2. SURAH As-Saffat-Those Ranged in Ranks V:62-68
Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum? (62) For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers. (63) For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-fire: (64) The shoots of its fruitstalks are like the heads of devils: (65) Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. (66) Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water. (67) Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire. (68)
3. SURAH Ad-Dukhan-Smoke V:43-48
Verily the tree of Zaqqum (43) will be the food of the Sinful,-(44) like molten brass! it will boil in their insides, (45) like the boiling of scalding water. (46) (A voice will cry): ‘‘Seize ye him and drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire ! (47) Then pour over his head the Penalty of Boiling Water. (48)
4. SURAH Al-Waqi’a-The inevitable event V:52-55
‘‘Ye will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum. (52) ‘‘Then will ye fill your insides therewith, (53) ‘‘And drink Boiling Water on top of it : (54)‘‘Indeed ye shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst’’! (55) Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital! (56)
According to Almunjid (Arabic Dictionary), Zaqqum is the Tree of Hell and a poisonous food for the sinners. In some other Dictionaries it has been described as a thorny plant with a bitter taste.
From various Tafseer, it can be summed up as follows: the tree of Zaqqum is found in the heart of Hellfire and its bitter and throny product (a kind of awful fruit) will be eaten by the dwellers of Hellfire. This food will neither nourish nor taste good. It will only serve as a punishment for the dwellers of Hell. Its ugly fruit resembles the heads of the devils. The sinners in Hellfire who will be denied forgiveness on the Day of Judgment will be hungry, yet the only food they will find will be the frightening food of the tree of Zaqqum. They will be compelled to eat it for lack of anything else or anything better. It will be so terrible that when consumed it will scald and burn the insides of those who eat it, making them feel choked, vomit and increase their suffering. Astaghfirullah
The Tree of Zaqqum is so awful, if a drop of Zaqqum was to be placed on this Earth, everything on Earth will be ruined. Can you imagine then how horrible it is to have it as food?
When consumed it will be like molten brass but worse. It will scald and burn their faces and their insides. The people of Hell will be so hungry that they will rush down to the pits of the fire to eat anything that they can find. Here, they will be forced to eat from the Tree of Zaqqum. Even before touch, their own lips will burn and expose their teeth. Not only that, but they will swallow thorn like pieces that will rip away their flesh and insides as it is swallowed. Before it even settles in their stomach it will burn away through their flesh and empty out. Astaghfirullah.
If you seek Reference to same kind of plants dwelling on Earth:
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad , while explaining the meaning of Surah Bani Israil in his Tarjuman al-Qur’an, has identified Zaqqum as Thohar, a plant widely occurring in India. . Maulana Maudoodi in his Tafhim-ul-Qur’an has stated ‘‘The plant of Zaqqum occurs in Tehama. It is bitter in taste with bad smell and the latex from it’s stem causes blisters on human body. Probably it is the same plant which is called Thohar in our country.’’
Most of the Urdu authors of the commentaries on the Qur’an have described Indian Thohar plant as a possible Zaqqum which ofcourse seems to be nearest to the Quranic description. Thohars or Sehnds are the plants belonging to the genus Euphorbia which has more than a thousand species distributed in warmer parts of Africa and Asia, as well as in America and Australia.
All of them are highly bitter in taste and produce a poisonous latex. In India, more than sixty species of Euphorbia occur in varying abundance and several of them are thorny dendroids and cactus like.
Similar cactus like Euphorbias are also found in Arabia where these are called Lebbein, Rummidand by various other names. More than a hundred species of Euphorbia occur in Africa and some of them have medicinal properties. Before identifying the Euphorbia
Qur'anic References :
1. SURAH Bani-Israel-Children of Israel V:60
Behold ! We told thee that thy Lord doth encompass mankind round about; We granted the vision which We showed thee, but as a trial for men,-as also the Cursed Tree (mentioned) in the Qur’an: We put terror (and warning) into them, but it only increases their inordinate transgression !
2. SURAH As-Saffat-Those Ranged in Ranks V:62-68
Is that the better entertainment or the Tree of Zaqqum? (62) For We have truly made it (as) a trial for the wrong-doers. (63) For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hell-fire: (64) The shoots of its fruitstalks are like the heads of devils: (65) Truly they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. (66) Then on top of that they will be given a mixture made of boiling water. (67) Then shall their return be to the (Blazing) Fire. (68)
3. SURAH Ad-Dukhan-Smoke V:43-48
Verily the tree of Zaqqum (43) will be the food of the Sinful,-(44) like molten brass! it will boil in their insides, (45) like the boiling of scalding water. (46) (A voice will cry): ‘‘Seize ye him and drag him into the midst of the Blazing Fire ! (47) Then pour over his head the Penalty of Boiling Water. (48)
4. SURAH Al-Waqi’a-The inevitable event V:52-55
‘‘Ye will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum. (52) ‘‘Then will ye fill your insides therewith, (53) ‘‘And drink Boiling Water on top of it : (54)‘‘Indeed ye shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst’’! (55) Such will be their entertainment on the Day of Requital! (56)
According to Almunjid (Arabic Dictionary), Zaqqum is the Tree of Hell and a poisonous food for the sinners. In some other Dictionaries it has been described as a thorny plant with a bitter taste.
From various Tafseer, it can be summed up as follows: the tree of Zaqqum is found in the heart of Hellfire and its bitter and throny product (a kind of awful fruit) will be eaten by the dwellers of Hellfire. This food will neither nourish nor taste good. It will only serve as a punishment for the dwellers of Hell. Its ugly fruit resembles the heads of the devils. The sinners in Hellfire who will be denied forgiveness on the Day of Judgment will be hungry, yet the only food they will find will be the frightening food of the tree of Zaqqum. They will be compelled to eat it for lack of anything else or anything better. It will be so terrible that when consumed it will scald and burn the insides of those who eat it, making them feel choked, vomit and increase their suffering. Astaghfirullah
The Tree of Zaqqum is so awful, if a drop of Zaqqum was to be placed on this Earth, everything on Earth will be ruined. Can you imagine then how horrible it is to have it as food?
When consumed it will be like molten brass but worse. It will scald and burn their faces and their insides. The people of Hell will be so hungry that they will rush down to the pits of the fire to eat anything that they can find. Here, they will be forced to eat from the Tree of Zaqqum. Even before touch, their own lips will burn and expose their teeth. Not only that, but they will swallow thorn like pieces that will rip away their flesh and insides as it is swallowed. Before it even settles in their stomach it will burn away through their flesh and empty out. Astaghfirullah.
If you seek Reference to same kind of plants dwelling on Earth:
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad , while explaining the meaning of Surah Bani Israil in his Tarjuman al-Qur’an, has identified Zaqqum as Thohar, a plant widely occurring in India. . Maulana Maudoodi in his Tafhim-ul-Qur’an has stated ‘‘The plant of Zaqqum occurs in Tehama. It is bitter in taste with bad smell and the latex from it’s stem causes blisters on human body. Probably it is the same plant which is called Thohar in our country.’’
Most of the Urdu authors of the commentaries on the Qur’an have described Indian Thohar plant as a possible Zaqqum which ofcourse seems to be nearest to the Quranic description. Thohars or Sehnds are the plants belonging to the genus Euphorbia which has more than a thousand species distributed in warmer parts of Africa and Asia, as well as in America and Australia.
All of them are highly bitter in taste and produce a poisonous latex. In India, more than sixty species of Euphorbia occur in varying abundance and several of them are thorny dendroids and cactus like.
Similar cactus like Euphorbias are also found in Arabia where these are called Lebbein, Rummidand by various other names. More than a hundred species of Euphorbia occur in Africa and some of them have medicinal properties. Before identifying the Euphorbia
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