DESCRIPTION OF HELL - [7] Zaqqum—Thorny Plant (Muscus), Food and Drink for the Denizens of Hell ; Zari‘ or the Thorns of Fire & ‘Ghisleen’ Effacement of Wound

 

[Illustration Only]

‘‘Without doubt, the food for the sinners is the Zaqqum tree which is like liquid tin and which will boil in the stomach like hot water. So those who deny and are misguided! You will eat the trees of Zaqqum and fill your bellies with it and then you shall drink boiling water in the manner of thirsty camels. Such hospitality will be shown to them on the Day of Doom”? 

(Surah Waqiah‘).

The fruits of Zaqqum are shaped like the heads of devils;

أَذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌۭ نُّزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ ٱلزَّقُّومِ ٦٢إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰهَا فِتْنَةًۭ لِّلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٦٣إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌۭ تَخْرُجُ فِىٓ أَصْلِ ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٦٤طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ ٦٥فَإِنَّهُمْ لَـَٔاكِلُونَ مِنْهَا فَمَالِـُٔونَ مِنْهَا ٱلْبُطُونَ ٦٦ثُمَّ إِنَّ لَهُمْ عَلَيْهَا لَشَوْبًۭا مِّنْ حَمِيمٍۢ ٦٧ثُمَّ إِنَّ مَرْجِعَهُمْ لَإِلَى ٱلْجَحِيمِ ٦٨

"Is this better as a welcome, or the tree of Zaqqum?Lo! We have appointed it a torment for wrong-doers.Lo! it is a tree that springeth in the heart of hell.Its crop is as it were the heads of devilsAnd lo! they verily must eat thereof, and fill (their) bellies therewith.And afterward, lo! thereupon they have a drink of boiling water,And afterward, lo! their return is surely unto hell."

— M. Pickthall

 (Surah As Saffat  37: Ayat 62-68). 

Some Islamic scholars believe in a literal meaning of this tree grown in fire, showing the inverted flora of hell

In fact, Zaqqum is a tree that sprouts from the roots of Hell and its fruit resembles the expended hood of snakes. ‘Zaqqum’ is translated as ‘seend,’ which is a well-known tree and has a bitter taste. But this has been stated only to serve as an illustration, for everything in Hell will be worse in bitterness and evil smell than the things of this world. And what a ghastly sight it would be when they shall eat this tree and drink boiling water.

The Holy Prophet (Muhammad Rasulullahﷺ) stated: “If only one drop of Zaqqum is caused to spill into the world it will spoil the food of the entire world (i.e. all types of foods will become extremely bitter). Imagine then the condition of those whose diet will be nothing but Zaqqum.”

(Tirmidht and Ibn Hibban).

A tradition related by Hakim isas follows: “I swear in the name of the Almighty that if even one drop of Zaqqum should fall in the rivers of this world, it would certainly turn the food of the entire world  bitter in taste. Imagine then the condition of that person whose food will be nothing else but Zaqqum.”’ 

( Targhib)

Nothing except the boiling water of a tank and dry weeds would be given to them as food, which would neither nourish them nor satiate them. The author of Miragat writes that Zari‘ is a thorny tree in Hijaz. It has such evil properties that even the animals and beasts do not come near it. If the animals take it, they will die immediately. Further on he states that Zari‘ stands for the thorn of fire. These thorns would be more bitter than aloe more foul in smell than a stinking corpse and hotter than fire. Even if the sinners take enormous quantities of these thorns they will not satiate their appetite.

“This day he has no friend nor has he anything to eat except the effacement of wounds, which diet is specified for those who are sinful.”” 

(Haqqa)