لَّا يَأْكُلُهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْخَـٰطِـُٔونَ 37
Translations
None will eat it except the sinners.
Transliteration
Lā ya'kuluhu illā al-khāṭi'ūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the food (Zaqqūm tree) of the inhabitants of Hell, which only the sinners and wrongdoers will eat. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that this bitter, foul tree is a punishment specific to those who rejected truth and committed grave sins. The restriction emphasizes that this punishment is reserved exclusively for those who deserve it, highlighting divine justice.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Haqqah's vivid description of the Day of Judgment and the realities of the Hereafter. The surah graphically depicts the punishments awaiting disbelievers, with the Zaqqūm tree serving as a specific example of their torment in Hell.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) mentioned the Zaqqūm tree in several contexts. See At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah regarding descriptions of Hell's punishments. Additionally, hadiths in Sahih Muslim describe the bitterness and horror of the tree as a warning against disobedience.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a powerful warning that sinful deeds have real, eternal consequences in the Hereafter, encouraging believers to maintain righteousness and fear Allah. It reminds us that justice is perfectly administered by Allah, and no wrongdoer will escape accountability.
Related Ayahs
وَلَوْ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ نَفْسٍ ظَلَمَتْ مَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَٱفْتَدَتْ بِهِۦ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ ۖ وَقُضِىَ بَيْنَهُم بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۚ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And if each soul that wronged had everything on earth, it would offer it in ransom. And they will confide regret when they see the punishment; and they will be judged in justice, and they will not be wronged.
وَأَنتَ حِلٌّۢ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ
And you, [O Muḥammad], are free of restriction in this city
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ
A soul will [then] know what it has put forth and kept back.
وَسِيقَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوْا۟ رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى ٱلْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَٰبُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَـٰلِدِينَ
But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein," [they will enter].