لَّا بَارِدٍ وَلَا كَرِيمٍ 44
Translations
Neither cool nor beneficial.
Transliteration
Lā bāridin wa lā karīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the nature of the punishment in Hell, specifically referring to the food (zaqqūm) given to the inhabitants of the Fire—it is neither cooling nor nourishing. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain that 'lā bārid' (not cool) emphasizes the extreme heat and discomfort of the punishment, while 'lā karīm' (not generous/noble) indicates that this food is vile, despicable, and utterly repugnant, contrary to any good provision. Together, these descriptions convey the complete deprivation and torment of the Hell-dwellers.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Waqi'ah's vivid description of the Day of Judgment and the three categories of people in the afterlife. The verse specifically describes the grim fate of those in the Fire (aṣḥāb al-mashaʾamah), serving as a powerful deterrent for believers to avoid disobedience and seek Allah's mercy.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) described the tree of Zaqqūm in Sahih Bukhari (6558) as food for the denizens of Hell, emphasizing its repugnant nature. Additionally, Surah Al-Waqi'ah itself (56:51-52) further elaborates on this punishment without intermediary sources needed.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah serves as a sobering reminder of the eternal consequences of turning away from Allah's guidance and emphasizes the importance of seeking His mercy and obedience in this life, as the punishment of the Hereafter encompasses both physical and spiritual torment beyond human comprehension.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ ٱخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
[Allāh] said, "Depart from it [i.e., Paradise], reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them - I will surely fill Hell with you, all together."
قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّشْرِكِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Travel through the land and observe how was the end of those before. Most of them were associators [of others with Allāh].
ضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلذِّلَّةُ أَيْنَ مَا ثُقِفُوٓا۟ إِلَّا بِحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَحَبْلٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَبَآءُو بِغَضَبٍ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَضُرِبَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْمَسْكَنَةُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ يَكْفُرُونَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَيَقْتُلُونَ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِمَا عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ يَعْتَدُونَ
They have been put under humiliation [by Allāh] wherever they are overtaken, except for a rope [i.e., covenant] from Allāh and a rope [i.e., treaty] from the people [i.e., the Muslims]. And they have drawn upon themselves anger from Allāh and have been put under destitution. That is because they disbelieved in [i.e., rejected] the verses of Allāh and killed the prophets without right. That is because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed.
وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقْتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفْسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا يَزْنُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا
And those who do not invoke with Allāh another deity or kill the soul which Allāh has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty.