إِنَّا جَعَلْنَـٰهَا فِتْنَةً لِّلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 63
Translations
Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers.
Transliteration
Inna ja'alnaha fitnatan lil-zalimeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the tree of Zaqqum, which Allah has made a trial and punishment for the wrongdoers in the Hellfire. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the tree serves as a source of suffering and torment for those who rejected Allah's signs and committed injustices in the worldly life. The word 'fitnah' (trial/test) here emphasizes that this tree is both a punishment and a clear manifestation of divine justice for the unjust.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the Meccan surah As-Saffat, which was revealed to warn the Meccan polytheists about the Day of Judgment and the consequences of disbelief. The context describes the punishment awaiting the deniers of resurrection, with the Zaqqum tree serving as a vivid description of Hell's torment to inspire fear of Allah's punishment and encourage repentance.
Related Hadiths
The tree of Zaqqum is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim in various hadiths where the Prophet (ﷺ) described its bitter taste and its role as food for the people of Hell. One relevant hadith from Jami' at-Tirmidhi describes the Prophet's vivid depiction of Hellfire's punishments to warn believers away from disobedience.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that Allah's justice is absolute and that every action has consequences; the vivid description of punishment should motivate believers to avoid oppression and injustice, seeking instead righteous conduct and submission to Allah's will in this life before facing the inevitable accountability in the next.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍ مُّجْرِمِينَ
They said, "Indeed, we have been sent to a people of criminals
مَن كَانَ يُرِيدُ ٱلْعِزَّةَ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْعِزَّةُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ ٱلْكَلِمُ ٱلطَّيِّبُ وَٱلْعَمَلُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُ يَرْفَعُهُۥ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَمْكُرُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ شَدِيدٌ ۖ وَمَكْرُ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُوَ يَبُورُ
Whoever desires honor [through power] - then to Allāh belongs all honor. To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it. But they who plot evil deeds will have a severe punishment, and the plotting of those - it will perish.
ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا ٱلْـَٔاخَرِينَ
Then We drowned the others.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا۟ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا۟ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ
Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.