طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُۥ رُءُوسُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينِ 65
Translations
Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.
Transliteration
Tal'uha ka-annahu ru'usu ash-shayatin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the fruit of the tree of Zaqqum in Hell, comparing its appearance to the heads of demons. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this comparison emphasizes the hideous and repulsive nature of the fruit—just as Satan's heads are abominable, so too is the fruit of this accursed tree, meant to be consumed by the inhabitants of Hell as part of their punishment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah As-Saffat, a Meccan surah that focuses on themes of resurrection, divine judgment, and punishment in the afterlife. The description of Zaqqum and its horrifying characteristics serves to warn the disbelievers of Mecca about the severe consequences of rejecting Allah's message and following satanic paths.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported in Tirmidhi to have described the punishment of Hell's inhabitants in detail, including the Zaqqum tree, emphasizing its bitterness and repulsiveness as a consequence of turning away from divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This vivid imagery of Zaqqum's fruit serves as a powerful reminder that rejecting Allah's guidance and following base desires leads to severe consequences in the afterlife; the grotesque description should inspire believers to remain steadfast in obedience and warn against the deception of Satan.
Related Ayahs
فَكَذَّبُوهُ فَأَخَذَهُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمِ ٱلظُّلَّةِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
And they denied him, so the punishment of the day of the black cloud seized them. Indeed, it was the punishment of a terrible day.
وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."
وَلَوْ تَرَىٰٓ إِذْ فَزِعُوا۟ فَلَا فَوْتَ وَأُخِذُوا۟ مِن مَّكَانٍ قَرِيبٍ
And if you could see when they are terrified but there is no escape, and they will be seized from a place nearby.
كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ فَنَادَوا۟ وَّلَاتَ حِينَ مَنَاصٍ
How many a generation have We destroyed before them, and they [then] called out; but it was not a time for escape.