Verse 63
Those who set the Ranks • makkah
View Aspects
44:44; 56:53.
Important Words:
زقوم (Zaqqum) is derived from زقم. They say زقمه i.e. he swallowed it and devoured it. زقم اللبن means, he drank much milk. زقوم is a dust-coloured tree which has a pungent odour and is bitter and has stinking leaves. The word also means, any deadly food; the food of the people of Hell (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Zaqqum in the verse under comment denotes the tree of disbelief. The Quran has compared true belief to a good tree which brings forth its fruit at all times (14:25-26) and disbelief to an evil tree—Zaqqum. Taking it in the sense of deadly food, the verse would mean that the fruit of the accursed tree of disbelief is deadly and its eating brings about spiritual death. The word has been used in the same sense and in the same context at two other places in the Quran, viz. 44:44, 45, 46 & 56:53, 54, 55.
44:44; 56:53.
Zaqqum denotes the tree of disbelief. The Qur’an has compared true belief to a good tree which brings forth its fruit at all times (14:25, 26) and disbelief to an evil tree—Zaqqum (14:27). Taking it in the sense of deadly food, the verse would mean that eating of the fruit of the accursed tree of disbelief brings about spiritual death.