The Tree of Zaqqum:

A Profound Allegory of Hell and Human Nature

 

The nature of existence after death is fundamentally different from our current reality. In Hell, unbelievers drink boiling water, yet their bodies regenerate, ensuring that their torment continues eternally. These extreme properties may seem beyond human comprehension, but they are the reality of the Hereafter as described in the Quran.

 

What we must understand is that everything in Hell must have already existed before the Day of Judgment. The souls destined for Hell were once living beings, and so too must the Tree of Zaqqum have existed before it was placed in Hell.

 

The Tree of Zaqqum Exists Before Judgment Day

 

The Quran itself gives us evidence of the Tree of Zaqqum existing outside of Hell:

 

56:52-56

“Will eat from the tree of Zaqqum, filling your bellies therefrom. Then drinking on top of it boiling water, so you will drink like thirsty camels! Such is their share on the Day of Judgment.”

 

This ayah indicates that the condemned will consume from the tree on the Day of Judgment, not just after entering Hell. This suggests that the Tree of Zaqqum was created before the Day of Judgment, during the period of existence and creation.

 

Why Must the Tree Be in Hell?

 

Allah is the Most Just, and as such, nothing is placed in Hell unless it deserves to be there. If the Tree of Zaqqum is in Hell, it must have already been cursed before its placement there.

 

But what exactly is the Tree of Zaqqum?

 

The Nature of the Tree of Zaqqum

 

The Quran describes the Tree of Zaqqum as uniquely horrific:

 

37:62-65

“Is that a better destination, or the tree of Zaqqum? We have made it a punishment for the transgressors. It is a tree that grows in the midst of Hell. Its shoots are like the devils’ heads.”

 

44:43-47

“Surely, the tree of Zaqqum will be the food for the sinful. Like hot oil, it will boil in the bellies. Like the boiling of liquid. Take him and throw him into the midst of Hell.”

 

It is clear that the Tree of Zaqqum is not an ordinary tree—it is created for punishment, and its shoots resemble devils’ heads. But this leads us to an even more intriguing question:

 

Could the Tree of Zaqqum Be Iblis Himself?

 

We know that the Tree of Zaqqum is created from fire, just as Iblis was:

 

38:76

“He (Iblis) said: I am better than he; You created me from fire, and You created him (Adam) from clay.”

 

This connection is made even clearer in Surah 17:60-61, where the Quran speaks of a cursed tree—immediately followed by a reference to Iblis:

 

17:60-61

“And We did not make the vision that We showed you except as a test for the people, and the tree that was cursed in the Qur’an. And We are making them fearful, but it only increases their transgression. And We said to the angels: ‘Prostrate to Adam.’ So they prostrated except for Iblis; he said: ‘Shall I prostrate to one whom You created from clay?’”

 

The cursed tree is mentioned in direct relation to Iblis’ defiance. There is no separation between the two subjects, indicating that they are connected in meaning. If read in chronological order, this would imply that:

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• Iblis is the cursed tree.

• Iblis was created for the Fire.

• The Tree of Zaqqum, which burns in Hell, is also made of fire.

 

The connection is undeniable.

 

The Forbidden Tree:

Iblis’ Temptation of Adam

 

When Shaytan deceived Adam, he led him to a tree:

 

20:120

“Then whispered to him Shaytan, he said, ‘O Adam! Shall I direct you to the tree of eternity and a kingdom that will never deteriorate?’”

 

But we are also told that the Tree of Zaqqum has fruits resembling the heads of devils:

 

37:65

“Its shoots are like the devils’ heads.”

 

Could it be that the fruit of this tree represents the very temptation that Iblis offered Adam? Could it be that Adam was being tempted by Iblis himself, disguised as the tree?

 

Eating from Iblis: What Does It Mean?

 

To eat from the Tree of Zaqqum—to consume from Iblis—is to accept his ideology, his arrogance, and his defiance of Allah’s command.

 

Imagine this: A newborn baby instinctively knows right from wrong. If you slap a baby, it will cry. No one taught it that pain is bad—it is an innate understanding.

 

Now, consider a grown man beating his wife for pleasure. Does Allah need to reveal a commandment for us to know that this act is wrong?

 

Some will stand up against injustice because their natural instinct is to uphold goodness and justice (Al-’Adl). Others will remain silent, allowing their own pride and fear to restrain them.

 

This is the exact distinction between following Allah and following Iblis.

• To follow Iblis is to reject the natural goodness that Allah placed within us.

• To follow Iblis is to be proud of wrongdoing rather than to repent.

 

The Greatest Sin: Pride in Sin

 

Iblis was not expelled for simply sinning—he was expelled for being proud of his sin.

 

Adam sinned, but he repented.

Iblis sinned, but he refused to acknowledge his fault.

 

Thus, the greatest sin is not sin itself, but pride in sin.

 

And this is what the Tree of Zaqqum represents:

• The arrogance of Iblis

• The ultimate defiance of truth

• The rejection of repentance

 

Conclusion

 

The Quran weaves a profound narrative where:

• The Tree of Zaqqum is not just a physical object but a manifestation of arrogance and punishment.

• Iblis and the cursed tree are one and the same—both cursed, both made from fire, both tempting mankind toward destruction.

• Eating from the tree is symbolic of adopting Iblis’ ideology—pride, arrogance, and rejection of Allah’s guidance.

• The greatest sin is not just disobedience, but being proud of disobedience.

 

The Quran is not merely relaying historical events but challenging us to reflect deeply. The real test is whether we follow the path of Adam, who repented, or the path of Iblis, who remained proud in defiance.