Tafsir of As-Saffat 37:62

The story of the believer and his companion has concluded. The discourse now returns to the mention of the "known provision" (the reward of Paradise).

"Is that"—meaning this known provision—"better as a provision"—that is, better in terms of what is obtained—"or the tree of Zaqqum?"

• The meaning of Nuzul (provision): The root refers to the bounty and yield of food. One says, "food with much nuzul." It is metaphorically used for whatever is obtained from a thing. The yield of the "known provision" is pleasure and joy; the yield of the Zaqqum tree is pain and grief.
• Grammar: Nuzulan is in the accusative as a specification (tamyiz), though it may also be a state (hal), similar to saying: "Is the palm tree better as dates or as fresh fruit?"
• The Comparison: The "known provision" is the nuzul for the people of Paradise, while the Zaqqum tree is the nuzul for the people of Hell. The term nuzul refers to what is provided to one who arrives at a place, similar to how "lodging" (sakan) is used for one who dwells in a house.
• The Rhetoric: It is known that there is no good in the Zaqqum tree. However, because the believers chose that which led to the "known provision" and the disbelievers chose that which led to the Zaqqum tree, they are asked this as a rebuke for their poor choice.

"A trial for the wrongdoers" It is a tribulation and punishment for them in the Hereafter, or a test for them in this world. They asked, "How can there be a tree in Hell when fire consumes wood?" and thus they denied it.

"Growing in the root of Hell" It is said its origin is in the depths of Hell, and its branches rise to its various levels.

"Its fruit is as if it were the heads of devils"

• The Metaphor: The tal' (spathe/fruit) of the palm tree is metaphorically applied to the fruit of the Zaqqum tree. It is likened to the heads of devils to signify the extremity of its repulsiveness and ugly appearance. The devil is detested and considered ugly in human nature, as he is perceived as pure evil with no good. When people describe something ugly, they say, "It is like the face of a devil."
• The Imagery: Artists depict the devil in the ugliest and most terrifying form possible. Conversely, when something is considered pure good, it is likened to an angel, as in: "This is not a human; this is none other than a noble angel" (Yusuf: 31). This is an imaginative simile.
• Alternative Views: Some say the devil is a serpent with a crest and a terrifying, ugly appearance. Others say there is a tree called al-astan—rough, foul-smelling, bitter, and hideous—whose fruit is called "heads of devils." The Arabs did not name this fruit as such except to invoke one of these two similes, but after the naming, it became a third, independent standard for comparison.

"From it they will fill their bellies" They will fill their bellies with it due to the overwhelming, intense hunger, or they will be forced to eat it even if they detest it, as a form of punishment.

"Then, upon it, they will have a mixture of scalding water" Once they are full, thirst will overcome them. They will be given a drink mixed with ghassaq (foul discharge) or sadid (pus), mixed with hamim (scalding water) that roasts their faces and severs their intestines. This is similar to the description of the drink of the people of Paradise: "And its mixture is of Tasnim" (Al-Mutaffifin: 27).

Regarding the particle of delay (thumma):

• In "Then, upon it, they will have a mixture": There are two views. First, they fill their bellies with the hot Zaqqum, which burns them and makes them thirsty; they are not given drink until they are full, as a torture of thirst, then they are given the even hotter mixture. Second, the food is mentioned with its specific repulsiveness, then the drink is mentioned with an even greater repulsiveness; thumma indicates the delay of the state of the drink relative to the food and the disparity in their qualities.
• In "Then their return is to Hell": It means they are taken from their dwellings in Hell to the Zaqqum tree, they eat until full, they are given to drink, and then they return to their levels. The delay here is clear.

"They were hastening" Ih'ra' is intense speed, as if they are being driven forward. Some say it is a speed accompanied by a trembling.