FOOD AND DRINK OF THE DWELLERS OF HELL
Allah the Almighty said:
“Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum is food for the sinners. Like murky oil, it boils within bellieslike the boiling of scalding water. “ (Al-Dukhan(44): 43-46)
He also said:
“Is Paradise a better accommodation or the tree of Zaqqum? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. Indeed, it is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire,Its emerging fruit as if it was heads of the devils.And indeed, they will eat from it and fill with it their bellies. Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water. Then indeed,their return will be to the Hellfire. “ (Al-Saffat (37): 62-68)
And He said:
“Then indeed you, O those astray [who are] deniers, Will be eating from trees of Zaqqum. And filling with it your bellies.And drinking on top of it from scalding water.And will drink as the drinking of thirsty camels.That is their accommodation on the Day of Recompense. We have created you,so why do you not believe?” (Al-Waqi’ah (56): 51-57)
And He said:
“And We did not make the sight whichWe showed you except as a trial for the people, as was the accursed tree [mentioned] in the Qur’an… “ (Al-Isra’ (17): 60)
Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibban, in his Sahih (Tirmidhi, #2588, Ibn Hibban, #2611 and Ahmad in his Musnad, 1/301 and 338. Tirmidhi said this hadith is hasan sahih.) narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) that the Prophet (pbuh) recited this reverse,
“O you who have believed,fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]. “ (Al-Imran (3): 102)
He then said: “If a drop of Zaqqum was to land on the earth, it would ruin the livelihood of the people of this world, so how about those who have no food other than it?”
Al-Tirmidhi said it is authentic, and it was narrated in Maqtu form (Hadith Maqtu : (literally: A severed hadith), and it means that the chain of narrators is continuous up to the Companion only, and not to the Prophet (pbuh).) through another chain of narrators.
Ibn Ishaq conveyed from Hakim Ibn Hakim, from ‘Ikrimah, from Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) that when the Messenger(pbuh) mentioned the tree of Zaqqum, AbuJahl said: ‘Muhammad is scaring us with it.Opeople of Quraysh, do you know what the tree of Zaqqum is with which Muhammad is scaring you?’ They said: ‘No.’ He said: ‘The Ajwa dates of Madina with butter. By Allah, if we are victorious against them,we shall consume it thoroughly.’ Then Allah revealed the verses,
“Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum is food for the sinners. “ (Al-Dukhan (44): 43-44)
Meaning, What you say is wrong.’He also revealed, “as was the accursed tree [mentioned] in the Qur’an. And We threaten them, but it increases them not except in great transgression. “ (Al-Isra’ (17): 60), (Ahmad in his Musnad,1/374)
Abdu’l-Razzaq narrated from Muammar that Qatadah said, regarding the verse,
“Torment for the wrongdoers. “ (Al-Saffat (37): 63)
‘Their denial increased when Allah told them about a tree (shajara) in Hell-fire. He told them that there is a tree in the Fire, which feeds on fire.’
We have already narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) that the Zaqqum tree sprouts from the bottom of Hell-fire.
Al-Hasan said that its root is in the bottom of Hell-fire while its branches rise through its various layers.
Salam Ibn Miskin said that he heard Al-Hasan recited the verses,
“Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum is food for the sinful. Like murky oil,it boils within bellies as the boiling of scalding water. “ (Al-Dukhan (44): 45)
He then said: ‘Hell-fire is heated upon it.’
Mughirah narrated from Ibrahim and Abu Razin regarding the verse,
“Like murky oil, it boils within bellies. “ (Al-Dukhan (44): 43-46)
That,‘The tree (itself) boils.’
Ja’far Ibn Sulayman conveyed that Abu ‘Imran Al-Jawni said: ‘We heard that one does not take a bite from it except it takes a similar bite from him.’
The Qur’an has indicated that they eat from it until their bellies are filled,so it boils in their bellies like scalding water. After eating it, they drink scalding water, like the drinking of thirsty camels.
Ali Ibn Abi Talhah narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu ‘anhuma) said: ‘[The verse refers to] thirsty camels.’
While Al-Suddi said: ‘[It refers to] a disease that hits camels so they never cease being thirsting until they die;such is also the case with Hell-fire inhabitants—their thirst is never quenched with the scalding water.’
Mujahid said similarly.
It is narrated from Al-Dahhak in interpretation of that verse, ‘Some of the Arabs say that it refers to the sand [in its absorption of water], while others say that it refers to thirsty camels.’
Both views were narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu ‘anhuma). Allah’s saying,
“Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water. “ (Al-Saffat (37): 67)
Indicates that the scalding water is mixed with the Zaqqum in their bellies.
Ata’ Al-Khurasam said regarding this verse,‘Their food is mixed and blended with scalding water.’
And Mujahid said similarly.
It is narrated that Sa’Id Ibn Jubayr said: ‘When inhabitants of Hell-fire call for relief from hunger, they are relieved with the Zaqqum tree. When they eat from it, their skin on their faces falls off. If someone who knew them passed by, they would recognise the skin of their faces. After they eat, thirst befalls them. When they call for relief from thirst, they are relieved with scalding water. If they bring it close to their faces, its heat cooks their faces, and melts what is in their bellies. They are then struck with maces of iron,so their limbs fall apart, and they cry out for destruction.’
Allah Almighty said:
“Then indeed,their returns will be to the Hellfire. “ (Al-Saffat (37): 68)
Meaning after eating Zaqqum and drinking the scalding water.It indicates that the scalding water is outside Hell-fire, and that they go to it as camels go to water wells before they are returned to Hell-fire. This is also shown by Allah’s saying,
“This is Hell, which the criminals deny.They will go around between it and scalding water, heated [to the utmost degree]. “
This means that they go around between Hell-fire and the scalding water, sometimes here and sometimes there. Qatadah, Ibn Jurayj and others said this.
Al-Quradhi said regarding the verse,
“They will go around between it and scalding water, heated [to the utmost degree]. “ (Al-Rahman (55): 44)
That, ‘The scalding water is beneath Hell. The person is taken by his forelock and dragged in that scalding water until the flesh melts and only the bones and eyes remain in the head.This is what Allah referred to by saying,
“In boiling water; then in the Fire they will be filled [with flame].” (Al-Ghafir(40): 72)
Section One:
Understanding the Verse:“And food that chokes”
Allah the Exalted said:
“Indeed, with Us [for them] are shackles and burning fire and food that chokes and a painful punishment. “ (Al-Muzammil (73): 12-13)
He also said:
“For them there will be no food except from a poisonous,thorny plant that neither nourishes nor avails against hunger. “ (Al-Ghashiyah (88): 6-7)
Imam Ahmad narrated (through a chain of narrators) (This means that the narrator stated the chain of narrators in his book, but the author here has chosen to omit it.) from ( Ikrimah that Ibn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu ‘anhuma) said regarding the verse,
“and food that chokes.” (Al-Muzzammil (73): 13)
That it refers to, ‘Thorns that gets stuck in the throat, which neither go in nor come out.’
Ali Ibn Abi Talhah narrated thatIbn ‘Abbas (radiAllahu anhuma) said regarding the verse,
“from a poisonous,thorny plant from a poisonous, thorny plant. “ (Al-Ghashiyah (88): 6)
It is, ‘Trees in Hell-fire.’
Mujahid said:‘[It refers to] dry Ononis.’
It was narrated that ‘Ikrimah and Qatadah, as narrated by Al- ‘Awfi as well as Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) said: ‘Ononis is a thorny plant that sticks to the ground.’
Qatadah said:‘It is among the most bitter and horrible food.’
Sa’id Ibn Jubayr said: ‘It refers to stone’, and he also said:‘It refers to Zaqqum.’
It is narrated that Abu’l Jawza’said:‘It refers to palm tree thorns, and how could they nourish?’
Al-Tirmidhi (Tirmidhi, #2589 its chain is weak) narrated on the authority of Abu’l-Darda’ (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The inhabitants of the Fire will suffer from a hunger equal to the punishment they experience,so they will seek relief, and will be given Dari to eat,it will neither nourish nor avail against hunger. So they will (again) seek food to relieve (their hunger), and they will be given food that causes one to choke. Then they will remember they used to remedy choking in the world by drinking something, so they will seek relief from drinking. Then they will be given Hamlm with meat hooks, when it comes toward their faces it melts their faces, and when it enters their insides it cuts up what is inside of them….” The hadith proceeds further. It was also narrated as a hadith maqtu, ‘and some say it is more likely to be maqtu.’
Allah Almighty said:
“ There is not for him here this Day any devoted friend, nor any food except from the discharge of wounds—None will eat it except the sinners. “ (Al-Haqqah (69): 35-37)
Ali Ibn AbiTalhah narrated that Ibn (Abbas(radiyAllahu anhu) said that,
“the discharge of wounds” (Al-Haqqah (69): 36)
refers to,‘The pus of inhabitants of Hell-fire.’
Shayb Ibn Bishr conveyed from Tkrimah that Ibn ‘Abbas (radi Allahu ‘anhuma) said: ‘It means blood and water flowing down from their flesh, and it is their food.’
Muqatil reportedly said: ‘If pus and blood flowed down, they hasten to eat it before the fire does.’
Abu Jafar Ibn Al-Rab’i said:
“the discharge of wounds”
“refers to a tree in Hell-fire.”
Al-Dahhak said similarly. Khasif narrated from Mujahid that Ibn Abbas (radiAllahu ‘anhuma) said: ‘I do not know what
“the discharge of wounds”
it means, but I think it refers to Zaqqum.’
Abu Hilal reported that Qatadah said: ‘It is a food of the Hellfire inhabitants, being among the most despicable of their food.’
Yahya Ibn Salam said: ‘It is the washing liquid of their bellies.’
Ibn Qutaybah said: ‘Its declension indicates that it means the washing liquid.’
Shurayh Ibn ‘Ubayd narrated that Ka‘b said:‘If a bucket of it was dangled in the east, the skulls of people in the west would boil from it.’
It was narrated that some inhabitants of Hell-fire eat their flesh, and we will mention it later if Allah Wills.
Allah Almighty said:
“Indeed, those who devour the property of orphans unjustly are only consuming into their bellies fire. And they will be burned in a Blaze. “ (Al-Nisa’ (4): 10)
It was narrated in a hadith, “Those who consume usury are resurrected with fire blazing from their mouths “ and then stated this verse. It was narrated by Ibn Hibban in his Sahib from Abu Burzah, from the Prophet (pbuh).(Ibn Hibban in his Sahih #2580)
Section Two:
Regarding the Drinks of its Inhabitants
As for their drink (sharab), Allah Almighty said:
“And drinking on top of it from scalding water. “ (Al-Waqiah (56): 54)
And said:
“…and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines? ” (Muhammad (47): 15)
And said:
“They will not taste therein[any]coolness or drink, except scalding water and [foul] pus.” (Al-Naba’ (78): 24-25)
And said:
“This—so let them taste it—is scalding water and [foul] pus.And other [punishments] of its type [in various] kinds. “ (Sad (38): 57-58)
And said:
“…and he will be given a drink of purulent water. He will gulp it but will hardly [be able to] swallow it … “ (Ibrahim (14): 16-17)
And said:
“…and if they call for relief, they will be relieved with water like murky oil, which scalds [their] faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place. “ (Al-Kahf (18):29)
So, these are four types of their drink mentioned by Allah in His book:
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
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