The Essence of Islam – Volume II — Page 435
Heaven and Hell 435 be in accord with the heavenly law of nature which is the action of God. The arguments in support of its correctness and truth should be deducible from the law of nature and should be so perfect as if they are in heaven and cannot be reached by any criticism. . The third sign is that its fruit should be eternal and unending. That is to say, its blessings and effects should be perceptible in every age and should not cease after any particular period. . It is then said: مَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةِ بِجُتُنَّتْ مِنْ فَوْقِ الْأَرْضِ مَالَهَا مِنْ قَرَارٍ 7 207. The evil word resembles a tree which does not take root in the soil or, in other words, human nature does not accept it and in no way does it stabilize. It is not supported by reasonable arguments or by the law of nature or by human conscience and is like a mere tale or story. . As the Holy Qur'ān has referred to the good trees of faith as resembling grapes and pomegranates and other nice fruits, and has said that they will be personified like those fruits and resemble them, in the same way, it has called the evil tree of faithlessness in the hereafter by the name of Zaqqum, as it is said: اذيك خير نُزُلًا امْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُومِه اِنّا جَعَلْنَهَا فِتْنَةً لِلظَّلِمِينَ 208 انَّهَا شَجَرَةً تَخْرُجُ فِي أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ الشَّيْطين 0 8 ان مجرت الزَّقُومِه طَعَامُ الانيمه كَالْمُهْلِ يَغْلِي فِي الْبُطُونِ ٥ كلي الحميم . . . . . . . . ذُقُ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْكَرِيمُ 0 209 207 208. Ibrāhīm, 14:27 [Publisher]. Al-Saffat, 37:63-66 [Publisher] 209 Al-Dukhān 44:44-47,50 [Publisher]