The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 131
125 and effects of acting upon it should continue to be manifested at all times and should not cease to be manifested after a period. Then He said: مَثَلُ كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيْثَةٍ كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةِ اجْتُنَّتْ مِنْ فَوْقِ الْأَرْضِ مَا لَهَا مِنْ قَرَارٍ 0 173 That is, the case of an evil word is like that of an evil tree which is uprooted from the earth and has no stability, meaning that human nature rejects it and it cannot be established by reason or the law of nature, or human conscience. It has no more stability than an idle tale. As the Holy Quran has said that the trees of true faith will appear in the Hereafter as grapes and pomegranates and other good fruits, in the same way the evil tree of faithlessness is called Zaqqūm, as is said: اذلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُزُلًا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُوْمِ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَهَا فِتْنَةً لِلظَّلِمِينَ O إِنَّهَا شَجَرَةٌ تَخْرُجُ فِى أَصْلِ الْجَحِيمِ طَلْعُهَا كَأَنَّهُ رُءُوسُ القيطين 40 173. The case of an evil word is like that of an evil tree, which is uprooted from above the earth and has no stability. (The Holy Quran, Ibrāhīm 14:27) 174. Is that better as an entertainment, or the tree of Zaqqūm? Verily We have made it a trial for the wrongdoers. It is a tree that springs forth in the bottom of Hell; The fruit thereof is as though it were the heads of serpents. (The Holy Quran, as-Ṣāffāt 37:63–66)