The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 776
CH. 37 AȘ-ṢĀFFĀT 60. "Save our previous death, and that we are not to be punished? 61. "Surely, this is the supreme triumph. 3310 62. For the like of this, then, let the workers work. '3311 63. Is that better as an entertainment, or the tree of Zaqqūm?3312 PT. 23 إِلَّا مَوْتَتَنَا الْأُولَى وَمَا نَحْنُ بمُعَذِّبِينَ إِنَّ هَذَا لَهُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ ) لِمِثْلِ هَذَا فَلْيَعْمَلِ الْعَمِلُوْنَ ) اذْلِكَ خَيْرٌ نُّزُ لَّا أَمْ شَجَرَةُ الزَّقُوْمِ "23:38; 44:36. 44:58; 61:13. 44:44; 56:53. mentioned as referring to the great destiny of man-his eternal life. He says that man will not suffer death after his departure from this world. His spiritual journey to Eternity will know no end or retreat. It will be one continuous and eternal progress. This same subject has also been dealt with in 44:57 where it is stated: "they will not taste death therein, other than the first death. And He will save them from the punishment of the blazing fire. " The verse under comment may also mean that the believer in Paradise will say to his disbelieving companion in Hell that the latter must have now realized that he was wrong in believing that after having been reduced to dust and bones, man will not be given a new life. He will repeat the words of his companion in the previous life who used to say that there would be no prolonged punishment after death. 3310. Commentary: The verse means to say that man's greatest achievement and the fulfilment of his highest destiny lies in enjoying eternal life and making incessant and everlasting spiritual progress. 3311. Commentary: The words of this and the preceding verse may also be taken as having been spoken by God Himself. 3312. Important Words:. زقم Zaqqum) is derived from) زقوم They say as; i. e. he swallowed it and devoured it. means, he drank much milk. ; is a dust-coloured tree which has a pungent odour and is bitter and has stinking leaves. The word also means, any deadly food; the food of the people of Hell (Lane & Aqrab). 2690 Commentary: Zaqqūm in the verse under denotes the tree of comment disbelief. The Quran has compared true belief to a good tree which brings forth its fruit at all times (14:25-26) and disbelief to an evil tree- Zaqqum. Taking it in the sense of