Zaqqoom

Zaqqoom – The Food of Jahannum The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “If one drop from Az-Zaqqoom were to land on this world, the people of earth and all their means of sustenance would be destroyed. So how must it be for the one who must eat it?” [Tirmidhi]

 In this hadith the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) portrayed for us the ugly and terrifying nature of Zaqqoom. Zaqqoom and Daree are the foods of the people of Jahannum. However, these foods will be of no benefit whatsoever to the people who eat them, and they will not enjoy them in the least. This is one of the forms of punishment that they will suffer. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) says: “Verily the tree of Zaqqoom will be the food of the sinful, like molten brass, it will boil in their insides, like the boiling of scalding water.” [Quran 44:43-46]

Another description of the tree of Zaqqoom is in the following Ayaat of the Quran: “Is that (Jannah) the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqoom? For We have truly made it a trial for the wrongdoers. For it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire. The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils; Truly, they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on top of that they will be given to drink a mixture made of boiling water. Then, shall their return be to the blazing Fire of Hell.” [Quran 37:62-68]

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) had complete conviction in the Hereafter and Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) filled his heart with our love, so he tried his utmost to save us from Jahannum. The descriptions of Zaqqoom show us why the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) undertook every hardship so that people may change their course and not betray their oath to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala).