448 Page Notes

37 Surah As-Saffat (continued)

Page 448 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 448 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 448 of the Qur'an contains Surah As-Saffat (Chapter 37), verses 52 through 76. This page features a dramatic shift in perspective, starting from inside the palaces of Paradise where a believer looks down into the depths of Hell to see a former worldly companion who tried to mislead him. The passage then transitions into a terrifying description of the tree of Zaqqum (the food of the inhabitants of Hell) before shifting to historical lessons, starting with the salvation of Prophet Nuh (Noah) and his family.

Classical commentaries (Tafsir), such as those by Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, and Al-Tabari, connect these specific verses to several authentic Hadiths and records of the Sunnah:

1. Verses 52–57: Looking Down into the Depths of Hell

"Who used to say, 'Are you indeed of those who believe?...' He will say, 'Would you care to look [down]?' And he will look and see him in the midst of Hell. He will say, 'By Allah, you almost ruined me...'" (Surah As-Saffat 37:52-57)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The Power of Influence and Friendship: These verses heavily illustrate the spiritual danger of bad companionship. The Prophet ﷺ frequently used parables to mirror this exact dynamic, warning that an individual's final destination is deeply affected by their closest friends.
  Sahih al-Bukhari (5534) & Sahih Muslim (2628): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the blacksmith. As for the seller of musk, he will either give you some, you will buy some, or you will catch a pleasant scent. As for the blacksmith, he will either burn your clothes or you will catch a foul odor." The man in Hell represents the "blacksmith" whose proximity almost destroyed the believer. Sunan Abi Dawud (4833): The Prophet ﷺ also stated: "A man follows the religion of his close friend, so let each of you look to whom he takes as a close friend."

2. Verses 62–68: The Tree of Zaqqum and the Scalding Water

"Is that a better accommodation or the tree of Zaqqum? Indeed, We have made it a torment for the wrongdoers. It is a tree issuing from the bottom of the Hellfire, its emerging fruit as if it was the heads of devils... Then indeed, they will have after it a mixture of scalding water." (Surah As-Saffat 37:62-68)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

The Sunnah provides terrifying, graphic details regarding the lethal potency of the tree of Zaqqum mentioned in these verses.

• The Toxicity of Zaqqum: The Prophet ﷺ described the cosmic toxicity of this tree to convey its reality to human comprehension.
  Sunan al-Tirmidhi (2585) & Sunan Ibn Majah (4325): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited the verses of Hell and said: "If a single drop from the tree of Zaqqum were to fall upon the earth, it would ruin the entire livelihood and food supply of the people of the world. So how must it be for the one whose only food is Zaqqum?"

• The Texture of the Food: Verse 67 mentions a drink of "scalding water" (Hamim) to wash down the bitter fruit.
  Sunan al-Tirmidhi (2584): The Prophet ﷺ explained the effects of the boiling water described in this passage: "The scalding water will be poured over their heads, and it will penetrate their skulls until it reaches their insides, melting everything in their bellies, until it escapes from their feet; then they will be restored to their original form."

3. Verses 69–74: Blindly Following Ancestors

"Indeed they found their fathers astray. So they hastened [to follow] in their footsteps... And We had already sent among them warners." (Surah As-Saffat 37:69-72)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The Condemnation of Blind Prejudices (Asabiyyah): The verses condemn those who reject divine revelation simply because it contradicts their ancestral traditions. The Sunnah actively dismantled this tribal mentality, replacing it with accountability based strictly on personal faith.
  Sahih Muslim (917): The Prophet ﷺ declared that clinging blindly to the flaws of ancestral pride belongs to the remnants of pre-Islamic ignorance (Jahiliyyah), stating: "There are four traits remaining in my Ummah from the affairs of Jahiliyyah which they will not abandon: boasting of noble descent, defaming lineages, seeking rain by the stars, and wailing over the dead."

4. Verses 75–76: The Supplication and Salvation of Nuh (Noah)

"And Nuh had certainly called Us, and [We are] the best of responders. And We saved him and his family from the great distress." (Surah As-Saffat 37:75-76)

Relevant Hadith & Sunnah:

• The "Great Distress" and the Intercession: The salvation of Nuh mentioned here marks him as the foundational patriarch of the post-flood world. The Sunnah highlights Nuh's historical weight and his intense relationship with Allah in a famous narration regarding the Day of Judgment.
  Sahih al-Bukhari (4712) & Sahih Muslim (194): In the lengthy Hadith of Intercession (Shafa'ah), when humanity is overwhelmed by the distress of the Judgment Day, they will run to the Prophets for help. They will go to Nuh and say: "O Nuh! You are the very first of the Messengers sent to the earth, and Allah named you 'a grateful servant' (Abdan Shakura). Please intercede for us with your Lord. Do you not see the state we are in?" This text showcases why his call was answered so definitively as highlighted in verse 75.

References

• Al-Bukhari, M. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari. (Reference to Hadiths 4712, 5534).

• Al-Sijistani, Abu Dawud. (n.d.). Sunan Abi Dawud. (Reference to Hadith 4833).

• Al-Tirmidhi, M. (n.d.). Sunan al-Tirmidhi. (Reference to Hadiths 2584, 2585).

• Ibn Majah, M. (n.d.). Sunan Ibn Majah. (Reference to Hadith 4325).

• Ibn Kathir, I. (n.d.). Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim (Commentary on Surah As-Saffat 37:52-76).

• Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim. (Reference to Hadiths 194, 917, 2628).

• Al-Tabari, I. J. (n.d.). Jami' al-Bayan 'an Ta'wil ay al-Qur'an (Tafsir al-Tabari).

(Note: "n.d." denotes classical texts where modern standardized publication years vary across publishers, cited instead by their universally recognized book and Hadith numbers).