How can we explain the fact that while one verse says there is no food in Hell other than the thorns of dari’, other verses mention zaqqum and the ghislin?

- What is the food and drink of those in Hell like?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Here are some of the Quranic verses related to the issue:

“No food will there be for them but a bitter dari’ (thorny plant).” (al-Ghashiyah, 88/6)

“Verily the tree of Zaqqum Will be the food of the Sinful Like molten brass; it will boil in their insides. Like the boiling of scalding water.” (ad-Duhan, 44/43-46)

“So no friend hath he here this Day. Nor hath he any food except the corruption (ghislin) from the washing of wounds.” (al-Haqqa, 69/35-36)

The issue raised in the question has been answered in two ways in tafsir books:

1. Hell is layered. Some of those in Hell will eat zaqqum, some dari’, and some ghislin. Similarly, some will drink boiling water, and some will drink pus. This is indicated in the verse, “To it are seven gates: for each of those gates is a (special) class (of sinners) assigned.” (al-Hijr, 15/44)

2. It is possible that “ghislin” comes from “dari’” and perhaps all come from “zaqqum.” Indeed, it is also possible that someone says, “I have no food except sheep,” and then says, “I have no food except milk.” There is no contradiction in those two statements because milk comes from sheep. (See Razi, Mafatih, the interpretation of verse 6 of al-Ghashiya)

The purpose of mentioning the food and drink of those in Hell in the verse is to explain that they will be utterly humiliated and miserable because those in Hell will stand for a long time, hungry and thirsty, in chains and shackles, and then when they are thrown into the fire, they will see a kind of liquid and a kind of plant... Thus, those inhabitants of Hell will feel a desire to quench their hunger and thirst, which overwhelm them, but they will see that the water does not quench their thirst, but rather burns them from the inside and out and that the plant does not satisfy their hunger or provide any benefit; thus, their desire to quench their hunger and thirst will turn into exhaustion and despair.

Indeed, God Almighty states the following:

“…If they implore relief they will be granted water like melted brass, that will scald their faces...” (al-Kahf, 18/29)

Thus, He states that this situation will continue forever and will never end.

Will plants grow in Hell?

It can be answered in two ways:

1. The word “dari’” in the verse does not mean a plant that grows in Hell and is eaten by those in Hell. It is a metaphor (analogy). The inhabitants of hell will eat things that will never satisfy them or, just as someone whose provision is “dari’” (thorns) suffers torment while eating it, the inhabitants of Hell will suffer torment of hunger.

2. “Yes, plants can be found in Hell because just as it is probable that the human body, though made of flesh, bone, and blood, will remain in Hell indefinitely, so too is it probable that plants will grow there. The same can be said for the chains, shackles, scorpions, and snakes in Hell.”

Furthermore, the food of the inhabitants of Hell is not of the kind that humans eat. For example, that food is a type of thorn. Camels eat thorns but they do not eat this kind of food with pleasure. Therefore, this food has no nutritional value whatsoever. For something to be considered food, it must first and foremost satisfy the body’s hunger and provide it with strength and fat. This analogy is like saying, “So-and-so has no shadow other than the sun” to state that there is no shadow at all. (See Razi, ibid)

- What is the food and drink of the people of Hell like?

The food of the people of Hell is the zaqqum tree (see as-Saaffat: 37/64-66), and their drink is boiling water and pus. (see (al-Waqia, 56/53-55; an-Naba, 78/25) Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink. (See an-Naba, 78/24)

“... Seize ye him, and bind ye him. And burn ye him in the Blazing Fire. Further, make him march in a chain, whereof the length is seventy cubits! This was he that would not believe in Allah Most High. And would not encourage the feeding of the indigent! So no friend hath he here this Day. Nor hath he any food except the corruption from the washing of wounds. Which none do eat but those in sin “ (See al-Haaqqa, 69/30-37)

“Then will ye truly,- O ye that go wrong, and treat (Truth) as Falsehood! Ye will surely taste of the Tree of Zaqqum. Then will ye fill your insides therewith, And drink Boiling Water on top of it: Indeed ye shall drink like diseased camels raging with thirst.” (al-Waqiah, 56/51-55)

“How dreadful the drink! How uncomfortable a couch to recline on.” (al-Kahf, 18/29)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:

“The people of Hell will be given hunger equal to their torment and they will beg for help to be satisfied. They will be given bitter and dry thorns called ‘Dari’’, which neither nourish them nor satisfy their hunger.” (al-Ghashiyah, 88/6-7)

“Then they ask to be fed again, but they are served thorny food that they cannot swallow.” (al-Muzzammil, 73/13)

“Remembering that in the world they used to get rid of food stuck in their throats by drinking, they ask to be given something to drink, but they are offered boiling water with iron hooks, which burns and scorches their faces when they get close to it, and when it enters their stomachs, it tears apart everything in their stomachs...”

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) continued his speech as follows:

“Then the unbelievers will say, ‘Pray to your Lord because there is no one more merciful than your Lord’. Then, they will pray as follows: ‘Our Lord! Our misfortune overwhelmed us, and we became a people astray! Our Lord! Bring us out of this: if ever we return (to Evil), then shall we be wrong-doers indeed! (al-Muminun, 23/106-109)

“And Allah will say to them, ‘Be ye driven into it (with ignominy)! And speak ye not to Me.’ (al-Muminun, 23:108)“

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) continued:

“They will lose all hope of salvation, and then they will begin to cry out in regret and lament, ‘Woe to us!’” (See Tirmidhi, Sifatu Jahannam, 4; Bayhaqi, al-Ba’th wan- Nushur, no. 600; Mundhiri, at-Targhib wat-Tarhib, no. 5407)

“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared, and die only as Muslims.” (Aal-i Imran, 3/102)

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) recited the verse above and said:

“If even a single drop from the zaqqum tree (or its sap) were to fall into the world’s oceans, it would disrupt the lives of all people. So, what would become of those whose food is zaqqum?” (Tirmidhi, Sifatu Jahannam, 4; Hakim, al-Mustadrak, 2/294)

Just as the food and drink of Paradise do not resemble the blessings of this world, so too do the food and drink of Hell never resemble the torments of this world. Just as Allah encourages us to perform the deeds that will lead to entry into Paradise by describing Paradise and its contents, so too does He want to warn us against the deeds that will lead to Hell by describing Hell and its contents. This is only one of the manifestations of His infinite mercy. To be graced with those manifestations of mercy, we must follow the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who was sent as a Mercy to the Realms so that this mercy may also be manifested in us...

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