The Majestic Quran

37. As-Saffat Arranged in Rows This chapter was revealed in the middle-Makkan period. Its central theme is proving the truthfulness of the Islamic doctrines: Tawhid , Risalah , and Akhirah . It opens with three attention-grabbing oaths that describe the mysterious and the perennial Heavenly battles between the angels and Satan, but comes back to Earthly battles of Prophets and their disobedient communities . 16 It tells the stories of six messengers, describing their heroic and courageous efforts to guide their communities. In the dream of Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice, it points to the inner battle: love of children versus love of God. Two scenes from Judgement Day are described: leaders and their followers are at loggerheads, blaming each other for their dreadful fate; a pious person finds his friend in Hell, and reminds him how he tried to misguide him, but failed in doing so. Zaqqum, the food of the people of Hell is described as: A tree that grows in the middle of Hell. Its fruit is like the heads of Satan. They will eat from it to fill their bellies, then drink boiling water; their home is Hell (64–68). The Zaqqum tree resembles the desert cactus, with a poisonous sap and a foul smell, that causes blistering and even death. The chapter returns to the role of the angels and how they are organised in Paradise, and ends by stressing the significance of the beliefs of Tawhid and Risalah . In the name of God, the Kind, the Caring.