وَءَاخَرُ مِن شَكْلِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجٌ 58
Translations
And other [punishments] of its type [in various] kinds.
Transliteration
Wa-akharu min shaklihī azwāj
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to the punishment in Hell, describing 'other [punishments] of similar kind as mates [to the tree of Zaqqum],' indicating that besides the painful tree Zaqqum, there are other torments of similar nature awaiting the inhabitants of Hell. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'azwāj' (mates/pairs) refers to companion punishments, emphasizing the multiplicity and variety of torments designed to match different sins. This contextualizes the comprehensive nature of divine justice in the afterlife.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Sad's description of Hell and its punishments (verses 54-64), which is part of the Meccan portion addressing disbelievers' denial of the afterlife. The broader context emphasizes warnings to those who reject God's signs, and this specific verse elaborates on the multi-faceted nature of Hell's punishment to illustrate both God's justice and the severity of consequences for rejecting faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The tree of Zaqqum is in Hell, and its fruits are like the heads of devils' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2429). Additionally, Surah Ad-Dukhan 43:43-44 discusses the same tree, with various ahadith describing Hell's punishments in detail throughout Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that rejection of God's guidance carries serious consequences measured in proportion to one's sins, encouraging conscious awareness of accountability in the afterlife and the importance of genuine repentance. It also highlights that God's justice is comprehensive and perfectly tailored—a mercy to believers and a warning to those who persist in denial.