TUBA and ZAQQUM| Islamic Concept
The ‘tree of Tuba’ and the ‘tree of Zaqqum’ are two trees in the hereafter, the former in heaven, the latter in hell. They are also Quranic metaphors for two foundational currents in the history of humanity.
The first is what Said Nursi calls the ‘line of prophethood’, and its source of knowledge is revelation, aided by reason; the second is what he calls the ‘line of philosophy’, and its source of knowledge is reason, but unaided by revelation. To follow the line of prophethood is to plant, harvest and eat from the beautiful and fruitful ‘tree of Tuba’, while to follow the ‘line of philosophy’ is to plant, harvest and eat from the bitter, disgusting fruits of the ugly ‘tree of Zaqqum’.
To follow revelation without reason leads to superstition and blind following; to follow reason without revelation leads to corruption and tyranny. When mankind places its trust in revelation aided by reason, wonderful things can happen. When mankind places its trust in reason alone, hell on earth is the result.
(Inspired by Said Nursi)
