Surah Ibrahim — Verse 26

Word Meanings:

• Khabithah (خبيثة): Evil, foul, or corrupt.
• Ujtuththat (اجتثت): Uprooted completely, torn out from the very base.
• Qarar (قرار): Stability, firmness, or a place of settlement.

Tafsir (Explanation):

After Allah Almighty presented the parable of the good word in the previous verse—a word that is firmly rooted like a mighty tree, always fresh and yielding fruit at every season by its Lord’s permission—He now presents the contrasting parable of the evil word. The evil word is the word of disbelief, polytheism (shirk), and every utterance that contradicts faith in Allah and His Oneness. Its likeness is that of a foul, bitter tree—the colocynth (hanthal) tree—which is uprooted from the surface of the earth entirely. It has no deep roots to anchor it, no strong trunk to support it, and no branches reaching toward the sky. The slightest wind blows it away, and it withers and dies, leaving nothing behind.

Such is the state of the word of disbelief and its speaker. It has no firm foundation in this life, no lasting benefit, and no upward ascent to Allah. No good deed from its owner rises to the heavens, and its end is utter ruin and loss. Just as the foul tree cannot produce sweet fruit, the disbeliever cannot produce righteous deeds that are accepted by Allah. And just as the uprooted tree has no stability, the disbeliever has no true stability or peace—neither in this world nor in the Hereafter.

A Da'wah Reflection:

Dear reader, ponder deeply on this profound parable. Your words are not merely sounds that vanish into the air—they are seeds planted in the soil of your heart and life. If you utter the word of faith—*La ilaha illa Allah*—you plant a tree whose roots sink deep into the earth of certainty and whose branches rise high into the heavens of divine acceptance. That tree bears fruit for you at every moment: peace in your heart, light in your path, and reward in your grave and on the Day of Judgment.

But if you utter the word of disbelief or engage in corrupt speech, you plant a bitter, worthless tree that will be uprooted and scattered by the winds. What a loss it is to spend one's life building on sand! Allah, in His immense mercy, has shown you the reality of both paths so that you may choose wisely. Choose the tree that stands firm, the word that ascends to the heavens, and the faith that brings you eternal stability. Do not let a fleeting moment of worldly desire uproot your eternal happiness. Embrace the pure word of Islam, and let it anchor your soul in the storms of this life, for only then will you find true peace—here and forever.