Commentary on Tafsir al-Jalalayn: “Is that” mentioned to them “a better provision” and it is what is prepared for the guest and others “or the tree of Zaqqum”

Allah the Exalted said: mentioned to them and it is what is prepared for the guest and others Is that better or the tree? Is the “am” here connected or disconnected? It appears that you do not know the difference between the connected and the disconnected. If you knew the difference between the disconnected and the connected, it would not have been difficult for you, and you would not have said this is disconnected. The connected “am” is that which is mentioned between two equal things and “or” can take its place. Here it is mentioned between two equal things, and it is correct to say “or” in its place: “Is that better or the tree?” As long as it is mentioned with an equivalent to what came before it, it is connected. Yes. As for the disconnected “am,” it is that which means “rather,” like His saying means “rather,” meaning their intellect does not command them to do this, but they are a transgressing people. So the connected “am” is that which is mentioned between two equal things and “or” takes its place, and the disconnected “am” is that which is mentioned between two different things and “rather” takes its place. Good, so this is connected. What is the answer? The answer is that it is indeed so, but it is mentioned either by way of mockery of those who were blessed in this world and forgot the bliss of the Hereafter, or otherwise, no one would find it difficult that that is better than the tree of Zaqqum. It is like His saying, the Exalted: For it is known to everyone that Allah is better, but this is mentioned by way of mockery of these people and that their objects of worship contain no good whatsoever.
Good, “Nuzulan” is a specification (tamyiz) because it came after the superlative noun. “Khayr” is a superlative noun from which the hamza was deleted due to frequent usage, and the original form of “khayr” is “akhayr,” like “sharr,” whose original form is “asharr.” “Nuzul” is what is prepared for the guest as a favor, such as food, drink, bedding, and lodging, and the like.
The tree of Zaqqum prepared for the people of the Fire. It is of the most vile trees, bitter in Tihamah, which Allah the Exalted grows in the blazing Fire, as will come later. This tree of Zaqqum is a tree with a vile appearance, a foul smell, and a bitter taste. If a person looks at it, he is not pleased with it; if he tastes it, it is bitter; and if he smells it, it is foul. So it is unpleasant in taste, foul in smell, and ugly in appearance. And yet, when it reaches their bellies, it does not benefit them in any way; it does not fatten them, nor does it satisfy hunger. And with that, it increases their burning and thirst, may Allah protect us, as Allah the Exalted mentioned in another verse. It is called the tree of Zaqqum, the scholars said, because they gulp it down (tazqamun), meaning they swallow it down, because it is foul, but hunger compels them and forces them to it, may Allah protect us. They think that this will fatten them or satisfy hunger, but it does not fatten them nor satisfy hunger, so they gulp it down.