The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 133
127 For Amm is formed by the first and last letters of this statement. And frequent use has led to replacing the letter Dhal [] with the letter Zā [j]. Thus, God Almighty has described the words of faith uttered in this life as the trees of paradise. In the same way He has described the words of faithlessness uttered in this life as the tree of hell which He has called Zaqqum, and has thus indicated that the root of paradise and of hell is laid in this very life. At another place hell is described as, نَارُ اللهِ الْمَوْقَدَةُ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْدَةِ 170 meaning that hell is a fire the source of which is the wrath of God and which is kindled by sin and overcomes the heart. This is an indication that at the root of this fire are the sorrows and griefs and torments which afflict the heart. All spiritual torments arise in the heart and then envelop the whole body. At another place it is said: وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ meaning that the fuel of the fire of hell which keeps it blazing is of two types. First those men who either 176. You did consider yourself the mighty, the honourable. (The Holy Quran, ad-Dukhān 44:50) 177. It is Allah's kindled fire, Which rises over the hearts. (The Holy Quran, al- Humazah 104:7-8) 178. Whose fuel is men and stones, (The Holy Quran, al-Baqarah 2:25)