The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 124
118 Then He said: They will be given to drink therein of a cup tempered with ginger. The Arabic word for ginger (Zanjabi) is a compound of zana' and jabal. Zanā' in Arabic idiom means ascending and jabal means a mountain, thus Zana' Jabal means: He ascended the mountain. It should be remembered that after a person recovers from a poisonous disease he passes through two stages before he is restored to full health and strength. The first stage is when the poisonous matter is completely overcome and dangerous tendencies are reformed and poisonous conditions are safely averted and the attack of the fatal upsurge is completely suppressed, but the limbs are still weak, strength is lacking and the patient treads wearily. The second stage is when the patient is restored to full health and his body achieves full strength and he feels that he can climb hills and run along the heights. This condition is achieved in the third stage concerning which God Almighty has said that godly people of the highest rank drink of cups that are flavoured with ginger; that is to say, that arriving at the full strength of their spiritual condition they can climb high mountains; meaning that they carry out great projects and make great sacrifices in the cause of God.