The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam — Page 126
120 illustrate these two conditions; one term is camphor which means suppression and the other is ginger which means climbing. These are the two conditions which are encountered by seekers after God. The remaining part of verse is: إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلْكَفِرِينَ سَلْسِلَا وَأَغْللًا وَسَعِيرًاO 107 That is, for the disbelievers who have no inclination towards accepting the truth, we have prepared chains and collars for the neck and burning sensation of a blazing fire. This means that for those who reject the truth and have no inclination towards accepting it, God has prepared chains and collars and a blazing fire. The meaning is of this verse is that those who do not seek God with a true heart suffer a severe reaction. They are so much involved with the world as if their feet are secured by chains, and they bend down so much towards worldly pursuits as if there are collars round their necks which do not permit them to lift their eyes towards heaven. They have a burning desire for the things of the world, property, authority, domination, wealth, etc. As God Almighty finds them unworthy and committed to undesirable pursuits He inflicts them with these three sufferings. This is an indication that every human action is followed by a corresponding action on 167. Verily, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and iron-collars and a blazing Fire. (The Holy Quran, ad-Dahr 76:5)