إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا فِىٓ أَعْنَٰقِهِمْ أَغْلَٰلًا فَهِىَ إِلَى ٱلْأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ
13:6; 76;5.
Important Words:
مقمحون (their heads are forced up) is derived from قمح. They say قمح البعیر i.e. the camel raised his head from the water and refused to drink, his thirst being satisfied or by reason of his dislike of water. أقمح means, he raised his head and contracted his eyes. أقمحه الغل means, the collar caused his (the captive’s) head to be raised by reason of the straitness thereof. أقمح بأنفهmeans, he was proud; behaved proudly; or elevated his nose from pride. إقماح also signifies the elevating of the head by means of pride (Aqrab & Lane).
Commentary:
The reference in the word أغلال (chains) may be to the "shackles" of customs, usages, and prejudices, by which disbelievers are fettered and which prevent them from accepting the truth. The word مقمحون (their heads are forced up) may also refer to disbelievers’ notion of false superiority and pride which leads to the same result. The verse may have reference also to the Battle of Badr or to the Fall of Mecca. After the Battle of Badr the Meccan chiefs were brought in chains, and at the Fall of Mecca they were seized with utter confusion, the word مقمحون (see root meaning of the word under "Important Words" above) giving a graphic description of their bewilderment and consternation when all of a sudden they found the Holy Prophet at the very gates of Mecca, at the head of an army of ten thousand strong. Their eyes remained fixed in a stare and they ran about with heads raised in bewilderment.
13:6; 76:5.
Shackles of customs, usages and prejudices, by which disbelievers are fettered and which prevent them from accepting the truth and smother all efforts at reform.
Even when a person tries to use his intelligence and to get away from the stranglehold of customs, etc. he is under pressure from various quarters, and he can scarcely see aright.