الكافور
A cooling aromatic compound named in the Qur'an as flavoring a drink of Paradise, and discussed by commentators for its cooling medicinal properties.
إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْ كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا
“Indeed the righteous will drink from a cup mixed with camphor. (Qur'an 76:5)” (meaning, not a literal translation)
Commentators note this verse describes camphor as a pleasant flavoring in Paradise rather than giving medical instruction for this life — the medicinal use discussed below comes from Ibn al-Qayyim's separate commentary drawing on the broader classical medical tradition, not from this verse's own context.
Ibn al-Qayyim classifies camphor as strongly cooling, useful in classical medicine for reducing fever-related heat, though he cautions it is far more potent than foods like ginger and must be used sparingly. He describes it as one of the more powerful substances in his materia medica, reserved for specific excess-heat conditions rather than general everyday use the way milder foods might be.
Camphor is recognized in modern pharmacology as having genuine topical cooling and mild analgesic properties (found in some modern chest rubs and topical products in heavily diluted form), but its internal toxicity profile is also well documented and taken seriously in current safety guidance.