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their needs and by not fulfilling his obligations, as the head of the family, toward his wife and children; or
if we elaborated on the spiritual, material, and moral evils which proliferate in societies and nations due
to the widespread consumption of alcohol.
A researcher in this area has rightly stated that: Mankind has not suffered any greater calamity than that
brought about by the use of alcohol. If statistics were collected worldwide of all the patients in hospitals
who, due to alcohol, are suffering from mental disorders, delirium tremens, nervous breakdowns, and
ailments of the digestive tract, to which are added the statistics of suicides, homicides, bankruptcies,
sales of properties, and broken homes related to the consumption of alcohol, the number of such cases
would be so staggering that, in comparison to it, all exhortation and preaching against drinking would
seem too little.
The Arabs during the period of jahiliyyah were very fond of wine and drinking parties. This love of wine is
reflected in their language, which has nearly one hundred names for it, and in their poetry, which
celebrates the praises of wine, goblets, drinking parties, and so on.
To eradicate this pervasive evil from society, Allâh Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala adopted a wise course of
education and training, prohibiting it in measured stages. First, He made it clear to them that the harm of
drinking wine is greater than its benefit; next, He told them not to come to salat while intoxicated; and
finally, He revealed the verse in Surah al-Maidah which prohibited it totally and decisively: O you who
believe! Truly, intoxicants and gambling and divination by arrows are an abomination of Satan’s doing:
avoid it in order that you may be successful. Assuredly Satan desires to sow enmity and hatred among
you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from the remembrance of Allâh and from salat. Will
you not then desist? (5:93-94 (90-91))
In these two verses, Allâh strictly prohibited wine and gambling, linking them to idols and seeking omens
by means of divining arrows, and declared them to be rijs (abominable or filthy), a term which the Qur‘ân
reserves for extremely indecent and evil things. He ascribes them to the work of Satan, which indeed
consists only of obscenity and evil, and commands the Believers to abstain from them as the only way to
attain success. Allâh Ta‘ala then mentions the harmful effects of wine and gambling on society, namely,
the breaking of relationships and ensuing enmity and hatred, in addition to the harm they do to man’s
soul by causing him to neglect the religious obligations of remembering Allâh and of performing salat.
The verses end with a very stern admonition to abstain: “Will you not then desist?” And when the
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) had finished reciting these verses for the first time, the listeners answered with the
fervent cry, “We have desisted, O Rabb! We have desisted!”
The response of the Muslims to these verses was remarkable indeed. At the time some people were
drinking, with partly-filled cups in their hands. As soon as they heard someone announcing, “Wine has
indeed been prohibited,” they poured the remaining drinks upon the ground and broke the big clay pots
in which other drinks were being fermented.
Many present-day governments throughout the world are convinced of the harmful effects of alcohol on
individuals, families, and society. Some governments, such as that of the United States, have even tried
to abolish alcohol by passing, and attempting to enforce, laws prohibiting the drinking of alcohol. It is only
Islâm which has succeeded in combating and eradicating it.
The churchmen hold differing opinions concerning the position of alcohol in Christianity. Some argue that
the Biblical text permits drinking in small quantities, since it is good for the digestion. (See, for example, I
Tim. 5:23.) But if this should be true, even though a little wine may be beneficial to the digestion, this little
must be prohibited, as a small amount leads to large amounts and one glass to other glasses, until one
becomes‘ addicted to it. For this reason Islâm’s stand in prohibiting alcohol and in blocking all avenues
which lead to drinking is very clear and unequivocal.
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Anything That Intoxicates Is Haram
The first declaration made by the Prophet (peace be him) concerning this matter was that not only is
wine prohibited but that the definition of khamr extends to any substance which intoxicates, in whatever
form or under whatever name it may appear. Thus, example, beer and similar drinks are haram.
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) was once asked about certain drinks made from honey, corn, or barley by the
process of fermenting them until they became alcoholic. Allâh’s Messenger (s.a.w.s.), blessed as he was
with the best of speech‘ replied succinctly, “Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram.”
(Compiled by Muslim.)
And ‘Umar declared from the pulpit of the Prophet, “Khamr is that which befogs the mind.” (Compiled by
al-Bukhâri and Muslim.)
Whatever Intoxicates in Large Amounts is Haram in Any Amount
Islâm takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants, regardless of whether the amount is little
or much. If an individual is permitted to take but a single step along this road, other steps follow; he
starts walking and then running, and does not stop at any stage. This is why the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said,
“Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is haram.” (Compiled by Ahmad Abû
Daoud, and al-Tirmidhî)
And again, “If a bucketful intoxicates, a sip of it is haram.” (Compiled by Ahmad Abû Daoud, and al-
Tirmidhî)
Trading in Alcohol
The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) did not stop at prohibiting the drinking of alcohol, whether much or little, but he
also forbade any trading in it, even with non-Muslims. It is not permissible for a Muslim to import or
export alcoholic beverages, or to own or work in a place which sells them. In connection with alcohol, the
Prophet (s.a.w.s.) cursed ten categories of people saying: Truly, Allâh has cursed khamr and has cursed
the one who produces it, the one for whom it is produced, the one who drinks it, the one who serves it,
the one who carries it, the one for whom it is carried, the one who sells it, the one who earns from the
sale of it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought. (Compiled by al-Tirmidhî and Ibn
Mâjah, on reliable authority.)
When the above verse of Surah al-Maidah was revealed, the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) announced: Truly, Allâh
has prohibited khamr. Therefore, whoever hears this verse and possesses some of this substance
should neither drink it nor sell it. The narrator of this hadith says, “The people brought forth whatever
they possessed of it and poured it out in the streets of Madinah.” (Compiled by Muslim.)
Since the Islâmic method is to block all avenues which lead to the haram, it is also haram for a Muslim to
sell grapes to a person whom he knows will make khamr from them. A hadith states: If someone
stockpiles grapes during harvest time and holds them in order to sell them to a Jew or Christian or
anyone else (even if he be a Muslim) who produces khamr, he will be leaping into the Fire with his eyes
open. (Compiled by al-Tabarani in Al-Awsat, and classified as sahih by al-Hafiz in Bulugh al-Maram.)
Alcohol Cannot Be Given as a Gift
Just as the sale of alcohol or receiving the price of it is haram for the Muslim, likewise giving it as a gift to
anyone, such as a Christian or Jewish friend, is haram. Alcoholic beverages cannot be received or given
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