Wine is forbidden as a medicine. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) related, “Once, one of my daughters was ill, so I made wine in a container for her. Then, the Prophet (peace be upon him) entered while it was boiling. He asked, “What is this, Umm Salamah (radi Allahu anha)?” She replied, “It is just a medicine for my daughter.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said, “Allah has not made a cure for you in what He has
TAG: alcohol
Drinking Alcohol (Part 1)
Allah, Most High says, {O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones and (divination by) arrows, is an abomination, of Satan’s handiwork: Eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from Prayer: will ye not then abstain?} (Al-Ma’idah: 90-91)
Thus, Allah the Exalted forbids wine and warns us of approaching it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A void wine, it is the mother of abomination. ” (It is a part of a hadith reported by Ad-Darqutni, An-Nasa’i, and AI-Baihaqi)
Diet In Islam The Greatest Gift – The Human Body
Diet plays a vital role in the daily life of a believer. Many verses in the Noble Quran draw a person’s attention to themselves and invite them to carefully study their body and soul, as well as the nature of their mutual relationship. By doing so, one will firstly find in it strong evidence of the existence of Allah and that Allah has not created mankind and all other beings of this world without any purpose, as mentioned in the Noble Quran: “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose.” (3:191)
The Importance of Healthiness
It is therefore necessary to ensure that the physical body is kept healthy so that the soul and spirit may also remain healthy, thus in turn aiding the believer in the service of both his spiritual and material attainment. Diet, therefore, plays an important role in this purpose. For this reason, Islam has prohibited certain foods due to their ill effects and permitted all other pure, good, and clean food products. Allah Ta’ala says in the Noble Qur’an:
“O’ Believers! Eat of the good and pure (lawful) that We have provided you with and be grateful to Allah, if you truly worship Him.” (2:172)
Muslims in general are advised to eat good and pure things and not to indulge in impure, bad, and harmful things, thus following their open enemy, Shaitan: “O People! Eat of what is lawful and good on the Earth, and do not follow the footsteps of Shaitan, for he is your open enemy.” (2:168)
Prostrate Yourselves Unto Allah
[ALLAH’S Quran – 41:37] “Among His signs are the day and the night, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah, Who created them all, if you truly worship Him alone”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said:
[Bukhari, Book #2, Hadith #50] “Do you know what is meant by believing in Allah alone?” They replied, “Allah and His Apostle know better.” Thereupon the Prophet said, It means:
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle.
2. To offer prayers perfectly
3. To pay the Zakat (obligatory charity)
4. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
5. And to pay Al-Khumus (one-fifth of the booty to be given in Allah’s Cause).
Then he forbade them four things, namely, Hantam, Dubba,’ Naqir Ann Muzaffat or Muqaiyar; (These were the names of pots in which Alcoholic drinks were prepared) (The Prophet mentioned the container of wine, and he meant the wine itself). The Prophet further said (to them): “Memorize them (these instructions) and convey them to the people whom you have left behind.”
Why Islam Forbids Alcohol, Drugs?
Alcohol and narcotic drugs are now the greatest social problem all over the world.
It is said that Omar (later the Second Rightly-Guided Caliph) prayed: “O Allah give us a decisive indication about wine, it takes away the money and the intellect. (Ahmad) Allah revealed: “They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: In them is great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.” (2:219)
Omar continued to pray: “O Allah indicate a manifest indication about wine.” Allah revealed: “O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter.” (4:43)
Omar prayed again: “O Allah indicate us about wine.” Allah revealed: “O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling … are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaitan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salat (the prayer). So will you not then abstain?” (5:90-91)
After hearing this revelation, Omar exclaimed: “We are refrained, we are refrained.”
The ban on the use of intoxicants was gradual. This evil was eradicated by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He warned about the curse of Allah on all those associated with it from production to its consumption.
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whatever much of it intoxicates, then little of it is also prohibited.” (Abu Dawood from Jabir)
Abdullah Bin Omar is quoted to have said: “The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) said that ‘Anybody who attributed to me anything which I did not say will go to Hell.'” After this Abdullah Bin Omar said: “I heard the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) saying ‘No doubt Allah has prohibited the wine, games of chance and the wine extracted from “Ghabeera” (a flower tree with fruit.)
Narcotic drugs are also banned in Islam. This ban was enforced in the 7th century for the welfare of humanity. The latest developments in medical science have proved the consumption of alcohol and narcotics to be a social evil causing great harm not only to society but also to human health. If we look into the expenditure incurred on drinks (intoxicants) in European and American countries we get an alarming figure of thousands of millions of dollars. France has the highest alcohol consumption. French men consume 200 million liters of alcoholic beverages every year.
Alcohol makes the man unstable and creates multifarious problems. It breaks the family ties and brings about a complete disruption in family life. The man under its influence fills the destructive bowl, gets excited with an urge to commit crimes, and does not hesitate to commit adultery, incest, and fornication.
Alcohol abuse presents society with a staggering bill. In the US, somewhere between $25 billion to $40 billion are lost in terms of labor productivity, treatment, and welfare. (Koffend 1979)
In 1979, the World Health Organization in a report stated that alcoholism is becoming a major problem in developing countries. In Zambia and Venezuela, the abuses of alcohol are linked with increasing crimes and are the major cause of road accidents. In South Africa, 75 percent of the population is affected directly by the adverse effects of alcoholism. In the US, 40 percent of all road accidents are due to alcohol abuse, and alcohol accounts for 50 percent of criminal arrests.
Man is a social animal. He is superior to animals by virtue of his mental faculties. If these faculties are impaired, he will act like an animal. Alcohol and narcotic drugs impair the higher centers of the brain as a result a man loses judgment, intellect, learning, reason, memory, and orientation. The lower centers of the brain are freed from the inhibiting influence of the higher centers causing excitement and animalistic behaviors. Owing to this, the intoxicated person behaves recklessly and becomes loquacious and loses self-control, totters, and is led by evil desires to commit crimes.
The following are the bodily harms or diseases of alcoholism observed by medical science.
1) Peripheral Neuritis, i.e. numbness and weakness in the nervous system.
2) Wernicks Encephalopathy, causing the disturbance in consciousness and neurological problems.
3) Korsakoffs Psychosis i.e. impairment of memory delusion.
4) Delirium Tremens. The alcoholic is confused, restless, misidentifies people and places, and has a severe tremor.
5) Cerebella degeneration.
6) Alcoholic gastritis causes heartburn, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting.
7) Pancreatitis. It may result in hemorrhage resulting in death.
There are some other severe diseases like cardiomyopathy abnormality of the rhythm of the heart and beriberi heart disease etc., etc.
The above facts make it crystal clear that alcohol and narcotic drugs not only take away the hard-earned money of the people but also their intellect and health and leave them worthless. Caliph Omar was wise when he prayed in the earlier 7th century for the ban saying intoxicants take away the money and the intellect. Allah the Omniscient, the All-Wise Who cares for the welfare of his bondmen banned intoxicants and delivered them from the pernicious evil.
Now in 21th century all the sensible world is making a lot of hues and cry to stop alcoholism only to learn that it is reaching epidemic proportions.
It is Islam that tackled all social evils and crimes and devised ways and means to save humanity from the menace of narcotics and alcoholism.
Chori Aur Sharab Noshi
The Quranic Ruling On Alcohol
[1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[5:90] O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.
Alcohol is not a good provision as understood from the following verse.
[16:67] And from the fruits of date palms and grapes you produce intoxicants, as well as good provisions. This should be (sufficient) proof for people who understand.
The following verse explains why alcohol is not a good provision.
[2:219] They ask you about intoxicants and gambling: say, “In them, there is a gross sin and some benefits for the people. But their sinfulness far outweighs their benefit.” They also ask you what to give to charity: say, “The excess.” GOD thus clarifies the revelations for you, that you may reflect,
The above verse states that there is a gross “sin” in alcohol. The following verse explains why there is a gross “sin” in consuming alcohol.
[5:91] The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you from remembering GOD, and from observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Will you then refrain?
The above verse states that the devil wants to distract us from observing the Contact Prayers with the help of alcohol. The following verse explains how alcohol distracts us from observing the contact prayers.
[4:43] O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on the road, traveling; if you are ill or traveling, or you had urinary or fecal-related excretion (such as gas), or contacted the women (sexually), and you cannot find water, you shall observe Tayammum (dry ablution) by touching clean dry soil, then wiping your faces and hands therewith. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.
The following verse explains to us why do we need to avoid consuming alcohol.
[5:90] O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.
Please note that verses 5:90 and 5:91 above give us an understanding that the devil wants to use alcohol as a tool to misguide human beings. So, in the Quranic context consuming alcohol harms us when we commit sins. So, “sin” is the aftereffect of “harm”. In the translation of verse 2:219 above, the word “harm” might be more appropriate than the word “sin”, since, the meaning of “harm” is the opposite of “benefit”. The following translation of 2:219 by “Progressive Muslims” conveys this understanding.
“Progressive Muslims”
They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say: “In them is great harm, and a benefit for mankind; but their harm is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you how much are they to give, say: “The excess.” It is thus that God clarifies for you the revelations that you may think.
The Quran uses very straightforward verses and the very strong word “prohibition” for certain foods but not for alcohol. The consumption of alcohol is discouraged and the reasons are given clearly by God and His messenger.
[2:173] He only prohibits for you the eating of animals that die of themselves (without human interference), blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than GOD. If one is forced (to eat these), without being malicious or deliberate, he incurs no sin. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
[3:7] He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses – which constitute the essence of the scripture – as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create confusion and to extricate a certain meaning. None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, “We believe in this – all of it comes from our Lord.” Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.
[5:90] O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed.
[5:91] The devil wants to provoke animosity and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to distract you from remembering GOD, and from observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Will you then refrain?
Wine & Alcohol Are Forbidden
Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
A delegation of the ‘Abdul-Qais came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said: Messenger of Allah, verily ours is a tribe of Rabi’ah and there stand between you and us the unbelievers of the Mudar and we find no freedom to come to you except in the sacred month. Direct us to an act which we should ourselves perform and invite those who live beside us. Upon this, the Prophet remarked: I command you to do four things and prohibit you against four acts. (The four deeds which you are commanded to do are): Faith in Allah, and then he explained it for them and said: Testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the performance of the Prayer, payment of Zakah, that you pay khums (one-fifth) of the booty fallen to your lot, and prohibit you to use round gourd, wine jars, wooden pots or skins for wine.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 23
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) observed: Whoever fornicates is not a believer so long as he commits it and no thief who steals is a believer as long as he commits theft, and no drunkard who drinks wine is a believer as long as he drinks it.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 86
‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:
When the concluding verses of Surah Al-Baqarah were revealed, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) went out and read them out to the people, and he then forbade them to trade in wine.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 2958
Jabir bin ‘Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
I heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying in the Year of Conquest while he was in Makkah: Verily, Allah and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of wine, carcass, swine, and idols. It was said: Allah’s Messenger, you see that the fat of the carcass is used for coating the boats and varnishing the hides and people use it for lighting purposes, whereupon he said: No, it is forbidden. Then Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: May Allah the Exalted and Majestic destroy the Jews; when Allah forbade the use of the fat of carcass for them, they melted it, and then sold it and made use of its price (received from it).
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 2960
Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) lashed a man who drank wine with two palm branches about forty lashes.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3218
Anas b Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
I was the cup-bearer of people in the house of Abu Talhah on the day when liquor was made unlawful. Their alcoholic drinks had been prepared from dry dates or fresh dates when the announcer made the announcement. He (Abu Talhah) said to me: Go out and find out (what the announcement was). I got out (and found) an announcer making this announcement: Behold, alcohol has been declared unlawful. He said: The alcohol (was spilt and) flowed in the lanes of Medina. Abu Talhah said to me: Go out and spill it, and I spilled it. They said or some of them said: Such and such were killed, such and such were killed while (alcohol) was still in their stomachs. He (the narrator) said: I do not know whether it is the narration transmitted by Anas (or by someone else). Then Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, revealed: Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate (in the past), if they fear Allah (by keeping away from His forbidden things), and believe and do righteous good deeds. [Surah Al-Maida – Ayah: 93]
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3662
Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited the mixing of raisins and fresh dates, and dry dates and fresh dates.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3674
Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Do not prepare Nabidh by mixing nearly ripe dates and fresh dates together, and do not prepare Nabidh by mixing grapes and dates together, but prepare Nabidh from each (one of them) separately.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3681
Ibn ‘Umar’s Hadith, may Allah be pleased with them.
Sa’id bin Jubair said: I testify that Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn ‘Abbas testify that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade to prepare Nabidh in-ground, painted jars, varnished jar and groove.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3705
‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade (the preparation) of Nabidh in vessels, they said all the people cannot (afford to have) them. He (the Holy Prophet) then granted them permission (to prepare) Nabidh in a green pitcher, but not in those besmeared with pitch.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3726
‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked about Al-Bit’ (an intoxicant prepared from honey), whereupon he said: Every drink that causes intoxication is forbidden.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3727
Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Every intoxicant is alcohol (khamr) and all alcohol is unlawful. He who drinks alcohol in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not drink it in the Hereafter.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 3733
Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Of the signs (or indications) of the Last Hour, knowledge would be taken away and ignorance would prevail (upon the world), the liquor would be drunk, and adultery would become rampant.
Hadith number in Sahih Muslim [Arabic only]: 4824
{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur’an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: “My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness),” and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: “I am one of the Muslims.”} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels.” [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, “Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all.”
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa’ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]