Alcohol and other intoxicants

While visiting my family over the holidays, I got into some fun and interesting conversations with my cousins and stepsisters, as usual. Somehow the conversation ends up gravitating towards religion at one point or another, al7amdulellah. This time the topic of alcohol was brought up when my cousin had been chatting about hanging out with another family member to go out for drinks or for "happy hour." At any rate, he noticed I do not drink alcohol. He asked me why not in a loving way. I explained that Islam forbids it. I also explained that it is also my personal preference not to. I knew it would not end there because my cousin likes to ask hard and intelligent questions which I always appreciate because it inspires me to continue pushing for and seeking more knowledge. He asked me why Islam forbids it. I stated it is a command from Allah and I obey it. I stated that the Qur'an specifically addresses it.
He asked me where in the Qur'an and I told him the verse from -al-Baqarah 2:219
" They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and benefit for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit."

He wanted to know where else this was mentioned about prohibiting it completely, because he reasoned that it should be okay to drink with moderation, as he used the example of Jesus (pbuh) turning water into wine. However, many fail to look deeper into the issue of Jesus and alcohol (which I hope to address in more detail at another time insha allah). Jesus (pbuh) changed water into wine, yes. It was seen as a miracle and one must fully read the story of that day to fully comprehend what this meant. It could be argued that Jesus (Pbuh) drank of wine on occasion in different verses of the bible (John 2, Matthew 26:29), although I would have to further examine this to be for sure and on that note let me explain a little about what wine actually was in those days. In Jesus' (pbuh) time, the water was not very clean. Without modern sanitation, the water was filled with bacteria and viruses.

As a result, people often drank wine (or grape juice) because it was far less likely to be contaminated. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Timothy was instructed to stop drinking the water (which was probably causing his stomach problems) and instead drink wine. In that day, the common drink of wine was fermented, but not to the degree nor for the time it is today. It is incorrect to say that it was grape juice, but it is also incorrect to say that it was the same thing as the wine we use today.

While the bible does not specifically prohibit the consumption of alcohol, it does command to absolutely refrain from drunkenness and addiction to alcohol (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 6:12). There are definitely points in the Bible that make it extremely difficult to argue that a Christian drinking alcohol in any quantity is pleasing to God. So, in my view, I see the religions as a progression for humanity. God gave us a process. He did not slam us at once with the commands in the Qur'an, but slowly built up to it. It was a progression from Judaism to Islam.

The complete prohibition of alcohol therefore came with time and progress. So easy for us to swallow. Al7amdulellah. As for the Qur'an, when my cousin asked me to state other points where alcohol is specifically prohibited in the Qur'an I began to realize that I actually had no recollection of reading a part in the Qur'an where it specifically prohibited alcohol completely and explicitly. So I told my cousin I would look into that. I explained to him in the mean time that it may have been acceptable to drink a little as long as one did not get intoxicated before the Qur'an was revealed.

I know it was never condoned in the religion even before Islam to get intoxicated because the old testament specifically addresses this. The Bible condemns drunkenness and its effects (Proverbs 23:29-35). Christians are also commanded to not allow their bodies to be “mastered” by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12; 2 Peter 2:19). Scripture also forbids a Christian from doing anything that might offend other Christians or might encourage them to sin against their conscience (1 Corinthians 8:9-13). In light of these principles, it would be extremely difficult for any Christian to say they are drinking alcohol to the glory of God, and Christians are commanded that everything they do that they do for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Intoxicants altogether were forbidden in the Qur'an through several separate verses revealed at different times over a period of years. At first, it was forbidden for Muslims to attend to prayers while intoxicated (the Arabic word for drunk or intoxicated is "Sukara" which is also from the same root that the word sugar comes from.)(4:43). Then a later verse was revealed which I mentioned at the beginning. This was the next step in turning people away from consumption of it. Finally, "intoxicants" were called "abominations," intending to turn people away from God and forget about prayer, and Muslims were ordered to abstain (5:90-91).

The word for "wine" or "intoxicants" is al-khamr, which is related to the verb "to ferment." So basically any fermented drink could be interpreted through this or any intoxicating substance, including drugs.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was also quoted as saying something like this to his followers: if it intoxicates in a large amount, it is forbidden even in a small amount. Muslims respect and take to heart the words of the prophets in addition to the holy words of the Qur'an.

One more thing I wanted to mention is that it is not only about submission to Allah, but also it is for our good. For example, if we are not even allowed to drink a little bit, then we do not have to be concerned about at what point we would know we could get to without becoming intoxicated, for everyone is different in regards to this. Also, alcohol is like a snake, you do not know its got you until it has bitten you. By then it is too late. This was inspired through a biblical proverb I read a long time ago. Also, some people have tendencies toward alcoholism, and even one little sip can get them addicted to alcohol. Some may not even know they have this until they try their drink and by then it would be tool ate for them too. So in the end, it is not only better judgment to avoid it, but it is commanded of the All mighty and He knows best. Sub7anallah.

May this entry enrich you.. This is dedicated to my beloved cousin to whom I invite to always continue to ask the hard questions as it is a sign of wisdom and a thirst for knowledge, an admired quality to possess. For more interesting knowledge about Islam, I recommend www.islamonline.net