Among many of the prohibited things in Islam, alcohol included in one of them. The Holy Quran use the term khamr to described alcohol. Speaking about the history of prohibition of alcohol in Islam, it has been way prohibited before the universe was created, in the Holy Quran. In the past, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was alive, alcohol made only from honey, wheat, barley, grapes, and dates. Despite the natural ingredients, alcohol has forbidden at the time . Here are more of the prohibition of alcohol in Islam
1. The Holy Quran
The first prohibition of alcohol comes from the ultimate guides for all Muslims, the Holy Quran. Whether it’s alcohol or other intoxicant drinks, Quran has a strict prohibition to it, being mentioned thre times in the Holy Quran.
- Surah Al Baqara verse 219
“They question thee about strong drinks and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness.”
The verse mention how drinking wine is a form of sins, and Muslims are prohibited from doing sins. The verse were given to the Prophet when he was living, and by the time wine was the only alcoholic drink. Even though it was intoxicating, the disadvantage is even bigger than the benefits.
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- Surah An Nisa verse 43
“O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when ye are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter … “
Even though the verse does not explicitly prohibited alcohol, the verse explain the manner of worshiping Allah. A Muslims are not allowed to do prayers when he is drunk. Prayers considered a sacred ritual, a monologue between the human and their Creator, so the state of a Muslim when he meets Allah SWT should be in a pure condition. It’s important to purify themselves before doing the prayers, which means he must be sober.
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- Al Maida verse 90-91
“O ye who believe ! Strong drinks and games of chance and idols and divining of arrows are only an infamy of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed. Satan seeketh only to cast among you enmity and hatred by means of strong drink and games of chance, and turn you from remembrance of Allah and from (His) worship. So will ye not then abstain?”
The verse from Al Maida above stated even more clearly about the prohibition of alcohol in Islam. Alcoholic drinks, along with the accompanying act such as gambling is the handicraft of Shaytan that we should not come near.
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2. Hadith by the Prophet (peace be upon him)
Beside the Holy Quran, the saying and sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is also a guidance is the life Muslims. Here are several hadith regarding the prohibition of alcoholic drinks.
- Abdullah ibn Umar reported that the Prophet said,
“If anyone drinks wine God will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents God will forgive him. If he repeats the offence God will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents God will forgive him. If he again repeats the offence God will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents God will forgive him. If he repeats it a fourth time God will not accept prayer from him for forty days, and if he repents God will not forgive him, but will give him to drink of the river of the fluid flowing from the inhabitants of Hell.” – Tirmidhi
It becomes clear from the verse above that whoever drinks alcohol, the prayers will not be accepted for forty days, unless he repent. But if the act is done over four times, the the punishment will be very severe.
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- Abu Umama reported that the Prophet said,
“Allah has sent me as a mercy to the universe and as a guidance to the universe, and my Lord who is great and glorious has commanded me to annihilate stringed instruments, wind instruments, idols, crosses and pre-Islamic customs, and my Lord who is great and glorious has sworn, ‘By my might, none of my servants will drink a mouthful of wine without my giving him a similar amount of pus to drink, but he will not abandon it through fear of Me without my giving him drink from the holy tanks.'” – Ahmad.
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- Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“There are three to whom God has forbidden Paradise; one who is addicted to wine, an undutiful son, and a cuckold who agrees to his women-folk’s adultery.” – Ahmad and An Nasai
The heaviest punishment for those who drinks alcohol is the prohibition from entering the Jannah of Allah SWT.
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- Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said,
“When one commits fornication he is not a believer, when one steals he is not a believer, when one drinks Khamr (wine) he is not a believer … ” – Bukhari & Muslim
It clears that drinking alcohol is prohibited by Allah SWT, and whoever drink alhocol is committing sins and therefore he is not a believer.
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), has once said,
“Every liquor which intoxicates is forbidden.” – Bukhari & Muslim
This hadith was said by the Prophet when Aisha was asking him about bit which is a nabidh made of honey, and it’s considered as intoxication.
So those are the explanation of the history of prohibition of alcohol in Islam. As alcohol can be very dangerous for our lives, let’s all stay away from alcohol.