The Sunday Mail
Umari Stambuli
ALLAH Almighty declares in the Holy Qur’aan: “O you who Believe! Indeed intoxicants, gambling and games of chance are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork, so avoid them all in order that you may achieve success. Indeed Satan wants to incite enmity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and turn you away from the remembrance of Allah Almighty and from prayer. So will you not then abstain?” (Ch 5 : v 90-91).
The Arabic word which is often translated as “intoxicants” or “wine” is al-khamr – which is related to the verb “to ferment.” This word could be used to describe other intoxicants such as beer, although wine is the most common understanding of the word.
Muslims interpret these verses in total to forbid any intoxicating substance -whether it be wine, beer, gin, whisky, or whatever. The result is the same, and the Holy Qur’aan outlines that it is the intoxication, which makes one forgetful of God and prayer, which is harmful. Accordingly, Islam prohibits alcohol in all it’s forms and quantities. Over the years, the list of intoxicating substances now include more modern day street drugs and the like.
Prophet Muhammad also instructed his followers, at the time, to avoid any intoxicating substances: “Do not drink wine (intoxicant) for it is the key to every evil”. He even laid the principle that: “if it intoxicates in a large amount, it is forbidden even in a small amount”. For this reason, most observant Muslims avoid alcohol in any form, even small amounts that are sometimes used in cooking.
In current times, countries that allow alcohol consumption are suffering from it and the number of alcoholics is increasing rapidly. In some countries, the percentage of alcoholics is relatively high in proportion to the entire population!
Strangely, in modern times alcoholic drinks are of the genre, which is the only ‘poison’ that is ‘licensed’. However, Islam took a clear attitude towards alcoholic drinks more than 1 400 years ago. Islam prohibits such drinks. Any drink that causes drunkenness is prohibited in Islam regardless of the matter it is made from and regardless of the quantity.
Alcohol and Health
The consumption of alcohol almost instantaneously affects the behaviour, thought pattern and health of a person. They become more talkative, their judgement becomes impaired, speech becomes slurred, inhibitions are reduced, their balance and co-ordination is impaired, reflexes are slowed, visual attention is impaired, they experience loss of bladder control, they may even lose consciousness with a higher intake, etcetera.
The long term consumption of alcohol has a destructive effect on the nervous system through the direct toxic effect. Besides, alcohol may lead to alcoholism with its psychological and mental troubles such as convulsions and hallucination. Further, alcohol leads to malnutrition caused by inflammations in the digestive system, repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, and bad absorption in the digestive system.
To add, some brands of alcohol may cause complete blindness and heart failure owing to their severe toxicity. Regular consumption of alcohol has been known to develop sexual impotency in the person.
(……….to be continued)
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
P.O. Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax : 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected]
