Prohibition of Alcohol
Sharia law prohibits the consumption of alcohol because it leads to death, family problems, and societal issues. When a person drinks, their behavior changes, and they may commit wrong acts like abusing their spouse or children.
đQur’an 5:90
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights that 2.6 million deaths per year were attributable to alcohol consumption, accounting for 4.7% of all deaths, and 0.6 million deaths to psychoactive drug use. Notably, 2 million of alcohol and 0.4 million of drug-attributable deaths were among men.
đSunan Ibn Majah 3380
It was narrated from Ibn âUmar that the Messenger of Allah (ï·ș) said:
âWine is cursed from ten angles: The wine itself, the one who squeezes (the grapes etc.), the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who consumes its price, the one who drinks it, and the one who pours it.â
Explanation:
- The Wine Itself: The wine, in itself, is cursed because it leads to harm, intoxication, and sinful behavior. It causes physical and mental damage and can ruin the individualâs health and judgment.
- The One Who Squeezes It: This refers to the person who makes wine by pressing grapes (or any other ingredients used to make alcohol). They are involved in the production of something harmful, and thus they share in the curse.
- The One for Whom It Is Squeezed: This applies to the person who requests the wine to be made. By asking someone to make it, they are encouraging and benefiting from the creation of a harmful substance.
- The One Who Sells It: Selling alcohol is cursed because the seller is trading in something that brings harm to society, creating potential dangers for peopleâs health, families, and communities.
- The One Who Buys It: Purchasing alcohol is a sign of approving or participating in something harmful. The buyer contributes to the consumption and spreading of intoxication.
- The One Who Carries It: Carrying alcohol, whether to deliver it or transport it for any reason, is also cursed. The act of transporting it enables it to be consumed and distributed further.
- The One to Whom It Is Carried: This refers to the person who receives the alcohol. They are responsible for the harm that comes from accepting and potentially consuming it.
- The One Who Consumes Its Price: If someone profits from selling alcohol, their earnings are cursed, as the price they receive is from something harmful. This is seen as profiting from sin.
- The One Who Drinks It: Drinking alcohol is prohibited, as it directly harms the individualâs health and their relationship with Allah. Consuming it also leads to sinful behavior and loss of control.
- The One Who Pours It: Even pouring the alcohol for someone else is cursed because it actively aids in the consumption of a harmful substance.
This hadith highlights that every action connected to the production, sale, purchase, and consumption of alcohol involves harm. The curse applies to everyone involved in the processâwhether directly or indirectly. In Islam, such involvement is seen as harmful to individuals and society, and those who engage in these acts knowingly carry the responsibility for the negative consequences. However, this curse applies particularly to those who do these actions with full awareness, rather than those who may commit such acts by mistake or without proper knowledge. Ignorance or unintentional mistakes may be forgiven by Allah, but intentional actions involving alcohol are considered sinful and carry consequences.
Reference:Â Over 3 million annual deaths due to alcohol and drug use, majority among men
Domestic abuse, often referred to as domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV), is a pattern of behavior or behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner that they are in a relationship with. Anyone, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or age, can be a victim or perpetrator of domestic abuse. Abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, mental, social and financial. Common tactics that an abusive partner uses to keep their victim in the cycle of an abusive relationship are:
- Using coercion and threats (i.e. threatening to kill themselves or their partner, hurt, or leave)
- Using intimidation (i.e. smashing things or displaying weapons)
- Using emotional abuse (i.e. humiliating, playing mind games, or name calling)
- Using isolation (i.e. controlling communication and time spent with others or using jealousy)
- Minimizing, denying, and blaming (i.e. making light of the abuse or blaming the victim)
- Using children (i.e. sending messages through children or threatening to take them)
- Using gender privilege (i.e. treating the victim like a servant)
- Using economic abuse (i.e. controlling money, preventing or interfering with the victims job)
Reference:Â Alcohol And Domestic Abuse
If Someone Drinks Alcohol Today
đQuran 4:43
O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying, nor in a state of janabah (sexual impurity) except when travelingâuntil you have bathed. Indeed, Allah is Ever Forgiving and Merciful.
This verse shows that at that time, people were still drinking alcohol, but Allah forbade them from coming to prayer while intoxicated. This means today, if someone unknowingly or mistakenly drinks alcohol, like being influenced by non-Muslim friends or by misunderstanding Islam, this verse serves as an introduction or early guideline. It tells them: if you are in that state, donât go to prayer until you are clear-headed and clean. It also demonstrates that if someone reverts to Islam and had a drinking habit before, Islam provides them with time and steps to stop it, This verse allowed early Muslims a chance to gradually move away from drinking, as they were unaware of its full prohibition before. At that time, they had no clear guidance about alcohol, but once the full message was revealed, it became completely forbidden. While this was a process of change for the early Muslim community, it still applies to those today who are struggling with alcohol or any other aspect of life they need to gradually leave behind. Islam gives a pathway to change, but the ultimate prohibition on alcohol is now absolute. This verse shows that people who were once unaware or involved in wrong practices can be guided through patience and gradual change, but the prohibition is clear once understanding has been established.
Did Jesus Allow Alcohol?
No, Jesus never explicitly allowed alcohol the way many Christians today claim. The Bible mentions Jesus turning water into wine (John 2:1â11), but the word “wine” in the Bible often refers to grape juice or a non-intoxicating drink used as regular food and in rituals. Itâs not always about alcohol as we think of it today. The true context is clarified in Ephesians 5:18: âDo not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.â This confirms that intoxicating wine is seen as harmful. So, while wine existed in the culture, thereâs no clear approval from Jesus to drink alcohol freely. In fact, this shows he did not allow intoxication.
Additional Information
In Islam, alcohol is strictly prohibited because it harms the individual, family, and society, leading to health problems, domestic abuse, and social corruption. Every involvement with alcohol, producing, selling, buying, transporting, or consuming, is considered sinful, as emphasized in the Qurâan (Quran 5:90) and Hadith (Sunan Ibn Majah 3380). Early guidance allowed gradual reform, but today the prohibition is absolute. Islam also provides a path for repentance for those who drank in ignorance, while emphasizing accountability and prevention of harm. This holistic approach protects individuals and communities, promotes moral responsibility, and maintains social and family harmony.