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Why is the consumption of alcohol prohibited in
Islam?
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Answer:
Alcohol has been the scourge of human society since time immemorial. It
continues to cost countless human lives, and causes terrible misery to
millions throughout the world. Alcohol is the root cause of several
problems facing society. The statistics of soaring crime rates,
increasing instances of mental illnesses and millions of broken homes
throughout the world bear mute testimony to the destructive power of
alcohol.
1. Prohibition of alcohol in the Qur’an
The Glorious Qur’an prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the
following verse:
"O ye who believe!
Intoxicants and Gambling,
(Dedication of) stones,
And (divination by) arrows,
Are an Abomination –
Of Satan’s handiwork;
Eschew such (abomination),
That ye may prosper."
[Al-Qur’an 5:90]
2. Prohibition of alcohol in the Bible
The Bible prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verses:
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise."
[Proverbs 20:1]
"And be not drunk with wine."
[Ephesians 5:18]
3. Alcohol inhibits the inhibitory centre
The human beings possess an inhibitory centre in their brains. This
inhibitory centre prevents the person from doing things that he
considers wrong. For instance a person does not normally use abusive
language while addressing his parents or elders. If he has to answer the
call of nature, his inhibitory centre will prevent him from doing so in
public. Therefore he uses the toilet.
When a person consumes alcohol, the inhibitory centre itself is
inhibited. That is precisely the reason that an inebriated person is
often found to be indulging in behaviour that is completely
uncharacteristic of him. For instance the intoxicated person is found to
use abusive and foul language and does not realize his mistake even if
he is addressing his parents. Many even urinate in their clothes.
Neither do they talk nor walk properly. They even misbehave.
4. Cases of adultery, rape, incest and AIDS are found more among
alcoholics
According to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice (U.S.
Department of Justice) in the year 1996 alone everyday on an average
2,713 rapes took place. The statistics tell us that the majority of the
rapists, were intoxicated while committing the crime. The same is true
in cases of molestation.
According to statistics, 8% of Americans commit incest i.e. one in every
twelve to thirteen persons in America is involved in incest. Almost all
the cases of incest are due to intoxication of one or both the persons
involved.
One of the major factors associated with the spread of AIDS, the most
dreaded disease, is alcoholism.
5. Every alcoholic was initially a social drinker
Many may argue in favour of liquor by calling themselves ‘social
drinkers’. They claim that they only have one or two pegs and they have
self-control and so never get intoxicated. Investigations reveal that
every alcoholic started as a social drinker. Not a single alcoholic or
drunkard initially starts drinking with the intention of becoming an
alcoholic or a drunkard. No social drinker can say that I have been
having alcohol for several years and that I have so much self-control
that I have never been intoxicated even a single time.
6. If a person is intoxicated just once and commits something shameful,
it will remain with him for a lifetime.
Suppose a ‘social drinker’ loses his self-control just once. In a state
of intoxication he commits rape or incest. Even if the act is later
regretted, a normal human being is likely to carry the guilt throughout
his life. Both the perpetrator and the victim are irreparably and
irreversibly damaged.
7. Alcohol is prohibited in the Hadith
The Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
In Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30 Hadith
No. 3371.
"Alcohol is the mother of all evils and it is the most shameful of
evils."
In Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30 Hadith
No. 3392
"Anything which intoxicates in a large quantity, is prohibited even in a
small quantity."
Thus there is no excuse for a nip or a tot.
Not only those who drink alcohol are cursed but also those who deal with
them directly or indirectly are cursed by Allah.
According to Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30
Hadith No. 3380.
It was reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) said:
"God’s curse falls on ten groups of people who deal with alcohol. The
one who distills it, the one for whom it has been distilled, the one who
drinks it, the one who transports it, the one to who it has been
brought, the one whom serves it, the one who sells it, the one who
utilizes money from it, the one who buys it and the one who buys it for
someone else."
8. Diseases associated with alcoholism
There are several scientific reasons for the prohibition of consumption
of intoxicants i.e. alcohol. The maximum number of deaths in the world
related to any one particular cause is due to the consumption of
alcohol. Millions of people die every year only because of intake of
alcohol. I need not go into the details of all the ill-effects of
alcohol since most of them are commonly known. Below is a simple list of
few of the alcohol related illnesses:
Cirrhosis of Liver is the most well known alcohol associated disease.
Others are Cancer of Oesophagus, Cancer of Head and Neck, Cancer of
Liver (Hepatoma), Cancer of Bowel, etc.
Oesophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis and Hepatitis are linked with
alcohol consumption.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Coronary Artherosclerosis, Angina and
Heart Attacks are linked with heavy alcohol intakes.
Strokes, Apoplexy, Fits and different types of Paralysis are linked with
alcohol intake.
Peripheral Neuropathy, Cortical Atrophy, Cerebellar Atrophy are
well-known syndromes caused by alcohol consumption.
Wernicke – Korsakoff syndrome with amnesia of recent events,
confabulations and retainment of memory to old events with different
types of paralysis are mainly due to thiamine deficiency due to
excessive alcohol intake.
Beriberi and other deficiencies are not uncommon among alcoholics. Even
Pellagra occurs in alcoholics.
Delerium Tremens is a serious complication that may occur during
recurrent infection of alcoholics or post operatively. It also occurs
during abstention as a sign of withdrawal effect. It is quite serious
and may cause death even if treated in well equipped centres.
Numerous Endocrine Disorders have been associated with alcoholism
ranging from Myxodema to Hyperthyroidism and Florid Cushing Syndrome.
Hematological ill effects are long and variable. Folic acid deficiency,
however, is the most common manifestation of alcoholic abuse resulting
in Macrocytic Anemia. Zeive’s syndrome is a triad of Hemolytic Anemia,
Jaundice and Hyperlipaedemia that follows alcoholic binges.
Thrombocytopenia and other platelet abnormalities are not rare in
alcoholics.
The commonly used tablet metronidazole (flagyl) interacts badly with
alcohol.
Recurrent infection is very common among chronic alcoholics. The
resistance to disease and the immunological defense system are
compromised by alcohol intake.
Chest infections are notorious in alcoholics. Pneumonia, Lung Abcess,
Emphysema and Pulmonary Tuberculosis are all common in alcoholics.
During acute alcoholic intoxication, the drunk person usually vomits,
the cough reflexes which are protective are paralysed. The vomitus thus
easily pass to the lung causing Pneumonia or Lung Abscess. Occasionally
it may even cause suffocation and death.
The ill effects of alcohol consumption on women deserves special
mention. Females are more vulnerable to alcohol-related Cirrhosis than
men. During pregnancy alcohol consumption has a severe detrimental
effect on the foetus. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is being recognised more
and more in the medical profession.
Skin diseases are also related to alcohol indulgence.
Eczema, Alopecia, Nail Dystrophy, Paronychia (infection around the
nails) and Angular Stomatitis (inflammation of the angle of the mouth)
are common diseases among alcoholics.
9. Alcoholism is a ‘disease’
Medical doctors have now turned liberal towards alcoholics and call
alcoholism a disease rather than an addiction.
The Islamic Research Foundation has published a pamphlet that says:
If alcohol is a disease, it is the only disease that:
- Is sold in bottles
- Is advertised in newspapers, magazines, on radio and television
- Has licensed outlets to spread it
- Produces revenue for the government
- Brings violent deaths on the highways
- Destroys family life and increases crime
- Has no germs or viral cause
ALCOHOLISM IS NOT A DISEASE – IT IS SATAN’S HANDIWORK
Allah (swt) in His Infinite Wisdom has warned us against this snare of
Satan. Islam is called the "Deen-ul-Fitrah" or the natural religion of
Man. All its injunctions are aimed at preserving the natural state of
man. Alcohol is a deviation from this natural state, for the individual
as well as for society. It degrades man to a level below that of the
beasts he claims to be superior to. Hence the consumption of alcohol is
prohibited in Islam.
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http://www.irf.net/irf/faqonislam/index.htm
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