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Q. Why is the consumption of alcohol prohibited in Islaam?
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'ân.
The Glorious Qur'ân 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'ân 5:90]
2. Prohibition of alcohol in the Bible.
The Bible prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following
verses:
a. "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not wise."
[Proverbs 20:1]
b. "And be not drunk with wine." [Ephesians 5:18]
3. Alcohol inhibits the inhibitory center.
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:
a. 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."
b. 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.
c. Not only those who drink alcohol are cursed but also those
who deal with them directly or indirectly are cursed by Allaah.
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:
1. Cirrhosis of Liver is the most well known alcohol associated
disease.
2. Others are Cancer of Oesophagus, Cancer of Head and Neck,
Cancer of Liver (Hepatoma), Cancer of Bowel, etc.
3. Oesophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis and Hepatitis are
linked with alcohol consumption.
4. Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Coronary Artherosclerosis,
Angina and Heart Attacks are linked with heavy alcohol intakes.
5. Strokes, Apoplexy, Fits and different types of Paralysis are
linked with alcohol intake.
6. Peripheral Neuropathy, Cortical Atrophy, Cerebellar Atrophy
are well-known syndromes caused by alcohol consumption.
7. 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.
8. Beriberi and other deficiencies are not uncommon among
alcoholics. Even Pellagra occurs in alcoholics.
9. 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.
10. Numerous Endocrine Disorders have been associated with
alcoholism ranging from Myxodema to Hyperthyroidism and Florid
Cushing Syndrome.
11. 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.
12. Thrombocytopenia and other platelet abnormalities are not
rare in alcoholics.
13. The commonly used tablet metronidazole (flagyl) interacts
badly with alcohol.
14. Recurrent infection is very common among chronic alcoholics.
The resistance to disease and the immunological defense system
are compromised by alcohol intake.
15. Chest infections are notorious in alcoholics. Pneumonia,
Lung Abcess, Emphysema and Pulmonary Tuberculosis are all common
in alcoholics.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. Skin diseases are also related to alcohol indulgence.
19. 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
Allaah (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 Islaam.
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