Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims
Q12. Why is the consumption of alcohol prohibited in Islam?
PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL
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:
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 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 HadithNo. 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
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.
