Islamic View on the Use of Alcohol
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What Redditors are SayingIslam's View on Alcohol
TL;DR Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol due to its harmful effects on individuals and society, as outlined in the Quran. The prohibition is based on religious teachings that emphasize avoiding intoxication and maintaining moral judgment.
Religious Basis for Prohibition
The primary reason alcohol is forbidden in Islam is because it is explicitly prohibited in the Quran. Several verses highlight the negative aspects of intoxicants and gambling, stating that their harm outweighs any potential benefits 
[2:1][5:1]. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:219) mentions that while there may be some benefit in wine and gambling, their sin is greater [2:2]. Additionally, Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:90) describes intoxicants as defilement from the work of Satan, advising believers to avoid them [5:1].
Social and Health Impacts
Alcohol is viewed negatively in Islam due to its potential to cause physical and spiritual harm. It can lead to health problems, impaired judgment, increased crime, and a lack of devotion to God [2:1][3:9]. Many discussions highlight real-world examples of alcohol leading to regrettable actions and societal issues, such as violence and exploitation [2:10][3:7].
Historical Context
Historically, the prohibition of alcohol in Islam was not immediate. Initially, warnings were given about the potential ban, allowing time for followers to sell off their alcohol [5:4]. Some historical accounts suggest that certain types of alcohol were initially allowed but later banned as the religion evolved [4:1]. The companions of Muhammad reportedly struggled with alcohol, leading to incidents that underscored the need for prohibition [5:4].
Comparison with Other Religions
While Christianity and Judaism have different views on alcohol, Islam strictly prohibits it. This distinction is often discussed in terms of the differing religious texts and interpretations [3:1][3:5]. In Islam, the prohibition is clear and rooted in the belief that the harms of alcohol far exceed its benefits [5:5].
Cultural Variations
There are cultural variations in how strictly the prohibition is observed, with some Muslim-majority regions having more lenient attitudes towards alcohol [5:6][5:7]. However, the overarching Islamic stance remains one of prohibition due to the reasons outlined above.
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POST SUMMARY • [1]Summarize
Something healing about Islam that’s often overlooked.
Posted by Maximum_Hat_2389 · in r/progressive_islam · 3 months ago
ORIGINAL POSTI’m a revert to Islam and one of the things about the religion that I was always unsure of is its ban on alcohol. I’ve never exactly been more addicted to alcohol than the average young adult in the United States, but I wondered if it was really necessary to ban alcohol for everyone, since not everyone who drinks it has a major problem.
I recently made a friend who has a serious addiction to alcohol and it’s almost killed him several times. The guy is brilliant and one of the most respectful guys I’ve ever hung out with. As long as he’s not drinking, he’s a thriving and productive member of society.
Just a day ago I saw a horrible crime in the news and alcohol was involved. I never thought about it before, but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever went longer than a week without seeing some kind of tragedy in the news where alcohol wasn’t the culprit.
Another thing to consider with alcohol is that even if you’re a “normal” drinker. One bad night can absolutely ruin your life and the lives of others. I never drank and drove very often, but to say it never happened would be a lie. I guarantee that everyone who drinks alcohol with friends has driven while intoxicated at least once. These one time slips can still cause you to wreck and kill yourself or others.
To wrap this up, alcohol is a poison. It’s devastating to society. Whether you like it or not you’re apart of society. Even if you can have just one drink with dinner, you never know who is seeing you have that drink. You never know how your children will handle alcohol if they decide to start drinking when they get older. Allah didn’t ban alcohol to make life harder for you. He banned it to protect you and the people you love. I think many people now and in the future will actually become more attracted to Islam because of its stigma against alcohol.
As a revert who grew up around incredibly traumatized people who also were mostly either high functioning alcoholics or not high functioning - I actually think the ban sometimes deters people from Islam :(
Not that I don’t agree with the ban, but for some people with 0 coping skills - alcohol is the only way they survive.
I think before we can expect people to be alcohol free and find freedom and joy in that, we have to discuss and solve why people drink in the first place and why people become alcoholics. It’s very often due to poverty, trauma, unresolved mental illness etc.
And I think as a community we have to focus on healing those before judging and focusing on why alcohol is bad.
Just my opinion though - I respect yours and agree it is a poison!
Well, one is still muslim even if one drinks. Being a teetoler is not a prerequisite of belief.
Oh absolutely. However, the Muslim community is not very understanding towards reverts or anyone who struggles with a sin such as drinking. So it can be a huge put off.
Not saying I agree, just that this is often a sentiment I hear from non Muslims
I know it might be seen as extreme, but I admit I wish alcohol was forbidden in muslim countries. Hypocrisy of muslim states is obvious when they follow rules that fit them, but ignore others for buisness. Even living in a muslim country, seeing broken bottles in the street and the occasional drunkyard were unfortunatly familiar sights.
I will never understand people who drink alcohol but stop at pork. Pleease, eat all the pork you want, but please remove alcohol and drugs from our society
it makes no sense that alcohol is allowed in Muslim countries anyways
Growing up in an Islamic country and around people who were at least culturally Muslim if not religiously, I think I do see that having alcohol not so freely available and socially accepted had its protective effects.
Even after moving to the US, alcohol still doesn’t have the same appeal and partly that’s there because of having social and familial events where alcohol isn’t a thing. I still have friends who i have gone out with where alcohol was very much a focus, or gone lil crazy on holidays, but it doesn’t become a part of day to day life. It can very easily become though it’s a very slippery slope.
But religiously/culturally not having alcohol socially accepted has some major pros specially more so for children/ teens and consequently adults.
Alcohol can be devastating. For anyone struggling to understand why Alcohol is prohibited, this might help:
If Allah hates alcohol, then why did he create it in the first place?
I don’t get it. What’s the answer?
Based take brother
r/islam • [2]Summarize
Why is alcohol so frowned upon in Islam?
Posted by throwaway2942638 · in r/islam · 4 years agoI have a muslim friend who is a great guy but he can’t drink because of his paremts. They don’t allow him to drink at all. If he does drink his parent have very harsh sanctions in place. I’m just wondering why alcohol is so bad according to islam. It’s banned in many muslim countries or heavily regulated.
>They ask you about wine **(khamr)* and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit."
>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 avoid1 it that you may be successful.
>Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden. He who drinks wine in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not be given a drink in the Hereafter.
For the religious answer, which I'm going to assume means relatively little to you personally, it's because literal God (s.w.t.) tells humanity that it's forbidden, and that, as a brother's already pointed out, 'their sin is greater than their benefit' (2:219).
If you want the secular answer, it's because pretty much any thorough study of alcohol consumption will tell you the same thing: that it's incredibly harmful. If we're going by a fairly recent study (here's an overview), even moderate levels of consumption are incredibly detrimental in the long run.
Even from a non-religious perspective, there's no reason why anyone should consume alcohol for the purposes of recreation. It's literally listed as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), for crying out loud. The only reason people romanticise drinking is societal conditioning and normalisation of what is essentially one of the most harmful, most consumed, yet least scrutinised addictive substances.
Alcohol consumption, in my humble opinion, needs to go the way of the dodo.
Humans do lots of things that are potentially harmful but that give them pleasure or make their lives easier. What makes alcohol so much worse? For example, eating greasy fast food, playing lots of video games and not exercising, driving cars rather than walking, living in cities with polluted air etc. These choices all have serious effects on ones health.
Furthermore, for many people, alcohol consumption is part of their social life and culture. They have a pleasure social experience from its consumption...is that not a reason? For others, they may be a connoisseur and enjoy the taste and quality, and its something that they value. Why should alcohol be treated worse than other foods/activities that are clearly harmful as well?
Perhaps you could say that alcohol has negative social repercussions such as driving while intoxicated or harming families. But that doesn't happen with most people, and these problems are usually regulated by law anyways.
I think consuming alcohol to excess regularly is really bad...but I don't think an occasional drink with friends is any worse than eating a Big Mac and Fries or playing Xbox all day.
The existence of other harmful practices approaching the harm alcohol can have doesn't negate the detriments of alcohol itself. The major defence boiling down to 'people like it' isn't much of an excuse. It's a reason why people drink, but it's not an excuse.
This is going to get a little long-winded, so I apologise in advance. Feel free to skip to the last few paragraphs if you feel so inclined.
Let's look at the fast food comparison. The reason most people consume fast food is the same reason it's so widely available across the world - it's cheap. It's a whole industry that preys on low-income families. It's awful, and no one's about to contest that, but you could very well argue that a significant number of people are strapped for options.
The same applies to pollution (cars instead of walking, etc.). People living in a 'bustling' metropolis aren't about to wake up three hours early just to get to work on time and come home three hours after they clock out.
Alcohol doesn't have the excuse of 'necessity due to income', and when there is a culture that promotes it in social circles, such as Japan where a lot of companies actively gather their workers to go drinking, a lot of those people are actually just pressured to drink - in Japan's example specifically, over half of the attendees (in this survey 68%) aren't there because they want to be (this article's in Japanese and mostly about women, but you get the point). The people that enjoy it for the social life are, at least here, severely outnumbered by those that demonstrably don't.
But let's pedal back on the alcohol issue. You mentioned that 'that doesn't happen with most people', in reference to social issues caused by alcohol. But let's review the data we have.
On heal issues, first. If we're going by the WHO. 5.3% of deaths worldwide (7.7% of men, 2.6% of women) are due to alcohol (worldwide implying that the countries that don't consume alcohol are included, so keep that in mind). If you're between 20~39 years old, the death toll goes up to 13.5%. 5.1% of disease is due to the same cause. That is, by no stretch of the imagination, negligible.
Let's check on the behaviour. From April of this year, according to this source(which is limited to the U.S.), the 18-and-above demographic has an issue with binge-drinking (25.8%). Again, not negligible. A massive issue. According to an article by the Washington Post, 12.7% of Americans meets the criteria for alcohol abuse disorder.
More on behaviour, this time specifically criminal behaviour (source, U.S.): Of all Robberies, 15% is due to alcohol abuse. Of aggravated assault, 27% is due to alcohol. Of sexual assault, 37% is due to intoxication. Even with cases of literal homicide, 40% of the perpetrators were intoxicated. In cases of domestic abuse (partner-based), 2/3 victims report their partner being under the influence of, you guessed it, alcohol. I don't I have to mention what 4/10 of people committing child abuse were under the influence of at this point. Drunk driving isn't even scratching the surface of infractions under the influence of alcohol, but that's still a fairly sizable contributor to traffic accidents.
So, to summarise. Overindulgence on, say, fast foods is at it's worst liable to give you a heart attack, which is bad enough. I won't even try to defend that. Overindulgence of alcohol, on the other hand, is linked to not only an increase in health issues, more specifically literal cancer, it's also linked to a significant increase in aggravated and sexual assault, along with practically every crime under the sun. They're both bad, sure, but trying to put them on the same level is just plain disingenuous.
And again, even just a moderate level of alcohol consumption is risky. I can't stress that enough, even a moderate level is hugely detrimental. We're not talking about excess. I refer you to this recent article, which I've already mentioned in my first comment but will gladly do so again, entitled: No Safe Level of Alcohol Consumption for Brain Health. Let me just copy-and-paste the conclusion:
>Conclusions No safe dose of alcohol for the brain was found. Moderate consumption is associated with more widespread adverse effects on the brain than previously recognised. Individuals who binge drink or with high blood pressure and BMI may be more susceptible. Detrimental effects of drinking appear to be greater than other modifiable factors. Current ‘low risk’ drinking guidelines should be revisited to take account of brain effects.
P.S. I accidentally posted an incomplete version of this comment earlier which I had to delete, so I apologise if you're getting a second notification.
EDIT: Paragraph Layout
>Even from a non-religious perspective, there's no reason why anyone should consume alcohol for the purposes of recreation. It's literally listed as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), for crying out loud. The only reason people romanticise drinking is societal conditioning and normalisation of what is essentially one of the most harmful, most consumed, yet least scrutinised addictive substances.
I mean you forgot intoxication makes someone happy. I agree with you though.
A lot of people drink for that euphoria
Because Allah made it impermissible.
That's really all that has to be said here
Just read a post in Reddit few minutes ago, where a girl got totally drunk in a club and could only remember in bits and pieces how she was having sex with stranger and how she was cheating with her committed boyfriend.
She is regretting this now. My question is, who forced her to be drunk ?
-No one.
How do you expect a human being to be like this willingly ? It makes us do things which we would not even think of doing if we are sober.
We are human being, the bestest of creation, there is and should be a difference between us and animals.
One person's stupidity does not represent all people. Many people are able to drink without completely losing their minds. The people who act like this girl...usually drank way way more than any rational human would. Most people have self control.
LOL
same was, a guy had sex with his brother's wife cuz of alcohol. later causes disasters
His first and foremost intention should be to please Allah S.W.T.
I think it's pretty obvious why alcohol is banned judging by the physical and spiritual harms it causes be it health problems, drink driving, increased crime, lack of devotion to God.
r/islam • [3]Summarize
Why is alcohol forbidden in Islam
Posted by FewLiterature530 · in r/islam · 3 years agoSo in judisasm and Christianity alcohol is allowed but in Islam it not do you guys know why?
because it damages your brain and body
Well I know why it forbidden I was more referring to why is it okay in Christianity
your title is "why is alcohol forbidden in islam"
>why is it okay in Christianity
christians need wine for their cannibalistic rituals.
I am not supporting it but what about coffee, or even coke and most sodas? There is proof that those also affect the body negatively
Coffee and soda doesn't make your drunk
Because Allah says so. While it certainly has benefits, the harms outweighs the benefits (Quran 2:219).
Who said it's allowed in their books? Its not. They just don't know and don't care.
Wait really it not allowed Christians told me that I think it time to look it up lol
Ephesians 5:18 "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise."
Keep in mind the contradictory nature of these books. You'll also find verse allowing alcohol
Well because it’s the root of all evil.
Take the us for example some of the most dangerous states If u look at the problem it’s alcohol. Some guy drinks some Hennessy next thing u know two people are shooting at each other For Gang problems Drug dealing Or simply because they are drunk and aren’t thinking right
Many problems in these communities can be directly linked to alcohol.
Also many sick men Especially at clubs get women drunk and then take advantage of them
Or even women Get men drunk at clubs and then steal their money And sometimes these same women end up getting killed in the most gruesome ways because of it
And then we go to some families and u see some of the nicest husbands Who wouldn’t even step on a ant Drink some alcohol and come home and beat the living heck out of their wives for no valid reason Some even go as far as abusing their own kids Some physically and some cases even sexually. And wake up next day and don’t remember a single thing that happened.
And this keeps going on and on next thing u know the husband becomes a alcoholic and the abuse ends up being an almost daily thing.
Also there are many cases of people doing really dumb stuff when they are on alcohol Some will go and rob a gas station for a little bag of chips whiles they have the money in their pocket And end up going to jail for it. When they didn’t even do it on purpose it was just the alcohol.
And then we go to driving and in just the us alone every year over 10k people die from drunk driving.
And this is just a small part of it. At one point in time alcohol was so bad in the US that they had to ban it and make it illegal
And even with that more crime started happening because of it And they had to bring it back
And all this is just a small small list of problems alcohol causes in just the us alone.
Alcohol ruins people Families And like it did to the us Countries. No Good comes from alcohol.
Because it clouds the moral judgment.
r/AcademicQuran • [4]Summarize
Was Alcohol Always Forbidden in Islam?
Posted by academic324 · in r/AcademicQuran · 4 months ago
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Was Alcohol Always Forbidden in Islam?
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As far as I know, alcohol hasn't always been forbidden in Islam. Some of the caliphs in the Osmanic Empire were probably addicted to alcohol. I have also read that according to some theologians, some types of alcohol were allowed !
Osmanic Empire? You mean the Umayyad Caliphate?
When it comes to addiction to alcohol, I meant the Osmanic Empire.
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"wake up honey, another 'lets talk religion' video just dropped "
r/AskHistorians • [5]Summarize
Why did Islam ban alcohol consumption?
Posted by arkham1010 · in r/AskHistorians · 8 months agoI understand that the idea that beer was safer to drink than water is a false premise, due to all the wells, aqueducts and other water gathering systems in the ancient world. However, being that beer was a significant source of calories and protean (as well as likely a labor saving effort vs grinding flour for bread), why did early Islam ban beer consumption? Was beer by that time period more than the 2-3 percent alcohol usually brewed, and was public intoxication a big problem in pre-Islamic Arabia? Did consumption of alcoholic beverages have a pre-Islamic religious connotation they were trying to steer the population away from?
After the ban was in place, what was the substitution for the caloric intake that beer (and wine) provided for the 'average person'?
Islam did not ban beer, the exact passages in the hadith/quoran are disputed but the prohibition was firstly upon date wine. This was extended to all intoxicating alcohol in later years. Beer is made from barley. There were very few places in the early caliphate where it was drunk. The Romans considered beer a barbarian drink as it was favoured by the Gauls and Germans, they much preferred wine, though in the west over time beer became more widely available and consumed. In short, beer just wasn't on the radar of Islam as it wasn't the intoxicant or drink of choice in the regions they governed.
Edited meant date wine, not fig wine
being that beer was a significant source of calories and protean (as well as likely a labor saving effort vs grinding flour for bread)
I should caution against proceeding from such standpoints. Modern dietary science was not a thing back then, and they would not have thought in terms of 'calories' or 'protein'. Plus, I've yet to hear any support for the angle of making beer being easier than making flour.
Further, what Islam says and what Muslims do are two entirely different things. They are certainly related, and the former influences the latter...but let's put it like this. Do all Christians keep the Sabbath day holy, honour their parents, do not kill, do not steal, do not commit adultery? There is most definitely a Muslim drinking culture, as you will see from the following posts:
- u/Kiviimar examines the condemnation on alcohol and how well that worked out;
- u/AdmiralAkbar1 considers the debate around alcohol in Islam;
- u/khowaga looks at drinking laws in Iran around 1050-1100, dealing with the general attitude along the way, and also has some extra general comments here;
- and Dr Omar Foda did an AMA with us, covering Egypt and its beer culture.
do not kill,
It's murder btw. That aside....
Also interestingly enough, when I look at countries that have Muslims who drink I've noticed that they tend to be less Arabized. Hui Muslims in China, Muslims in Eastern Europe like Bosnian Muslims, and Muslims in Malaysia. I find these to be the most intriguing because they represent different degrees of power and influence Muslims and Islam have on society. Like it's not just a matter of religion because historically there was variation in both belief and practice. Historically, Islam the religion, Arabic the language, Islam the culture (Sharia wrapped around Bedouin origins), and Arab DNA all spread together, and while all spread together, they didn't all permeate to the same degree. In MENA they generally stayed together, for the most part, notable examples of mixing with Persia and Turkish influences there, but in some areas like I mentioned they didn't all spread together to the same degree and have a deep, settled influence.
First thing I noticed is all three are on the periphery of Muslim influence, although Eastern Europe isn't far from Istanbul, the Ottomans were a hot mess to say the least in the later time periods. Second is that there were already established cultures to compete with. Am I onto something?
Also another thing I noticed but when I think about examples of Muslims engaging in not exactly Mubah/Halal. They tend to not be in places where Muslims are the clear majority, and thus the hardliners aren't as prominent, ie Muslims are not clearly the ones in power; or in places more exposed to Westerners, often due to imperialism; places of no clear majority so laws and society are more tolerant of differences thus more chances of exposure. It seems those are all factors that lead to less rule following Muslims.
Some other examples include Egypt having a more permissive drinking environment. (Home of beer, weak Ottoman administration, British colony, Christian minority that has beer as permissible to drink).
Malaysia also being a British colony. While Muslims are the majority, it's not as big as other countries, and there are notable minorities (Hindus, Buddhist, and Christians all about 15% each).
I've talked to my history professor (a Coptic Christian who fled Egypt due to the Arab Spring and Egyptians electing the Muslim Brotherhood, so while he has personal experience, that also may impart bias, such as referring to HTS as ISIS) about all this and we were in general agreement on this, although he called me an 3abeet saying I should learn to read Arabic then I'd have grounds to debate him since that means getting more firsthand knowledge as opposed to relying on the slower academia.
I’m sorry brother but we Muslim Malaysians definitely did not drink alcohol. In fact, we even have sharia here (only for marriage and other menial stuff. Heavy stuff like murder is still under civil law) and our Halal restriction is more strict and heavily observed compared to ME. Our classical script is Jawi, which is influenced by Arabic writing. We are not that Arabized, but we still heavily observe Islamic rulings.
Short answer; because the companions of Muhammed didnt handle their alcohol well. Hamza for one severely tortured and mutilated a camel when under the influence.
The ban was not immediate. Muhammed gave time for his companions to sell of their alcohol, and warned his followers that he felt God would tell him that there will be a ban on alcohol.
Ḥamza ibn ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib (Arabic: حَمْزَة إبْن عَبْد ٱلْمُطَّلِب; c. 568–625) was a foster brother, paternal uncle, maternal second-cousin, and companion of the Muhammed.
Sahih Muslim, The Book Of Drinks:
Book 23, Number 4881: Husain b. ‘Ali reported ‘Ali having said: There fell to my lot a she-camel out of the spoils of war on the Day of Badr, and Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) gave me (another) she-camel on that day out of the Khums (one-fifth reserved for Allah and His Messenger).
When I made up my mind to consummate my marriage with Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), I prevailed upon a goldsmith of the tribe of Qainuqa’ to go along with me so that we might bring Idhkhir wishing to sell that to the goldsmiths and thus I should be able to arrange my wedding feast.
While I was arranging the equipments. i.e. litters, sacks and ropes, my two she-camels were sitting down at the side of the apartment of a person of the Ansar. I collected (the different articles of equipment) and found to my surprise that their humps had been chopped off and their haunches had been cut off and their livers had been taken out. I could not help weeping when I saw that plight of theirs. I said: Who has done that?
They said: Hamza b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib has done this. and he is in this house dead drunk in the company of some of the Ansair with asinging girl singing before him and his companions. She said in her song: O Hamza. get up and attack these falty she-camels.
Thereupon Hamza stood up with a sword (in his hand) and cut off their humps and ripped their haunches and tore out their livers. ‘Ali said: I went away until I came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and there was with him Zaid b. Haritha.
Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) recognised from my face what I had experienced, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: What has happened to you? I said: Messenger of Allah, by Allah, I have never seen (such an unfortunate day) as this day. Hamza has committed aggression to my she-camels, and has cut off their humps. and ripped their haunches, and he is in a house in the company of some drunkards.
(Hearing this) Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) sent for his mantle and, putting it on him, he proceeded, and I and Zaid b. Haritha followed him, until he came to the door (of the house) in which there was Hamza. He (the Holy Prophet) sought permission which they granted him. and they were all drunk. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) began to reprimand Hamza for what he had done. Hamza’s eyes were red. He cast a glance at Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and then looked towards his knees. and then lifted his eyes and cast a glance at his waist and then lifted his eyes and saw his face.
And then Hamza said: Are you anything but the slaves of my father? Alah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to know that he was intoxicated, and he thus turned upon his heels, and came out, and we also came out along with him.
because the companions of Muhammed didnt handle their alcohol well. Hamza for one severely tortured and mutilated a camel when under the influence
There is always someone who ruins things for everyone else.
The quoted portion regarding the camel incident isn't the usually cited reason for why alcohol is prohibited, but rather it is the ostensible reason, or the social circumstance under which the prohibition came.
In Islam, reasons for prohibitions start and end with "because God said so", and unless a more explicit reason is given, then it's up to those with the right credentials in the faith's structure to provide commentary drawing on revelation and Prophetic evidence to offer guidance as to why something might be, to the extent that can be known or understood. In this case you'd be involving the understanding of exegetes, hadith scholars and jurists. The exegete to add commentary and interpretation to what has been revealed in the Quran, the hadith scholars to expose sayings and events in the Prophet's life related to the Quranic verses that the prohibition stems from, and then jurists to interpret and apply these when it needs to be understood and applied practically by society. As far as all three are concerned, the reason cited by the OP of the comment you're resounding to (that it was because certain contemporaries of the Prophet had a bad relationship with alcohol) is not a direct reason given by any of the domains listed above.
they would certainly piece together that they were less hungry and had more strength/energy after drinking beer than just water.
And this is based on what evidence? Medieval dietary science doesn't argue in that direction; would you happen to have anything that says otherwise?
Also, I don’t understand your point about Christian’s and the Sabbath and Muslims
If you will re-read OP's body text, you will observe that there is the assumption that the ban was 100% effective and that no Muslim ever drank alcohol. Assuming that no Muslim ever drank alcohol after the ban is about as reasonable as assuming that no Christian ever committed adultery. As you can see in the linked posts, there is a Muslim drinking culture. And the first post examines the ban in similar manner to the alternative angle that you posited anyway.
Also, beer isn’t typically brewed from wheat. It’s typically brewed from barley. Barley makes a poor loaf, as it doesn’t hold together very well. By the time of the rise of Islam, wheat had certainly been domesticated and was being grown widely, but conflating beer and bread is wide of the mark, I think.
Barley was domesticated and cultivated before wheat, so there’s some argument to be made that we had beer before we had bread. Regardless of whether that’s true, beer was pretty well established as a separate line of agricultural products from bread for centuries or millennia before Islam.
And likewise there have been multiple bans on alcohol across many civilisations in history, prohibition in the US for example was less than 100 years ago.
It also requires that grain to have been malted
Islam prohibits alcohol primarily because God said so in the Quran. It highlights the harms of intoxicants to individuals and society:
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:219: "They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, 'In them is great sin and [some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.'"
Surah An-Nisa 4:43: "Do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying..."
Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:90: "O you who have believed, intoxicants and gambling... are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful."
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also said: "Every intoxicant is khamr, and every khamr is haram."
Why is alcohol harmful?
Harm to Mind and Body: It impairs judgment and harms health.
Social Issues: Leads to family disputes, accidents, and violence.
Economic Waste: Resources spent on alcohol are considered wasteful.
Academic Insights
Rudi Matthee, "Angels Tapping at the Wine-shop's Door: A History of Alcohol in the Islamic World". Link: https://academic.oup.com/book/49401/chapter/416649514
Article: "Alcohol in The Muslim Worlds: History, places, practices and policies". Link: https://journals.openedition.org/remmm/17629
Research on gradual prohibition and its socio-cultural effects: Link: https://www.learnreligions.com/why-is-alcohol-forbidden-in-islam-2004329
Bottom Line:
The ban is rooted in divine wisdom ("because God said so") and aims to protect intellect, health, and society.
r/exmuslim • [6]Summarize
According to Muhammad, anyone who drinks wine must be lashed and if someone returns to wine a fourth time he must be killed.
Posted by FarouqBerber · in r/exmuslim · 5 months agoJami` at-Tirmidhi 1444
Narrated Mu'awiyah: That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever drinks wine, then lash him. If he returns to it, then on the fourth time kill him."
Koran 47:15.
The parable of the Garden promised to the righteous: In it are rivers of pure water, and rivers of ever-fresh milk, and rivers of wine, delectable to those who drink, and rivers of sifted honey.
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Seems reasonable
Seems pretty tame
That is obviously way too extreme and I am 100% for freedom of choice over drinking alcohol or not. But I would say prohibiting alcohol is one of the few good thing about islam since it is genuinely bad for you.
r/progressive_islam • [7]Summarize
Another let the religion speak on alcohol in islam
Posted by Vessel_soul · in r/progressive_islam · 4 months agoYes, early understanding didn’t systemically prohibit alcohol. Most famous cited example will be Abu Hanifa. Others at that time were also akin to this understanding. Supposedly Iraqi scholars in great chunks held it legal as well and the first sheikh Al Islam of the Ottoman Empire seemed to be fine with it too.
I personally disagree with their views but respect them
With modern statistics on alcoholism, drunk driving and accidental deaths, and alcohol-driven violence, especially domestic violence, it’s possibly easier to see the wisdom today than 1200 years ago.
Through statistics it is more clear but people pretty much knew what effects alcohol can have even in their time.
I made post with a prof of islam on the islamic history on alcohol before here: https://www.reddit.com/r/progressive_islam/s/jFubJZCNod
r/islam • [8]Summarize
Why is alcohol forbidden in Islam?
Posted by Nawtydaddy6969 · in r/islam · 3 years agoEdit - if alcohol is forbidden in Islam, why did god create it in the first place?
Edit- I don’t drink, nor am I considering to drink, nor will I ever drink, I’m just asking why is it forbidden in Islam? I appreciate all the response who are trying to tell me not to drink alcohol.
It harms your body, harming yourself is haram
I once heard correct me if I’m wrong. That alcohol consumption was allowed in Islam, but it was forbidden after the prophet saw two drunk men stumble and act disorderly whilst praying. If this is true. Then did Allah ban alcohol consumption or the prophet himself?
Alcohol was phased out. So it started from recommended not to drink, then don't be drunk during prayer, then complete ban.
Alcohol is banned as mentioned in the quran. Here Allah calls it a great evil.
{ ۞يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِۖ قُلۡ فِيهِمَآ إِثۡمٞ كَبِيرٞ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثۡمُهُمَآ أَكۡبَرُ مِن نَّفۡعِهِمَاۗ وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَۖ قُلِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ } [Al-Baqarah(2): 219]
Dr. Mustafa Khattab: They ask you ˹O Prophet˺ about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is great evil in both, as well as some benefit for people—but the evil outweighs the benefit.” They ˹also˺ ask you ˹O Prophet˺ what they should donate. Say, “Whatever you can spare.” This is how Allah makes His revelations clear to you ˹believers˺, so perhaps you may reflect
And here Allah tells us to stay away from toxicants, putting it with gambling, idols and drawing lots.
{ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَٰمُ رِجۡسٞ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ } [Al-Mâ'idah (5): 90]
Dr. Mustafa Khattab: O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful.
So to answer the question, Allah banned it.
It was banned in stages by Allah because the pre-Islamic Arabs were drunks who loved their alcohol. In Allah swt wisdom He knew if alcohol was all banned at once at the beginning of Islam many would have refused to believe just because how important and part of their daily lives alcohol was. So Allah banned it in phases to help them realize they didn’t need it, and that they could live without it.
At a later stage, Muhammad entirely prohibited the drinking of alcohol at all times, elevating the drinking of alcohol to haram — a severe transgression. There were recounts that at that point, Muslims threw out all their wine and that the streets of Medina flowed with wine.
One glass of beer will not harm you, 12 glasses of beer could harm you. Same could be said about 1 cup of coffee is okay, 12 cups of coffee will harm you. Same thing about fried food etc… now this is something I legit don’t understand.
Lots of brozzers are going nuts on unhealthy food, but it is still considered halal, while we know that many of them cause cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers…
Please explain to me why those are allowed and alcohol isn’t.
Everything is clearly mentioned above what are you trying to prove now? One glass of beer/whiskey will depend on the tolerance of a person who's drinking it.. Fried food and coffee or anything else that causes you harm because of its over consumption isn't allowed as well , clearly because if you do something which will cause harm to your body then it is haram for you..
The arabic word for "intoxicant" refers to any substance which intoxicates you which is not a necessity. Therefore, pain killers are allowed since they are not for pleasure, rather for relieving pain. Furthermore, it only hinders your function if you overdose depending on which kind. In any case, drinking alcohol for pleasure is out of the question because it is not needed in any facet whatsoever, and therefore included in the outlaw.
Because it literally has more harm than benefits. of course there are times where alcohol is allowed, such as creating medicine. But except for that, there is more harm than benefits
Because it intoxicates you and every intoxicant is haram
No, because the proper dosage of painkillers can cure you of pain. But an overdose is haram. Medicine and alcohol do not compare because there are no benefits to drinking plain alcohol.
I watched a video from Jordan Peterson saying god didn't create evil itself, but allowed the possibility of evil. And that's makes it great..(astaghfirullah) something like that, and I really like it. Alcohol is there, but it's how we use it. I do think alcohol itself plays a good role in medicine and its evolution actually.
Fire exists, and its harmful. But the test is how we use it. Alcohol exists, it can be used for good stuff like cleaning wounds.
r/AskHistorians • [9]Summarize
The religion of Islam declares alcohol haram. But wasn't alcohol used as a way to purify bad water across the medieval world? Was it different in the Near East and Arabia? How did alcohol being haram effect the spread of Islam into Spain and the Balkans or elsewhere, where alcohol was more common?
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> But wasn't alcohol used as a way to purify bad water across the medieval world?
It wasn't. I'm afraid you're starting from a very widespread Popular Myth here, which I regret to inform you is not true. I've made it my life's work to kill this myth, starting from this post; while it focuses specifically on Medieval Europe, the hydrology remains the same all over. Adding on to this, a user who no longer wishes to be tagged has a post re water sources in the MENA region.
With this in mind, your subsequent questions can be discarded - it wasn't any different in the Islamic world, and the nominal forbiddance on alcohol didn't affect much of anything, let alone drinking culture in the Muslim countries. What Islam says and what Muslims do are two related, but ultimately different, things. Let's put it like this: how many Christians are liars, adulterers, thieves, or do not love their neighbours as they love themselves? There is most definitely a Muslim drinking culture, as you will see from the following posts:
- u/Kiviimar examines the condemnation on alcohol and how well that worked out;
- u/AdmiralAkbar1 considers the debate around alcohol in Islam;
- u/khowaga looks at drinking laws in Iran around 1050-1100, dealing with the general attitude along the way, and also has some extra general comments here;
- and Dr Omar Foda did an AMA with us, covering Egypt and its beer culture.
Thanks for informing me!
Doing the Lord’s work, as usual, Dan!
r/islam • [10]Summarize
Why is alcohol haram?
Posted by CaptainMuu · in r/islam · 3 years agoFirst of all, I'm not Muslim and i don't know a lot about القُرْآن.
Why is alcohol considered something bad, even though it is a creation of god? Yes, people do bad things after drinking but it's only because of their weakness. Isn't it selfish and unfair to blame OUR wrongdoings on things like alcohol or Shaytan (which ARE creations of god)?
What about hashish? I heard it's quite popular and deeply rooted in tradition of some Arabic countries (for example Morocco), is it haram? Why?
Are there some explanations in Quaran? I know there are a lot of devoted experts on this subreddit and I hope you'll excuse my lack of knowledge and (maybe) ignorance. Thank you.
- Allah is the creator of good and evil, everything is created by him.
- Laws do not work like that, even if you are the best driver ever you still wear your seatbelt, you still stop at red lights. Intoxicants are haram, doesnt matter if it originates from arab lands, doesnt matter if you can 'controll yourself' What you said about blaming wouldve been true But, intoxicants are haram, and you are still to be blamed what you did while in their effect
“They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: ‘In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit’” [al-Baqarah 2:219]
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a little of it is haram.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1865 1 2
“They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought” (Quran 2:219)
Other than what is said in the comments, your questions are regarded as secondary in nature, meaning if you first understand the core message of Islam, the rest will eventually make more sense. That's why I would like to invite you to read those two:
Opium is also a creation of God.
Allah says regarding alcohol, there is some good in it but more bad. It only became haram during the life of prophet Muhammad, other ummahs were allowed to drink it, the prophet Muhammad perfected our religion.
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AI Answer
how does Islam view the use of alcohol?
Key Considerations on Islam and Alcohol Use:
Prohibition: Islam strictly prohibits the consumption of alcohol. This is based on several verses in the Quran, such as Surah Al-Baqarah (2:219) and Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:90-91), which describe intoxicants as harmful and sinful.
Health and Social Impact: The prohibition is rooted in the belief that alcohol can lead to negative health effects, social issues, and moral decay. It is seen as a substance that can impair judgment and lead to behavior contrary to Islamic teachings.
Cultural Practices: While the religious texts prohibit alcohol, cultural practices may vary. In some Muslim-majority countries, alcohol is banned entirely, while in others, it may be available but is often consumed discreetly.
Exceptions: There are no exceptions for the consumption of alcohol in Islam. Even in small amounts, it is considered haram (forbidden).
Community and Identity: Abstaining from alcohol is often seen as a part of Muslim identity and community values, reinforcing a lifestyle that promotes health and well-being.
Takeaway: In Islam, the use of alcohol is viewed as harmful and is strictly prohibited. This stance is based on religious teachings that prioritize health, morality, and social harmony.
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