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Why forbidden alcohol in the Islam?
It is a well known fact that Muslims don’t drink alcohol. It is
haraam, forbidden. They don’t eat foods with ethanol, they
don’t wear perfumes containing alcoholic ingredients and they
stay away from all forms of intoxicating substances. For most
Muslims, alcohol is "haraam," or forbidden. Muslims abstain
from alcohol because the Prophet Muhammad , to whom
Muslims believe the word of God was revealed in the Qur'an,
spoke against it. Though Muhammad said alcohol may have
some medicinal value, as recorded in the Qur'an, he believed its
potential for sin was "far greater" than its benefits. Muhammad
also forbade Muslims from consuming other intoxicants,
including hashish, believing the substances would cloud
judgment and lead to unlawful behavior in the same way as
alcohol.
Alcohol in Islam (^) Linguistically, khamr (ر ر ر) Arabic for “wine”, is alcohol derived from grapes. This is what is prohibited by specific texts of the Quran (see 5:90). Therefore alcohol is categorically unlawful ( haraam ) and considered impure ( najis ). Consuming any amount is unlawful, even if it doesn’t create any drunken effects. (^) The Prophet Muhammad of Islam said, “Intoxicants are from these two trees,” while pointing to grapevines and date-palms. Alcohol derived from dates or raisins is also prohibited, again regardless of the amount consumed, as explained on Islamic site Seekers Guidance. (^) At first, a general warning was given to forbid Muslims from attending prayers while in a drunken state (Quran, 4:43). Then a later verse was revealed to Prophet Muhammad which said that while specifically alcohol had some medicinal benefits, the negative effects of it outweighed the good (Quran, 2:219). (^) Finally, “intoxicants and gambling” were called “abominations of Satan’s handiwork,” which warned people with self-consciousness to not turn away from God and forget about prayer, and Muslims were ordered to abstain (Quran, 5:90-91). (^) The Prophet Muhammad also instructed his companions to avoid any intoxicating substances (paraphrased), “if it intoxicates in a large amount, it is forbidden even in a small amount.” For this reason, most observant Muslims avoid alcohol in any form, even small amounts that are sometimes used in cooking.
5 reasons why Muslims don’t drink alcohol
1. Alcohol and prayer do not mix. Prayer ( salat ) is a
fundamental part of the Muslim lifestyle, an obligatory call to
God five times a day. A ritual eco “wudhu” (woo-dhoo) is
necessary before the prayer which involves a water saving
ablution to spiritually connect to environment, health and
creation. The presence of alcohol in the same room does not
affect the prayer, according to Islamic scholars, but anyone who
drinks alcohol cannot pray for a month, unless he or she repents.
2. It’s addictive. Even when the early Muslims recognised
alcohol for its medicinal uses, Prophet Muhammad likened the
drink to a “disease”, saying there is no cure in things that God has
forbidden. Like the first puff of a cigarette, it is up to individual
will-power to continue or stop drinking.
(^) 3. Liquor clouds the intellect. Khamr also describes how alcohol consumption makes it difficult to differentiate between right and wrong. Muslim faith is founded on the intellect, rational thought and good judgement. Anything that could jeopardise this behaviour is forbidden, and another reason why Muslims don’t drink. (^) 4. It gives the wrong message to children. Sitting in a restaurant where alcohol is served is not the same as drinking it. This is why Islamic law has the flexibility to say if someone needs to sit in such a restaurant for a work meeting or because no other diners are available, he/she can, but should not sit at a table where alcohol is served. On that note, fins local halal restaurants with Zabiha.com’s world halal guide. (^) Bars and environments where alcohol is served could lead to drinking and in the presence of children, it could teach them to explore drinking. Mature Muslim adults are role models and carry a message that you don’t have to drink to have a good time, to work or to socialise. (^) Classical and contemporary Islamic scholars have helped explain why an alcohol zone can be as bad as drinking itself, (^) “The difference between [prohibitions in environment] and [prohibitions related to the end goals] is that while both are forbidden, the former is considered lesser in weight because it is related to causes, whereas the latter is related to an actual forbidden act. Thus, sitting at the table, although not the same as drinking, could lead to it whereas drinking in itself is absolutely forbidden.” – Dr. Abdullah bin Bayyah (Suhaibwebb.com)
As for the use of alcohol – particularly ethanol – for uses other than
human consumption, such as industrial use, the scholars of Islam
differed about whether or not alcohol as a substance is considered pure
or impure, based on the statement of Allah in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe; 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.” [The Qur’an:al-Maa’idah 5:90()
It is also important to note that, as mentioned in the beginning of the
article, Islam makes no distinction between drinking alcohol, and
buying, selling, or producing it, even if it is sold or produced for non-
Muslims. All of this is completely forbidden, based on the principle
enshrined in the following passage of the Qur’an:
“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate
in sin and transgression. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe
in penalty.” [The Qur’an: al-Maa’idah 5:2()
Alternative Attitudes Though many Muslims abstain from alcohol, others believe drinking is a personal decision between themselves and Allah. Some wealthy Muslims in countries like Pakistan drink to show their moneyed, cultured status, according to The Economist, and some Islamic scholars even believe it's acceptable to drink alcohol made from something other than dates and grapes. Nonetheless, a study conducted by the Pew Forum showed a majority of Muslims believe drinking is "morally wrong," and it's banned in many Islamic countries, like Saudi Arabia.
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