|
|
|
Q: Why is wine and other alcohol beverages such as beer not allowed in Islam?
A: Indeed Satan wants to sow the seeds of enmity and hatred among you through alcohol and
gambling and to keep you away from remembering Allah and from the prayer so are you giving it up?
Translation of: Ayah 91, Surat AlMa'idah.
Words: Yureed = wants, Adawah = Enmity, AlBagda' = Hatred, Khamr = Alcohol (Wine and Intoxicants),
May'sar = Gambling, Yasud = Keeps away, Muntahoon = Giving it up (plural).
Q: Will the believers be held responsible for the forbidden food they consumed before being Muslims?
A: There is no sin on those who have Faith and do the good deeds in what food (wine in
pre-Islam) they consumed if they fear Allah and have Faith and do good deeds then they fear Allah more and have Faith
then (even) they fear Allah more and perfect (be proficient in) their Faith and Allah loves those
who perfect their Faith (= muhsineen).
Translation of: Ayah 93, Surat AlMa'idah.
Note: The line of the Qur'an was revealed when alcoholic beverages became forbidden for Muslims.
Note: Ihsan is the highest level of Faith in Allah.
Words: Laysa = There is no, Junah = Sin - Blame, Ma Ta'imou = What food they
cosumed - They ate, Etaqqo = They fear,
Ahsanou = They perfect their Faith - They are proficient in their faith - They are skilled
in their Faith, Yuhib = Loves.
Q: Normal human good behaviour is based on good qualities (ethics). Who decides which ethics should be followed?
Note: If humans decide which ethics to follow then what is good qualities for some can be
bad qualities for others. An example.
A: They (companions) ask you about alcohol (= alKhamr)* (intoxicants) and gambling
say (command to Prophet Muhammad) in both of them is a great sin and (some) benefit
for people and their sin is greater than their benefit - and they ask you
what to spend (as charity) say what you can spare (= AlAfou) - In this way
Allah details for you the Miraculous Signs (verses of the Qur'an) so that you may reflect.
Translation of: Ayah 219, Surat AlBaqarah.
Note: "AlKhamr" is a nown extracted from the verb: Khamar = Every intoxicant that interferes with the brain or covers it be it extracted
from vines or others. Source: The ex-Mufti of Egypt - Hassanain Muhammad Makhlouf's "Safwat AlBayan liMa'ani
AlQur'an", page 52.
Note: The Qur'an made wine and all intoxicants unlawful (= haram) in steps
because the Qur'an is
interactive with people. The line translated here was revealed before intoxicants were forbidden forever.
Note: People in pre-Islamic Arabia
were used to drinking wine. If wine was made unlawful immediately it would have been very hard on them (and
they might have not listened). According to the ex-Mufti of Egypt (above reference): Some companions asked the Prophet Muhammad about wine
and gambling. So the Ayah mentioned above (219 Surat AlBaqarah) was sent down. Then some Muslims drank wine and
some left it. Then a Muslim Imam did not do well in his prayer because of his intoxication. So Ayah 34
Surat AlNisa' was sent down. Its
beginning is translated as: O People who have Faith do not embark on performing the prayer when you are
intoxicated (with wine etc) in order to understand what you are saying...". Then some companions gathered in
the house of Itban Bin Malik. When they became intoxicated they bragged and said defamatory poetry and they
had a fist fight. So some of them complained to the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet prayed to Allah:
Our God Give us a definite explanation about wine (all intoxicants). So Ayat 90 - 91 in
Surat AlMa'idah were revealed. Ayah 91 ends with"...so are you giving it up?" So Umar Bin AlKattab said:
We have given it up - we have given it up (= Intahayna, Intahayna) And intoxicants were made forbidden forever with
Ayat 90 - 91 Surat AlMa'idah).
Words: Yasalounaka = They ask you, AlKhamr = Alcolhol - Intoxicants,
AlMayser = Gambling, Isthm = Sin, Kabeer = Great, Manafe' = Benefit,
AlAfou = What you spare - Beyond your lawful needs, Tatafkaroun = Reflect - Contemplate
about it.
Q: Why is it unlawful (= haram) for Muslims to be in the business
(selling - buying - serving...etc.) of wine (all intoxicants), gambling, idolatrous monuments and
divination (fortune telling) practices with arrows etc.?
A: O people who have Faith indeed wine (all intoxicants),
gambling, idolatrous monuments and divination (fortune telling)
arrows* are impurity** (which is) of Satan's
doing*** so shun (avoid) it so that you may become prosperous (in the Other
Life).
Translation of: Ayah 90, Surat AlMa'idah.
* Polytheist practice before Islam by using arrows and attributing them to the will
of Allah and other gods whom they used to join with Allah.
Remember how similar practice with "reed pens" allowed Zechariah may Allah be pleased with him to
adopt the veracious Maryam (Mary - Jesus's mother).
**Impurity - Unlawful (= haram) acts = rijs. Remember that Allah is Pure and He accepts only pure acts that are
done with the primary intention of pleasing Allah.
*** Satan's doing to sow enmity and hatred.
Note: In a summary of a saying of the Prophet Muhammad: The Prophet Muhammad
cursed (prayed to be away from Allah's Mercy) who squeezes it (wine), what is squeezed of
it, drinks it, serves it,
transfers it, to whom it is transferred, who sells it, for whom it is bought, who gifts it and who
uses the money that comes because of it (= La'ina Rasool Allah, Asirha, waMu'tasirah,
waSharibaha, waSaqeeha, waHamilha welMahmoolah Ilayhi, waBaie'ha, welMubtaa'ah Ilayhi,
waWaibiha waAakil Sthamanaha.) Source: The ex-Mufti of Egypt - Hassanain Muhammad Makhlouf's "Safwat AlBayan liMa'ani
AlQur'an", page 52.
Words: Inamma = Indeed, AlKhamr = Wine, AlMaysar = Gambling,
AlAnsab = Idolatrous monuments, Azlam = Divination (fortune telling) arrows, Amel =
Doing - Work, Fajtanibouh = So shun it, La'alakum Perhaps you may.
