Moral Teachings of Islam 12 – Diet Intoxicants

The Name of God, the benevolent the Merciful, the creator and the Sustainer of the universe, peace and blessings upon His servants and messenger Muhammad forever. I mean, I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except the one true God. And I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger and servant of God. I greet you all with the universal greetings of peace. Greetings that has been used by all of the prophets from Abraham to Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon them all. Assalamu Aleikum which means peace be unto you. I'm your host Hama Rashid. Today we have our 12th program and the series of moral teachings in Islam. We'll be talking about the question of

intoxicants. I have joining me on the program is usual. Dr. Jamal, betta. We have St. Mary's University brother Jamal assalamu aleikum wa.

We began this series on the moral teachings of Islam by referring to a very useful chart that you have prepared the giving us the main criteria for distinction between those things which are lawful, right, and those things that are unlawful. Perhaps before we get into our discussion today dealing with the question of intoxicants. Could you just go back to the chart very quickly, and bring us up to date in terms of the points that we've we've discussed this point, so that we will have this in the proper context. Sure.

As you might recollect, in the terms of main criteria for lawful and unlawful. We have, on one hand, one of the objectives, one or more of the objectives of Islamic law, or Sharia on one side, and then on the other side, we have some of the examples of things to avoid or fight in order to accomplish those particular objectives. And

we mentioned that the main objectives of Islamic law is to safeguard these five things, faith, life, mind, owners, and property.

In some of the previous programs, we focused on measures taking to preserve or safeguard faith by avoiding shirk, or associating others with God and His divine power, things like sorcery and tyranny, we also discussed

the second main purpose of the Islamic Sharia or Islamic jurisprudence is to safeguard life. In this we talked about prohibition of killing, suicide and related aspects like euthanasia.

Abortion was related there also associate injustice, which again, may leave some people in society without fulfilling their fundamental needs. But we spend a lot of time on one item here that just didn't find enough space to put but relating to impure diets all the way from blood animals that died without being slaughtered properly, to the recent three programs are so that you spend exclusively on a pork and the reasons behind its prohibition. So what we're really moving on today is the

measures to safeguard demand.

That's really like you said earlier question of taxes. Let's begin today's program by I'd like to get your comments in terms of how widespread the use of intoxicants was among the pre Islamic Arabs, what very, very widespread. One of the examples of this is that in Arabic before Islam, they used to have about 100, different names, for 100 different names. And there was a poet who,

when he was about to die, he said that if I die,

and you bury me, plant, a vine,

a good, good vine, on my grave so that my bones would get the test.

So imagine how much they were really so engrossed in this evil of,

of jenkees very

well, given the fact that it was such a integral part of the civilization, the pre Islamic civilization, I should say, many others even outside of Arabia and other nations also.

How was it that how does Islam succeed in eliminating metal such as, I guess, cherries to have it from from among the Arabs, the point that sometimes it's missed that some people for example,

May I assume that the only explanation for that is the power of the law, for example, or you know, intimidation of force, or from that the main reason for Islamic success in wiping out such cherished habits

is the dependence or training of people first, and belief in Allah, God, the one and only God,

to accept his authority in directing our lives, to train ourselves to obey Him rather than obey our own minds and our own inclinations, which are usually biased, one way or the other. Once this approach of what I call before, several previous programs, the loving and conscious submission to the Word of God accepting him to direct one's life,

voluntarily, if one reached that stage, then he would be receptive he or she would be receptive to receive any command from God of what to do or what not to do, because you just accepted that guidance.

submission, which is the meaning of Islam, Islam means conscious submission to the will of God. Once this has been inculcated in the hearts of men and women, it wasn't too difficult to go gradualism. But in addition to this, you're right also in saying that, or implying that faith in itself

might have not really succeeded to wipe out something like that, which was really very, very part and parcel of their lives. But the other technique also other wisdom that we find in the scripture of Islam, is that it went in a graduate way with people to read themselves out of this particular habit. For example, the first verse revealed in the Quran, dealing with discouraging people to drink or have intoxicants, appears in chapter two, verse 219. And it simply says, They asked you that they asked you or Mohammed, concerning or intoxicant, as I translated,

say, in then there's great harm, but some benefits, but their harm is greater than their benefits. So this is the first hint.

What are these benefits? Well, some people might may say, all right, we make profits, we make money, even though that some studies showed that in some states, for example, where the study was conducted in the US, that for every dollar that the state's earns, from selling of liquor, they spent between two in some studies to $11, as rehabilitation, rehabilitation, and looking after the cost of drinking, in terms of accidents, and all this things that does that, but even then, suppose there is a pure economic benefits from that. Still, that benefit is much less than the magnitude of harms that come from that's one revelation. And the second stage in chapter four, verse 43, in the Quran,

it went one step further, because now less people are thinking it's a

do not approach prayers. Under the influence of any intoxicants, you can go to your prayers. But we have to remember here that Muslims should pray on regular intervals, four times a day, five times a day, from morning to the time he goes to bed, which meant then that those who are still unable to read themselves that habit, were restricted to drink only after the night prayer, because there's quite a few hours before the early morning prayer. So that again,

restricted the us further. And then some started getting the hint that this is something that God doesn't really like so maybe should get away totally, but even then, the room was still there. And then finally, in chapter five, verse 93, came the most decisive verse in the Quran about irrevocable final prohibition. And the trades are just in the transition. And so that's an yeah 593 it says, all you have to believe in toxicants and gambling, dedication of stones and divination by errors are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. So avoid or avoid such abominations that you may prosper as a condition to prosper, you must avoid that this was the decisive

verse, it came in one of the chapters which was among the last to be revealed in the Quran called ADA. Number five.

In fact, historians report that when this verse was revealed,

those who were even just drinking halfway through, they just throw it away. Those who had any jars at home, they just went on the streets of Medina. They broke it until they say the river The streets are flowing. We're just flowing as rivers with winds.

So this is how it went the appeal to the love of Allah sub being permitted to obey Him and consciously submit to Him and then the gradual approach in habits that are very difficult to get rid of if the Quran says stop it for once, just like prohibition those, for example, it's very difficult to get bootlegging and all kinds of things, but this was a gradual and very effective approach in getting Muslims from,

you know, the original word that is used in the ground for and toxic and so, what is it? And why is it translated as such, you mean why I translated it toxic and interesting and right English, when the original Arabic word is coming, which if you write in English would be something like KHM are some.

Now, in Arabic originally the word

was commonly used refers to any drink that causes you to be in toxic and that includes things that might be obtained by fermentation like wines, beers, or things that, by analogy could be obtained by distillation, such as whiskey, gin branding.

But if you take the strict meaning of hum in Arabic, you find that it

relates to two very close and interrelated meanings. One is pronounced in Arabic, Samira.

Samira. Samira means, covered, Doctor covered. That's one. The other very relating meaning is hamara. hombre means fermented.

And both meanings are related. Because the covering here is that when you drink something that's fermented, it covers your mind.

It clouds your mind, so it conceals

or deactivate your rational

thinking that's how it came. So the the point that should be noted here is that

there isn't a translated in toxicon and others translated also as such, is that if you simply say wine, there are so many other stuff that also cause the same

clouding or covering of the mindset must fall in the same category.

Two points that are very interesting here, but why it shouldn't just be translated wine or translated as strong drinks as mistakenly translated, for example, in cocktails at translation, this is very erroneous translation is that in the same, one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him narrated in Ahmed Abu Dawood, and sorry, in three different volumes of Hadith. He says, some of my people, in later days will drink

wine, but they give it different names. It doesn't matter the name, but the effects is what really counts. The other interesting remark was made by

the second Caliph, after Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, being so close to the Prophet, being again,

from Arabian struck, so he knows the usage of the language. He stood once on the same men in the same place with Prophet Mohammed used to give his sermons. And he said, Alhambra, Martha, Martha Laughlin, very brief and very low quantities were translated in the simplistic but he says the word that appears in the Quran

is anything that the clouds the mind doesn't have to be something to be junk, anything which may be cloud, the mind. Now I

have heard some people argue that the term that is used in the Koran to prohibit the use of intoxicants

is not quite as strong is a term that forbidden or haram. How would you comment on a person who might make that particular argument that the word they need to study the Quran for that?

Okay, let's go back to the original words used for this for prohibition. And look into the Quran to see how this word is used. Does that sound reasonable?

Now the word used in the Quran is fetched tenable, is technical which sentence let's avoid or to keep away from. Now, it is important first of all, to clarify that for anything to be unlawful. You don't have to insist that the word haram or this is unlawful in that exact term is used. For example, then many references. The term land or curse is used for major sins doesn't have to say the word Haram. unlawful, something great even land means person away from the mercy of Allah because of his deeds.

Sometimes the Quran make deeds similar to the handiwork of Satan.

Don't have to use the word Haram is even stronger to use this kind of expression.

That a point that should be kept in mind that if this argument is correct that you must use the term haram

then it's a very, very shaky ground. Because there is nowhere in the Quran for example when it says killing is haram or killing is unlawful, but killing has been mentioned in the Quran as some of the most abominable acts to be committed. Taking the property of other people it doesn't say the exact word that this is haram.

So any of the major sins that everybody agrees that they are definitely unlawful

did not appear in the court and specifically with the word haram sometimes the word Haram is used other terms are used. Certainly. Let's turn back to the original term used in the Quran, vegetable is tenable in Arabic means take a side come from Janet, take side or take keep away from it. How did the Quran used that term? It used it in something that no Muslims or non Muslim even for that matter would dispute as absolutely unlawful in Islam, worship of idols or worship of ungodly.

Any associates besides? This appears in the Quran with the center is tenable. For example, for standard Latina stainable tacos, well administered taco Tania Buddha, those who avoided tacos or false gods that they may worship and that's in chapter 16, verse 36. Can anyone say that this is not unlawful? The same word exactly, same derivative. The Quran also speaks about the measure since kadesh. Will it Tibet, which appears in more than one verse in the Quran, in chapter 42, verse 3753, verse 32, chapter four, verse 30, all of them talk about major sins and use the word is tangible or intangible.

narrating the story from Prophet Abraham peace be upon him in chapter 14, verse 35. Abraham was praying to God and says was nobody with any anomalous Nam helped me and my children, to keep aside away from worshipping of idols,

talking about avoiding the fire.

In the Day of Judgment, for example, chapters 92, verse 17, there's also the same term used generally.

Not only this, the Quran also uses the term let's let's,

which means impurity, and cleanliness, which refers in one verse and chapter 22, verse 32, the worship of idols that's worshiping of idols is rich, or uncleanliness, unwholesome and the center also, in the verse I just cited in chapter five, verse 19, they use exactly the symptom also to refer to drinking.

The fact that it's called rich or abomination, leaves no doubt whatsoever, that it is absolutely forbidden and absolutely, Haram.

This is only part of it actually could go on and on. That's why you find that there's absolutely no difference there's always a mass or called or consensus agreement among all Muslim just out history, that it is definitely haram as confirmed in the Quran, the saying of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and all jurists, no difference and that, of course, is what I'm going to move this point because we have also the sayings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him which would shed light on this particular thing as well. And I wonder perhaps you might share some of the give us some examples of what the prophet had to say apart from Hama peace and blessings be upon him had to say about the use

of intoxicants or assignments, in addition to his own behavior, who should should be taken as a model. He never touched it even before he was a prophet before he was commissioned to never touch it, so never had anything to do with it. But aside from that, he has more decisive also statements, very clear statements.

For example, just to give you, he said that God will not accept the prayer of a person who drinks for 40 days unless he repents.

He says a person who will drink it in this life will not enjoy different kinds of wine which does not cause intoxication. And the Day of Judgment is not the same like the intoxicating wine here.

He says also, in another Hadith narrated in adamant that a person who dies, insisting or being addicted, addicted to drinking, or intoxicants, he would meet and meet God as if he were worshipper of items. Unless of course he repents before his death.

And another Hadees are saying of the Prophet narrated in Bukhari and Muslim he says everything

That causes intoxication is haram

unlawful and any function or any intoxicants is haram. Sorry ekonomiska and

everything that cause intoxication is

the term used in the Quran and every function or intoxicant is haram is unlawful or forbidden. There are additional things that no wonder it's called the mother of abominations. Almost debase that wine is the mother are the sources of all evil. Some people might think that there are more evils. But in fact, people who may drink may commit all kinds of moral offenses including course as you know,

attack assault beating murderers in some cases, because just be clouds. So it's the source of many evils.

Now, many people argue that drinking in small quantities or social drinking or drinking things that are not things that are other than hard liquor for example beer or wine so on, is permissible.

Is this the what is Islam view on less

obvious by the text of the saying of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him as narrated environment and Abu Dawood. He says mascara, mascara Casio who follow her on that if you drink something that much if you drink too much of something.

In other words, if you need to drink a lot in order to really get intoxicated or get high, then even the small amount of it is absolutely forbidden. And another similar thing he said masskara Alpha men who commit casamino haram that means if you need the term he used FARC means something like 16 pounds if you need 16 pounds. Or if you have a pack that can take 16 pounds, and you need 16 pounds in order to get high. Even a handful of that is haram that's narrated in a Buddha with an attorney. So the position of Islam is very clear on this. And mind you there are some scientific studies also that shows that

even though not everybody who drinks become addicted to alcohol, or toxicants, but in many cases starts actually by social drinking starts by little. So the position of Islam is just close the door, period, keep away from it, so that you avoid developing habits, not everybody's fully rational and know how to control so Stan is revealed also to improve the lives of everybody, all levels and types of people. Position sounds very strict on that. What about the situation of

others other kinds of intoxicants like drugs and so on, for example, things other than liquor,

hashish these kinds of things, could you comment on the basis for their prohibition in Islam? Okay, the basis goes back to the, for example, the Hadith of the Prophet that I just quoted a few minutes ago that anything that you think can large quantity, or anything that causes intoxication is doesn't have to be drink, or liquor. And any company is harmed. This is one versus

the other basis, of course, for that is the analogy. And this is a rule in Islamic jurisprudence. That is, if there's something that's harmful and has been forbidden, and there's something that has the same effect, that then by analogy, should also It should also be

forbidden. So they have the same effect. Sometimes it's not even more harmful, like cocaine, for example, which is even more devastating, in terms of its addiction than one. So it wasn't under the same category because of that sort of an addiction, as they call it.

Now, what is it? Most of them, of course, must, by definition be teetotallers. We've said, you know, what about the situation of a Muslim doesn't drink in that Muslim, buy, sell or are dealing liquor? Other than, you know, even if he if he's not using it himself? I mean, is it permissible for them to be able to buy it or sell it or to deal in any kind of intoxicants? See one thing about the teaching of Islam that is practical, and it does not ask you to do something and then provide a social, political or economic environment where it discourage you from doing the right thing, or encourage you to do the wrong thing. When there's something that's forbidden, the way is paved also to have

the total system operating in the same direction. For this reason, to just give you the direct quotation from this, in two collections of Hades terminology and imagine, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was quoted as saying that they have 10 categories of people who are cursed, will have anything to do with wine, or wine drinking, or intoxicants to be more accurate. You say one who makes it and the one who asked somebody to make it for him or manufacturers for

A person who drank it. Number three, a person who carry it, a person to whom it is carried a person who serve it. A person who sell it.

A person who takes its price, a person who buy it, and the person to whom it is precious.

I'm gonna do is purchase from that anybody that has anything to do with with drinking for the Muslim course it is absolutely forbidden. Some jurist even went as far as saying that the person even who raises

grapes, which is limited, but he raises with the intention not of selling fresh grapes, but selling it to wineries. He's actually contributing to this kind of private attack, if you notice deliberately, that this is what he's doing.

Not only this, but there's also a saying of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him narrated and a collection of Hadith, which says that a person who really believes in Allah, and the hereafter should not sit on the same table where one or intoxicants are being served. So even keeping away from places where wine is served is also important. Of course, it's not as sinful to be there as to drink, but it is still as bad. And one should try his best to keep away from that situation. Well, I guess the question that perhaps would follow from this, and a lot of people might be asking themselves, is the

question of how widespread

drinking in drugs isn't drinking and drugs and Muslim among Muslims, various Muslim communities? Okay, to start with, I have to be honest, first in saying that Muslims are not engines and followers of any faith,

follow their face to some degree or the other. So one has to dismiss any claim that decelerates your mind, people are injured. This is false, it's not honest. However, it is very notable for anyone who visited Muslim countries, not just big cities, and among

certain classes of people, but really, when in the countryside and so for himself or herself, that there is a notable difference

between Muslim countries and others, even though Muslims today are not necessarily totally, you know, following their face very strictly and very closely or so they would not be in the pathetic situation they are in today. But even then, still, the impact of the or the strength of this Quranic prohibition is very noted. Indeed, there are some countries, several countries in the Muslim world which prohibit buying, selling or importing wines period, there are some other countries now that they have in their legislative process belts for the absolute prohibition of dealing with wines. But above all, the spread is far, far less there are people of course, would think Muslims would think

there are Muslims or take drugs, but mostly they are among the more corrupt,

sometimes more affluent segments of society where they take that as a sign of prestige, or those who have weakness in their heart that they feel that by imitating the technologically advanced Western dunklin not in technology, and the question of drugs that they are necessarily being advanced or less backward, which is a very false kind of

basis. So on the hood, it's very, very limited. And anyone who checks for example, you and statistics on that there is a big big difference, actually associated speaking, aside from being less spread. It is despised and that's another factor also limiting it. Well, we'll have to leave it at that but there's your mouth because we've exhausted our time for today. We want to thank you for watching Islam and focus. See you next time Assalamu alaikum Peace be on T