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:
a. 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.”
b. 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.
c. 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,
Chapter30
Hadith No. 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 worldrelated 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.
Authored by: Dr. Zakir AbdulKarim Naik
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