REASONS FOR THE PROHIBITION OF WINE IN ISLAM

Allah has created human beings in such a way that whatever he eats or drinks will influence his body, mind and soul. Allah in His infinite Mercy has regulated man's edibles specifying what is permissible or Halal and what is prohibited or Haram.

The guiding principle is that every thing which enhances health and nutrition is allowed and the material which is injurious is prohibited. Modern science has restricted itself to the adverse effects of materials on human body.

Wine is one of the drinks which causes intoxication hence it is prohibited in stages in Islam. Surah al-Nahl Ayah 67 says, “And of the fruits of the date-palm, and grapes, whence you derive strong drink and (also) good nourishment. Lo! Therein is indeed a lesson for people who have wisdom.”

Surah al-Nisa Ayah 43, “Believers, do not pray when you are drunk, but, instead, wait until you can understand what you say.”

Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 219, “(Muhammad), they ask you about wine and gambling. Tell them that there is great sin in them. Although they have benefits for men, the sin therein is far greater than the benefit.”

Surah al-Ma'idah Ayah 90-91, “Believers, wine, gambling, the stone altars and arrows (that the pagans associate with certain divine characters) are all abominable acts associated with Satanic activities. Satan wants to induce hostility and hatred among you through wine and gambling and to prevent you from remembering Allah and prayer. Will you then avoid such things?”

Drinking wine or any intoxicants is naturally, morally and intellectually harmful. Its adverse physical effects includes the disorders of stomach, intestine, liver, lungs, pancreas, brain, nerves, blood vessels, heart and the five senses. It also causes throat cancer, breast cancer, stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure. Wine damages the soul resulting in disgraceful acts insulting and harming others. A drunk person may commit heinous crimes including murder, divulging personal or other's secrets trampling on their sanctity. Intellectual harms includes dissipating wisdom, decision-making and perception.

American College of Surgeons committee on Trauma and Inquiry reports that forty percent of motor vehicles crash deaths involve alcohol drinking and forty percent of pedestrians killed have been drinking.

In England, insanity due to drinking intoxicating beverages was 2249 compared to only 53 people were insane due to other reasons. The presence of alcohol combined with easy access to a deadly weapon is deadlier on the pretext of a minor grievance. In the United States, the mental illness leads to twice as many deaths compared to the American deaths in the Second World War. Intoxicating drinks and smoking leads to mental illness. The statistics from France reveals that 60 billion Francs spent on courts and prisons, 40 billions Francs spent on social benefits and charity, 10 billion Francs spent on hospitals for alcoholics, and 70 billion Francs for maintaining social security.

An English scholar named Bentham said, “The religion of Islam has prohibited all kinds of alcoholic drinks and this is one of the distinctive features of Islam.”

Sources: The Glorious Qur'an, al-islam.org/message -thaqalayn