219- THEY ASK YOU ABOUT INTOXICANTS AND GAMBLING, SAY; “THERE IS A GREAT SIN IN THEM AS WELL AS BENEFITS TO PEOPLE, BUT THEIR SIN IS GREATER THAN THEIR BENEFITS”, AND THEY ASK YOU WHAT THEY SHOULD SPEND (IN CHARITY), SAY: “WHAT IS OVER YOUR NEEDS”.  THUS DOES ALLAH CLAREFIES HIS AYAS TO YOU SO THAT YOU MAY THINK.

220- IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE HEREAFTER.  AND THEY ASK YOU ABOUT THE ORPHANS, SAY: “THE BEST IS TO DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM, AND IF YOU MIX YOUR AFFAIRS WITH THEM, TREAT THEM LIKE BROTHERS”.  ALLAH KNOWS THOSE WHO DO MISCHIEF FROM THOSE WHO DO GOOD, AND IF ALLAH DESIRED, HE WOULD HAVE CAUSED DIFFICULTIES FOR YOU.  INDEED ALLAH IS MOST EXALTED IN POWER AND MOST WISE.

These two Ayahs are about 3 different Issues:

1-    Intoxicants and Gambling: 

It is important to note that Allah the Highest spoke always about intoxicants and gambling together.  Intoxicants are every thing which intoxicates the mind, not only Alcoholic drinks as is often believed. All drugs of abuse such as Cannabis, Cocaine, Magic Mushrooms, Heroin, etc are Intoxicants and are forbidden.

What the Arabs knew and used at the time was Alcoholic drinks.  They used to ferment and make alcoholic drinks from grapes, dates, cereal and other things.  The prohibition of Intoxicants and Gambling happened in steps, and did not start until after a while of the Muslims migration to Medina.  This was the first stage of the prohibition.

The Muslims saw what Alcoholic drinks and gambling does to people and they asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him about them and here came the answer.  It was not prohibiting, but stating facts about them.  There is a great deal of wrong in Intoxicants and Gambling and there are some benefits.

They affect one’s health, behavior and the relationship between people badly.  In the mean time, there are some benefits in drinking small amounts of Alcohol, there is also an industry in Intoxicants and Gambling which provide jobs and income to some people, but the bad is more than the good.  Allah the Highest did not say any more at this stage.

The next stage came when a number of the early Muslims drank wine with a meal, after which they prayed together.  The Imam made a number of mistakes reciting the Quran.  Allah the Highest sent another Ayah saying “YOU WHO BELIEVE, DO NOT APPROACH THE SALAH WHEN YOU HAVE DRUNK, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW WHAT YOU SAY”.  (S: 4 A: 43)

Although this Ayah was not a prohibition, yet if made it impossible for the Muslims to drink during the day, otherwise they will not be able to pray.  People at that time used to rise for Fajr and sleep with the sun.  They used to wait after Magreb to pray Esha.  Those very keen to drink, had to wait after Esha to have a drink, which reduced the Muslims drinking considerable.

The next and final stage was that of total prohibition.  Some Muslims drunk then had a fight (as often happen in dinking places) Allah the Highest sent this Ayah down: “YOU WHO BELIEVE, THE KHAMR (INTOXICANTS), GAMBLING, IDLES AND AZLAM (A FORM OF GAMBLING) ARE BUT ILLS OF THE WORK OF SATAN, AVOID THEM SO THAT YOU MAY SUCCEED * SATAN DESIRRES TO STIR UP HATRED AND STRIVE BETWEEN YOU THROUGH INTOXICANTS AND GAMBLING AND PREVENT YOU FROM REMEMBERING ALLAH AND FROM SALAH, WILL YOU THEN BE FORBIDDEN”.  (S: 5 A: 90-91)

When this Ayah was sent down, Omar Ibn El-Khatab said: “We are forbidden, we are forbidden”.  (D: Ashrebah; 1 & T: Tafseer Sorah 5; 8, 9)

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him then sent men around Medina telling people that intoxicants (Including alcoholic drinks) are prohibited, and to pour any of it on the sand.

Intoxicants are whatever intoxicates the mind as Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “every thing that intoxicates the mind is Khamr, and every thing that intoxicates the mind is forbidden”.  (B: Adab; 80 & M: Ashrebah; 73-75)

The name does not matter, for there will always be new names.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Some of my nation will drink Khamr, calling it other names” (B: Ashrebah; 6 & D; Ashrebah; 6 & Ma: Ashrebah; 8 & A: 4; 237)

If something causes intoxication when large quantities are consumed, like Beer or Cider, then it is forbidden even in small quantities.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “What plenty of is intoxicating, a small amount of is forbidden”.  (D:Ashrebah;5 & T:Ashrebah;3 & N:Ashrebah;5 & Ma:Ashrebah;10 & Da:Ashrebah;9)

What is forbidden concerning Intoxicants?

Every thing to do with it is forbidden.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The Khamr (intoxicants) is cursed in 10 ways; whoever drinks it, whoever offers it to be drunk, whoever sells it, buys it, carries it, whoever it is carried to, whoever squeezes the juice out, whoever it is squeezed for, whoever takes it’s price, and whoever sites with people drinking”

 (Ma: Ashrebah; 6 & T; Beyo; 58 & a: 2; 71)

Why are they forbidden?

They are forbidden because of what they do to us and their effect on the society.  They lead to many evils.

Intoxicants cause Addiction, Stomach ulcers and cancer, liver cirrhosis, depression, schizophrenia and loss of memory.  They cause antisocial behavior and immoral behavior.  They cause crimes and animosity between people as well as break up families. 

Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Do not drink Khamr, for it is a key to all evils” (Ma: Feten; 23)

Penalty for those who take Intoxicants:

-         Their Salah not accepted for 40 days after drinking once.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “The Salah of a person drinking Khamr is not accepted for forty days and if he dies meanwhile, he goes to the Hell-Fire, but if he repents, Allah shall forgive him”.  (Ma:Ashrebah;4 & T:Ashrebah; 1 & A:2;35)

-         If one dies drinking without stopping, he does not enter the Paradise.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who is addicted to Khamr, shall not enter the Paradise”.  (Ma;Ashrebah;3 & N:Zakah;69 & A:1:272)

-         Penalty of flogging 40 lashes.  It was reported: “A man was caught drinking Khamr and brought to Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: ‘Hit him’.  Some of us hit him with the hand, some with the shoes, and some with cloths.  Some of us said: “May Allah humiliate him”, Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Do not say that do not help Satan against him”.  (B:Hodoud;2 & M:Hodoud;37)

Abu Bakr Al-Seddique may Allah be pleased with him while he was Khalifa flogged a man who drunk Khamr 40 lashes.  (B: Hodoud: 2, 4 & M: Hodoud; 35, 36, 38)

Gambling has been associated with drinking intoxicants in all Ayahs.  It also leads to loss of money, hatred and strive between people as well as loss of money.  Gambling is also addictive like intoxicants.

2-    Spending in the cause of Allah:

Spending for charity should be out of what is above our needs, not wants.  One should start with spending on our dependants and close relative, and those he or she is responsible for.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “Son of Adam, to spend out of what is above your needs is good for you and to keep is bad for you.  You shall not be blamed for not having money.  Start with your dependants, and the higher hand (that gives) is better than the lower hand (that receives)”.  (M: Zakah; 95 & D: Zakah; 39 & A: 2; 94)

Abu Saed El-Khodari reported that he was travelling with Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him when a hungry man came looking for something to eat.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “He who has animal to ride above his needs, let him give it to he who has non, and he who has food over his need, let him give it to he who has non” Then Abu Saed said: ‘And he kept naming all types of things which can be over our needs, until we realized that we do not have any right to what is above our needs”.  (M: Loqtah; 18 & D: Zakah; 32 & A: 3; 34)

One should not spend most of his money in charity leaving himself and his family destitute.  It was reported: “We were with Allah’s messenger when a man came to him with a piece of gold the like an egg and said: ‘Allah’s messenger, I have this piece of gold and it is Sadaqah, I do not have anything else”.  Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him turned away from him, so he came to him from the right and said the same, and Allah’s messenger turned away from him.  He came to him from the left and said the same, and Allah’s messenger turned away from him.  He came to him from behind and said the same, then Allah’s messenger took it and throws it at him if it hit him, it would have hurt him.  Then Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “One of you would come with all he possesses and say: ‘this is for charity’, then stretches his hands to people begging.  The best charity is that which is out of what you do not need” (Abu Dawood)

3-    The Orphans:

Abd Allah Ibn Abas reported that this Ayah was sent down following to others Ayahs which are:

a-     “DO NOT TOUCH THE WEALTH OF THE ORPHANS EXCEPT TO DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM”  (S:6 A:152)

b-    “THOSE WHO UNJUSTLY EAT UP THE WEALTH OF THE ORPHANS, ARE EATING FIRE INTO THEIR STOMACHS, AND SHALL BURN IN A BLAZING FIRE”.  (S:4 A:10)

Ayah 220 is a clarification of the above two Ayahs which caused Muslims who were looking after orphans and orphans money many anxieties.  They began separating their food from the food bought by the orphan’s money, and generally not touching their food or things and separating it from their own. 

This was not nice for the orphans living in a family for they felt separated and not part of that family.  This Ayah was sent down stating in general terms that we should treat the orphans in our homes as brothers and sisters.  Treat them fairly and justly, in the mean time kindly and affectionately like our own flesh and blood, indeed some of them may be.  Allah knows who is doing well and who is doing wrong, even if we try to cover it up.  We should manage their affairs this way, and provide them with the warmth and affection in our homes.

B: Bukhari   M: Muslim    Mal: Malek   A: Ahmed   D: Abu Dawood     

 Da: Daremy       Ma: Ibn Magah            N: Nesae          T: Termezi