Islam explicitly prohibits the consumption of alcohol. In Surah Al-Baqarah, we learn that there is immense sin and also some benefit in liquor. However, the sin in alcohol outweighs its benefit. Moreover, Allah describes alcohol as Satan’s handiwork in Surah Al-Ma’idah, and tells us to keep our distance from it. As believers, we must hear and obey. Therefore, we should submit to Allah and follow all the teachings of Islam. As Muslims, we know that our Creator is the only One who knows what’s best for His creation.
The consumption of alcohol is widespread among disbelievers in many nations. Drinking is effectively a part of the culture of certain countries due to its prevalence. All it takes is a quick look at the impact liquor has on these societies to understand the wisdom behind its prohibition. Analyzing the consequences of permitting the consumption of alcohol shows us that Islamic law’s prohibition of intoxicants greatly benefits society and protects it from serious harm.
The negative effects on society
Alcohol consumption is particularly prevalent in some western nations. For example, Russia has a massive booze problem. A report from 2000 found that a shocking amount (two-thirds) of Russian men die drunk. Meanwhile, Russian men have the lowest life expectancy in Europe, which is 57.4 years. The vice-chairman of the National Organization of Russian Muslims, Mr. Cherniyenko, stated that alcohol is what causes the majority of Russia’s social issues. He also said that Russian society and the country itself would benefit from the introduction of some Islamic social values.
Meanwhile, alcohol also has a devastating impact on American society. A 1988 study by the American Medical Association found that around 100,000 deaths are related to intoxicants abuse. Moreover, 25 to 40 percent of hospital beds hosted patients who were receiving treatment for issues caused by liquor. Alcohol was also the foremost culprit when it came to traffic accidents, as government statistics revealed that more than 17,000 people lost their lives in crashes brought about by the intoxicant in the year 1996.
Alcohol is the leading cause of family collapses in the United States. Furthermore, according to a 2006 report by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, test results from people who had committed suicide in 13 states found that alcohol was present in the blood of one-third of them. In 1991, General Norman Schwarzkopfobserved that American soldiers experienced better health, fewer accidents, and injuries, and indiscipline became less frequent when they were in Saudi Arabia, where there was no access to alcohol.
The numerous dangers of Alcohol
Alcohol consumption poses a variety of dangers for the consumer as well as society as a whole. It can even affect one’s unborn baby. When a baby encounters this intoxicant in the womb, it can suffer. The consequence of this ailment is chronic physical and neurological harm that inflicts the baby.
A study shows that babies afflicted with fetal alcohol syndrome can suffer long-term brain damage and short-term physical defects like stunted growth. Mothers should abstain from consuming this intoxicant throughout their pregnancy to avoid this disease. Additionally, fathers should avoid alcohol for several months before conception.
There are various other ways in which alcohol harms both its consumer as well as society in general. The devastating impact of liquor consumption is not limited to the person who drinks, as innocent people also suffer its effects. Some prime examples of this include societal problems such as domestic violence, where alcohol can fuel one’s anger and lead to that person hurting others physically.
Alcohol also often leads to murder, as well as suicide, both of which have a terrible effect on the families of those affected. It can also cause depression, self-harm, and lead to broken homes. Alcohol brings about many deaths through fatal traffic accidents, as drunk driving frequently takes lives and devastates entire families.
Alcohol is thus very capable of ruining lives and having a far-reaching detrimental effect on society. To make matters worse, people not only normalize alcohol consumption but also glorify it through widespread advertisement and promotion. Despite its terrible effect on people’s health and destructive impact on society, it is readily available. Clearly, the only solution to the many evils of alcohol lies in Islam. Islam protects the whole society by forbidding alcohol in its entirety.
What Islam says about Alcohol
Islam completely closes the door to the evil and destruction that accompanies alcohol consumption. Islam forbids even drinking a small amount of liquor. This eliminates the possibility of this intoxicant harming society. Islam acknowledges that there is some benefit in alcohol, but also that its dangers outweigh its benefits. This reality cannot be disputed, as nations where booze wreaks havoc provide us with ample proof.
Islam’s firm ruling on alcohol is based on its enjoining of what’s best for mankind. Anyone who focuses on the bigger picture will not deny the wisdom behind Islam’s ultimate solution for man’s booze problem. Islam forbids not only the drinking, but also the production, transportation, and sale of booze. In a Hadith in Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (PBUH) states that one who drinks wine and doesn’t repent will be deprived of it in the afterlife.
In Sunan Abu Dawud, the Prophet (PBUH) informs us that Allah curses alcohol as well as those who consume, pour, sell, purchase, squeeze, and carry it. Allah also curses those for whom it’s squeezed or carried. In addition, in Sunan An-Nasai, we learn that the one who consumes alcohol will have his prayers rejected by Allah for forty days. The person still must pray on those days, but he won’t receive any reward for his prayers.
The Prophet (PBUH) called alcohol the mother of all evil. According to the majority of scholars, the punishment for drinking alcohol is eighty lashes for free men and forty for the others. According to a hadith in Sahih Muslim, those who drink alcohol will face a terrible punishment in the Hereafter, as they will be given the discharge of the dwellers of Hell to drink.
Wrapping Up
The prohibition of alcohol in Islam is grounded in genuine concern for individuals and society’s welfare. The harmful consequences of alcohol on health and communities are evident. Islam’s resolute stance against alcohol aims to safeguard the well-being of its followers and society as a whole. It reflects a commitment to preserving physical, mental, and social health.
