Pork Forbidden

PORK FORBIDDEN

 The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The Following points explain various aspects of this prohibition:

1.    Pork prohibited in Qur’an

 The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places.It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine,and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.” [Al-Qur’an 5:3]

 The above verses of the Holy Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why pork is forbidden.

2.    Pork prohibited in the Bible

The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus “And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you”.

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch,they are unclean to you.” [Leviticus 11:7-8]

 Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy

“And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud,it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” [Deuteronomy 14:8]

 A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.

3.    Consumption of pork causes several diseases

 The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason,logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types of diseases. A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay man’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the intestine and is very long.Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach almost all the organs of the body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it can cause heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.Another dangerous helminthes is Trichura Tichurasis.

A common misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die.In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the pork very well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under normal cooking temperature.

4.    Pork has fat building material

 Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This fat gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack. It is not surprising that over 50% of Americans suffer from hypertension.

5.    Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth

 The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck, faeces and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the open air. Very often excreta is cleared by pigs. Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their neighbour’s excreta.

6.    Pig is the most shameless animal

 The pig is the most shameless animal on the face of the earth. It is the only animal that invites its friends to have sex with its mate. In America, most people consume pork. Many times after dance parties, they have swapping of wives; i.e. many say “you sleep with my wife and I will sleep with your wife.” If you eat pigs then you behave like pigs.

 

Prohibition of Alcohol

PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL

 

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

 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 selfcontrol 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, Chapter 30 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 world related to any one particular cause is due to the consumption of alcohol. Millions of people die every year only because of intake of alcohol. 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.

 

Prayer And Alcohol

Prayer And Alcohol

If one is addicted to the evil of alcohol and at the same time one is steadfast in offering one’s obligatory prayers…..it is evident that such a person fears their Lord Creator and the Last Day, and has kept their relation with their Lord alive in their hearts…..for such a person there is hope that if made aware, with wisdom and with patience, of the gravity of their sin of consuming alcohol which has been absolutely prohibited by their Lord, the person will be inclined towards ‘taubah’ and repentance, Insha Allah.

Depending on the nature of the person, one should try with patience and with wisdom, to amend the evil habit of consuming alcohol either by encouraging the person to turn back to his Lord Most Gracious in ‘taubah’ and seeking repentance for his past transgressions….and if after one’s very best efforts that does not work, one might try to warn the person regarding the severity and the gravity of the punishment which the Lord and His Messenger (saws) have described for those who consume intoxicants.

As long as the person does not leave his obligatory prayers, there is always hope and a very good chance that one day the person might be persuaded to turn unto his Lord Most Merciful in repentance and thus amend his conduct, Insha Allah.

Encourage the person towards the Mercy and Forgiveness of the Lord

Whatever deeds one might have done in one’s past, if one turns to Allah Subhanah in sincere ‘Taubah’ and seeks forgiveness, Allah Subhanah has promised in the Holy Quran that He will forgive all the sins of such a repentant believer, even if one has committed the gravest sin of all: ‘Shirk’!  Not only that, our Lord is so Merciful and Generous, that He not only will forgive the sins of such sincerely repentant believers, He will change their evil deeds done into good deeds!

The conditions or ways to seek sincere Taubah or Repentance from the Merciful Lord are:

• One is aware that he has sinned, and feels sorry and ashamed at his sin.
• Makes a solemn covenant and promise with Allah that he will not repeat his sin again.
• Turns to Allah and seeks forgiveness, before he has met with his appointment of death.
• Is a believer and does righteous good deeds thereafter.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy!  Surely, Allah forgives all sins. He indeed is the All Forgiving, All Merciful. Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you; for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:

Allah likes such good people very much, who,  if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin,  remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings. For whom, but Allah, can forgive sins? (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did. These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah and with Gardens beneath which canals flow, and they will reside therein forever! How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqaan verses 63-71:

The (true) servants of the Merciful are those who walk humbly on the earth. When the ignorant people behave insolently towards them, they say, “Peace to you”; (And those) who pass their nights in prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord and pray, “O our Lord, save us from the torment of Hell, for its torment is killing! It is an evil abode, and an evil resting place”.  (And those) who, when they spend are neither extravagant, nor miserly, but keep the golden mean between the two extremes.  (And those) who do not invoke any god but Allah Alone, nor kill a soul unjustly, which Allah has forbidden, nor commit adultery…He who does this shall be punished for his sin, and his torment shall be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and he shall abide in a state of ignominy; EXCEPT THE ONE WHO MAY HAVE REPENTED (AFTER THOSE SINS), AND HAVE BELIEVED AND DONE RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. For then, Allah will change his evil deeds into good deeds, and He is very Forgiving and Merciful. In fact, one who repents and does righteous deeds, returns to Allah as one rightly should!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 54:

When those come to you who believe in Our Signs, say: “Peace be on you! Your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. Verily if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented and amended (his conduct), Lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2357 – Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud

Allah’s Messenger (saws) said, “He who repents of a sin is like him who has committed no sin.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2338 – Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

Allah’s Messenger (saws) said, “Allah accepts a servant’s repentance (taubah) till he gives up his spirit in death.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2339 – Narrated by Abu Sa’id

Allah’s Messenger (saws) said that the Shaytaan said, “By Thy Might, my Lord, I shall continue to lead Thy servants astray as long as their spirits are in their bodies!”  The Lord, Who is Great and Glorious, replied, “By My Might, Glory and Exalted Station, I shall continue to pardon them as long as they ask My forgiveness!”

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6499 – Narrated by Abu Dharr Ghaffari

Allah’s Messenger (saws) said that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated: “He who comes with goodness, there are in store for him ten like those and even more than those; and he who comes with vice, it is only for that that which he is called to account. I even forgive him as I like, and he who draws close to Me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the cubit; and he who draws close to Me by the cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands; and he who walks towards Me, I rush towards him; and he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth, but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf).”

Warnings regarding the Wrath and the Anger of Allah on those who consume intoxicants.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 90-91:

90        O ye who believe! Intoxicants (wine, alcohol, etc.), and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are (all) an abomination of the Shaytaan’s handiwork: stay far far away from such (abominations) that ye may prosper.

91        The Shaytaan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the Remembrance of Allah and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?

All types of intoxicants are so detestable and despicable in the Sight of Allah Subhanah that not only has The Lord Most Exalted and His Messenger (saws) declared all types of intoxicants (wine, alcohol, etc.) absolutely unlawful and haraam for the believers to consume, Allah Subhanah has specifically Commanded the believers in His Glorious Quran to ‘stay far far away from it’.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2776 – Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah’s Messenger (saws) invoked the Curse of Allah on ten (types of) people in connection with wine: the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4962 – Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

Allah’s Messenger (saws) said: “Every intoxicant is haraam! Verily Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, made a covenant to those who drank intoxicants to make them drink ‘Tinat al-Khabal’. The companions asked: “O Allah’s Messenger (saws), what is ‘Tinat al-Khabal?’” He (saws)  said: “It is the sweat of the denizens of Hell, or the discharge of the denizens of Hell.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4477 – Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not (even) sit at a cloth (table or gathering) where wine is being circulated.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3653 – Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr

The Prophet (saws) said, “An undutiful son, a gambler, one who casts up what he has given, and one who is addicted to wine will not enter Paradise.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3643 – Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

Allah’s Messenger (saws) said, “If anyone consumes ‘khamr’ (intoxicants), Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents Allah will forgive him. If he repeats the offence Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents Allah will forgive him. If he again repeats the offence Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, but if he repents Allah will forgive him. If he repeats it a fourth time Allah will not accept prayer from him for forty days, and if he repents Allah will not forgive him, but will give him to drink of the river of the fluid flowing from the inhabitants of Hell.”

 

Children Consume Alcohol

Children Consume Alcohol

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 164 (part):

Every soul draws the meed of its acts on none but itself:

If the believing parents of the children themselves feared Allah, strove their utmost in instilling the fear of Allah and the Last Day into their children during their growing years, strove to give them the best possible education and environment and ‘tarbeeyah’ during their growing years and thus fulfilled their duty unto them…….then if such children of believing parents chose to transgress the prescribed Boundaries of their Lord Creator after they have passed the age of puberty, the off-spring themselves shall bear the responsibility for their evil deeds and their parents will be absolutely blameless for the evil deeds committed by their off-spring.

But if the parents themselves did not fear Allah, nor strove to fulfill their duty unto their children by instilling the fear of Allah and the Last Day into them in their growing years, or Allah forbid, encouraged them towards the transgression of the prescribed Boundaries of the Lord Creator….indeed the parents will bear a portion of the blame of the evil deeds committed by their children.

If the believing parents have fulfilled their duty unto their children during their growing years to the best of their ability, and subsequently find out that their adult off-spring are involved in as manifest a transgression as the consumption of alcohol…..it would simply not be fitting for the believing parents, if indeed they fear Allah and the Last Day, and fear the consequence of what will inevitably befall their beloved offspring in the Presence of their Lord to maintain a ‘status-quo’ or disregard or ‘turn a blind-eye’ to the abominations committed by their adult off-spring without showing their utter disapproval at their manifest transgressions!

If the believing parents of such off-spring who have chosen to transgress the prescribed Boundaries of Allah Subhanah have even an iota of control over them….they should indeed try to persuade or even plead with them to fear Allah and the Last Day and save themselves from the Wrath and Anger of their Lord. If after their very best efforts, their persuasion or their pleading does not bring about the desired results, and they are in a position to be strict with them, or threaten them, or even punish them….and they believe that such actions would have the desired effect on the evil behavior or habits of their adult children, they should not hesitate to utilize whatever is their ability in their efforts to bring their children back to the Straight Path.

What is not permissible in Islam that one disown or completely break the blood relations which the Lord Himself has created for them..

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 13 Surah Ar-Raad verse 25:

As for those who break their covenant with Allah after confirming it, who cut asunder relationships which Allah has bidden to be joined, and spread chaos on the earth, their’s shall be the curse, and they shall have a wretched abode in the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Bakarah verse 27:

And He leads astray only those who disobey Allah, who break Allah’s covenant after ratifying it, who cut asunder relationships what Allah has ordered to be joined, and who produce chaos on the Earth. These are indeed the people who are the losers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari – Hadith 8.17 – Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, “The word ‘Ar-Rahm (womb) derives its name from Ar-Rahman (i.e., one of the Names of Allah) and Allah said: ‘I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you (the womb, i.e. kith and kin), and sever the relation with him who will sever the relation with you (the womb, i.e. kith and kin).

Other than severing or completely breaking relations with them, the parents are well within their rights to do whatever it takes to show their utter and abject disapproval at the manifest transgressions of their adult children….and strive with whatever is in their power to remind their children to fear their Lord and His Inevitable and Tumultuous Accounting of that Last Day.

 

Prihibition of Alcohol

Why is the consumption of alcohol prohibited in Islam?

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.

Although the fruit grape is lawful in its essence, when the extract of this fruit is treated and fermented, it produces a drink which intoxicates…and every type of drink (or substance) which intoxicates when consumed is absolutely prohibited for the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.

1. Prohibition of alcohol in the Qur’an

The Glorious Qur’an prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verse:

“O you who have believed! ‘Khamr’ (all types of intoxicants), games of chance, idols, and divining arrows are all abominable works of the Shaytaan; therefore, stay (far) away from these so that you may attain success. Indeed, the Shaytaan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of ‘khamr’ (intoxicants) and gambling, and to prevent you from the Remembrance of Allah and from Salaah. Will you not, then, abstain from these things?” [Al-Qur’an 5:90-91]

2. Prohibition of alcohol in the Bible

The Bible prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verses:

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”   [Proverbs 20:1]

“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 neither talk nor walk properly. They even misbehave.

4. Cases of adultery, rape, incest and AIDS are found more among alcoholics

As per the report of every country, there is hundreds of Rape taking place every day in every country.

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. Alcohol is prohibited in the Hadith

The Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

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.”

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.”

Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30, Hadith No. 3380 – Not only those who drink alcohol are cursed but also those who deal with them directly or indirectly are cursed by Allah.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood , Hadith – 3732 ,Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar –The Prophet (saws) said: ‘He who does not accept an invitation (without a genuine or valid reason) which he receives has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Al-Tirmidhi , Hadith – 2776 , Narrated by Anas ibn Malik –  “God’s curse falls on ten groups of people who deal with alcohol:

The one who distils 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.”

Al-Tirmidhi , Hadith – 4477 , Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah – The Prophet (saws) said, “He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not sit at a cloth (table or gathering) where wine is being circulated.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood , Hadith – 3679 , Narrated by Aisha – I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: “Every intoxicant is haraam; if a (large) quantity of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is (also) haraam.” i.e even a small quantity is not allowed.

7. Alcohol in Medicine

The use of intoxicants and other prohibited things as medicine is unlawful. The idea is based on the following guidance:

Wa’il ibn Hujr al-Hadrami reported that, “Tariq ibn Suwaid asked the Prophet (saws) if he could use alcohol as medicine. The Prophet (saws) replied: ‘It is not a cure, but a disease’.” (Related by Muslim, Abu Daw’ud, and Tirmidhi.)

Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet (saws) reports that he (saws) once said: “Allah has not placed a cure for your diseases in things that He has forbidden for you.” (Related by Baihaqi and Ibn Hibban. Bukhari has also related the same hadith on the authority of Ibn Mas’ud.)

Abu ad-Darda reported that the Prophet (saws) said: “Allah has sent down both the malady and its remedy. For every disease He has created a cure. So seek medical treatment, but never with something the use of which Allah has prohibited.” (Related by Abu Daw’ud.)

Allah and His Messenger (saws) have categorically forbidden and declared as ‘haraam’ the ‘consumption’ of intoxicants for the believers.

Not all ‘haraam’ or forbidden things are impure… for example: gold and silk are declared ‘haraam’ for the believing men, but they are not impure. Similarly, most of the scholars of Islam are of the opinion that although the consumption of alcohol is absolutely forbidden and ‘haraam’, alcohol by itself is not an inherently impure substance. Thus there is no harm if one uses products that contain alcohol like perfumes, creams, soaps, shampoos, etc. provided the alcohol is not consumed and entered into the body which would cause one to loose one’s senses. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

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 world related to any one particular cause is due to the consumption of alcohol. Millions of people die every year only because of intake of alcohol.

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.

Allah Subhanah has commanded the believers to stay far far away from any and all types of intoxicants, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) explicitly forbade the believers to sit or join in a gathering where alcohol is being served.

Thus, if one has prior knowledge that alcohol will be served at a gathering or party, it would be purer and better for them to fear Allah and abstain from attending such gatherings, for Allah indeed has the biggest right that He be obeyed.

But if one attends a gathering or party, knowing that alcohol will be served there, even if they do not consume alcohol themselves, they will indeed share a burden of the sin.

Thus as much as it is an extremely preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to accept the invitations of their believing brethren, if one has prior knowledge that alcohol will be served at the gathering, it would be best to decline such an invitation.