Alcohol and Gambling Prohibited in the First Generation of Al-Islam

America has well over 50 million problem drinkers of alcohol. Al Islam is the only way of life that has totally abolished the use of alcohol and intoxicants for its adherents. A great deal can be learned from the method by which Allah(s) choose to do away with Khamr (wine and intoxicants). In The Quran, Allah(s) gradually prohibited intoxicants in three stages.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, "There were three stages to prohibiting Khamr (intoxicants). When the Messenger of Allah migrated to Al-Madinah, the people were consuming alcohol and gambling, so they asked the Messenger of Allah about these things,
Allah revealed,
[and#1610;and#1614;and#1587;and#1618;and#1600;and#1614;and#1604;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614;and#1603;and#1614; and#1593;and#1614;and#1606;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1616; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1616;and#1585;and#1616; and#1602;and#1615;and#1604;and#1618; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610;and#1607;and#1616;and#1605;and#1614;and#1570; and#1573;and#1616;and#1579;and#1618;and#1605;and#1612; and#1603;and#1614;and#1576;and#1616;and#1610;and#1585;and#1612; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1614;and#1600;and#1601;and#1616;and#1593;and#1615; and#1604;and#1616;and#1604;and#1606;and#1614;and#1617;and#1575;and#1587;and#1616;]
(They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men.'')[2:219], until the end of the Ayah.
The people said, `They (intoxicants and gambling) were not prohibited for us.
Allah only said,
[and#1601;and#1616;and#1610;and#1607;and#1616;and#1605;and#1614;and#1570; and#1573;and#1616;and#1579;and#1618;and#1605;and#1612; and#1603;and#1614;and#1576;and#1616;and#1610;and#1585;and#1612; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1614;and#1600;and#1601;and#1616;and#1593;and#1615; and#1604;and#1616;and#1604;and#1606;and#1614;and#1617;and#1575;and#1587;and#1616;]
(In them is a great sin, and (some) benefit for men.)' So they went on drinking Khamr until one day, one of the emigrants lead his companions in the Maghrib prayer and mixed up the Ayat in his recitation.
The Sahaba (companions of the Prophet) were given a divine therapy that came in stages. It was revelation and a persuasive discourse leading to righteousness and recovery. They were asked to consider that the harm is greater than the benefits, and that they should abstain since this was the most sensible position. The behaviors of some of the people were undoubtedly changed just by this first stage of Allah's treatment. The revelation was addressing proactively the behavior of the people and seeking to heal and foster wellness and recovery, and therefore sanctions concerning the prayer were imposed and thereafter the total abolition of intoxicants altogether. There needs to be clarity on the fact that these verses were not revealed all at one time but rather piecemeal and in response to the behavior and thinking of the people. This was a three stage intervention by Allah so that the Muslims would have wellness and prosperity. The reality is that the revelation is a proactive one, and that it came as a healing and guidance for mankind so that they may attain happiness and success in this world and the next.
Thereafter, Allah sent down a tougher statement,
[and#1610;and#1614;and#1600;and#1571;and#1614;and#1610;and#1615;and#1617;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1584;and#1616;and#1610;and#1606;and#1614; and#1569;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1604;and#1575;and#1614; and#1578;and#1614;and#1602;and#1618;and#1585;and#1614;and#1576;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1575;and#1604;and#1589;and#1614;and#1617;and#1604;and#1614;and#1608;and#1577;and#1614; and#1608;and#1614;and#1571;and#1614;and#1606;and#1578;and#1615;and#1605;and#1618; and#1587;and#1615;and#1603;and#1614;and#1600;and#1585;and#1614;and#1609; and#1581;and#1614;and#1578;and#1614;and#1617;and#1609; and#1578;and#1614;and#1593;and#1618;and#1604;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1605;and#1614;and#1575; and#1578;and#1614;and#1602;and#1615;and#1608;and#1604;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614;]
(O you who believe! Approach not the Salah (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning of) what you utter.)[4:43]
The people would drink before the time of the prayer so that they would attend the prayer while sober. There remained some though who because of addiction could not stop using and therefore a third curative instruction was necessary for the ills of the people to be healed.

A last and firmer Ayah was later revealed,
[and#1610;and#1614;and#1600;and#1571;and#1614;and#1610;and#1615;and#1617;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1584;and#1616;and#1610;and#1606;and#1614; and#1570;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1573;and#1616;and#1606;and#1614;and#1617;and#1605;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1575;and#1612;and#1617;and#1606;and#1589;and#1614;and#1575;and#1576;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1575;and#1612;and#1617;and#1586;and#1618;and#1604;and#1575;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615; and#1585;and#1616;and#1580;and#1618;and#1587;and#1612; and#1605;and#1616;and#1617;and#1606;and#1618; and#1593;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1604;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1588;and#1614;and#1617;and#1610;and#1618;and#1591;and#1614;and#1600;and#1606;and#1616; and#1601;and#1614;and#1575;and#1580;and#1618;and#1578;and#1614;and#1606;and#1616;and#1576;and#1615;and#1608;and#1607;and#1615; and#1604;and#1614;and#1593;and#1614;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1603;and#1615;and#1605;and#1618; and#1578;and#1615;and#1601;and#1618;and#1604;and#1616;and#1581;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614; ]
(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful.)[5:90-91]
So they said, `We abstained, O Lord!' This was the point when abstinence became obligatory and this is the final say on the matter of intoxicants.
Later, some people said, `O Allah's Messenger! Some people died in the cause of Allah, while some others died in their beds, but they used to drink alcohol and indulge in gambling, which Allah has made a Rijs of the work of Shaytan.' So Allah sent down,
[and#1604;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1614; and#1593;and#1614;and#1604;and#1614;and#1609; and#1575;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1584;and#1616;and#1610;and#1606;and#1614; and#1569;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1608;and#1614;and#1593;and#1614;and#1605;and#1616;and#1604;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1575;and#1604;and#1589;and#1614;and#1617;and#1600;and#1604;and#1616;and#1581;and#1614;and#1600;and#1578;and#1616; and#1580;and#1615;and#1606;and#1614;and#1575;and#1581;and#1612; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610;and#1605;and#1614;and#1575; and#1591;and#1614;and#1593;and#1616;and#1605;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618;]
The people were informed they would not be blamed for what they used to do before the prohibition. Some people had died alcoholic deaths and their relatives were concerned about their status.
(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate...) [5:93], until the end of the Ayah.
Umar bin Al-Khattab 's Pleas for Explanation and Divine Intervention on Khmar
Imam Ahmad recorded that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "O Allah! Explain the verdict about Khamr to us clearly.'' The Ayah in Surat Al-Baqarah was revealed,
[and#1610;and#1614;and#1587;and#1618;and#1600;and#1614;and#1604;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614;and#1603;and#1614; and#1593;and#1614;and#1606;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1616; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1616;and#1585;and#1616; and#1602;and#1615;and#1604;and#1618; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610;and#1607;and#1616;and#1605;and#1614;and#1570; and#1573;and#1616;and#1579;and#1618;and#1605;and#1612; and#1603;and#1614;and#1576;and#1616;and#1610;and#1585;and#1612;]
(They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin.'')[2:219] `Umar was summoned and this Ayah was recited to him, but he still said, "O Allah! Make the verdict of Khamr clear to us.'' Then the Ayah in Surat An-Nisa' was revealed,
[and#1610;and#1614;and#1600;and#1571;and#1614;and#1610;and#1615;and#1617;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1584;and#1616;and#1610;and#1606;and#1614; and#1569;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1604;and#1575;and#1614; and#1578;and#1614;and#1602;and#1618;and#1585;and#1614;and#1576;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1575;and#1604;and#1589;and#1614;and#1617;and#1604;and#1614;and#1608;and#1577;and#1614; and#1608;and#1614;and#1571;and#1614;and#1606;and#1578;and#1615;and#1605;and#1618; and#1587;and#1615;and#1603;and#1614;and#1600;and#1585;and#1614;and#1609;]
(O you who believe! Do not approach the Salah when you are in a drunken state.)[4:43] Thereafter, the Prophet had someone herald when it was time to pray, "Those in a drunken state are not to approach the prayer.'' `Umar was again summoned and the Ayah was recited to him, but he still said, "O Allah! Make the verdict concerning Khamr clear to us.'' Then, the Ayah in Surat Al-Ma'idah [5:91] was revealed, and `Umar was summoned and it was recited to him. When he reached the part of the Ayah that reads,
[and#1601;and#1614;and#1607;and#1614;and#1604;and#1618; and#1571;and#1614;and#1606;and#1618;and#1578;and#1615;and#1605;and#1618; and#1605;and#1615;and#1617;and#1606;and#1578;and#1614;and#1607;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614;]
(So, will you not then abstain)[5:91], `Umar said, "We abstained, we abstained.'' Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i recorded this Hadith. `Ali bin Al-Madini and At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih.
It is recorded in the Two Sahihs, that `Umar bin Al-Khattab said in a speech; while standing on the Minbar of the Messenger of Allah (in the Prophet's Masjid in Al-Madinah) "O people! The prohibition of Khamr was revealed; and Khamr was extracted from five things: From grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. Khamr is what intoxicates the mind.''
Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said, "I once was giving an alcoholic beverage to Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah, `Ubayy bin Ka`b, Suhayl bin Bayda' and several of their friends meeting at Abu Talhah's house. When they were almost intoxicated, some Muslims came and said, `Did you not know that Khamr has been prohibited' They said, `We'll wait and ask.' They then said, `O Anas! Spill the remaining alcohol out of your container.' By Allah! They never drank it again, and their Khamr at that time was made from unripe and normal dates.''' This is also recorded in the Two Sahihs.
Intoxicants Forbidden In Commerce
Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "The prohibition of Khamr was revealed when there were five kinds of intoxicants in Al-Madinah, besides what was produced from grapes.''
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
�and#1604;and#1615;and#1593;and#1616;and#1606;and#1614;and#1578;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1615; and#1593;and#1614;and#1604;and#1609; and#1593;and#1614;and#1588;and#1618;and#1585;and#1614;and#1577;and#1616; and#1571;and#1614;and#1608;and#1618;and#1580;and#1615;and#1607;and#1613;: and#1604;and#1615;and#1593;and#1616;and#1606;and#1614;and#1578;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1615; and#1576;and#1616;and#1593;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1606;and#1616;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1588;and#1614;and#1575;and#1585;and#1616;and#1576;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1587;and#1614;and#1575;and#1602;and#1616;and#1610;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1576;and#1614;and#1575;and#1574;and#1616;and#1593;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615;and#1576;and#1618;and#1578;and#1614;and#1575;and#1593;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1593;and#1614;and#1575;and#1589;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615;and#1593;and#1618;and#1578;and#1614;and#1589;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1581;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1616;and#1604;and#1615;and#1607;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1581;and#1618;and#1605;and#1615;and#1608;and#1604;and#1614;and#1577;and#1615; and#1573;and#1616;and#1604;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1607;and#1616;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1570;and#1603;and#1616;and#1604;and#1615; and#1579;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1616;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;�
(Ten matters related to Khamr were cursed. Khamr itself was cursed, whoever drinks it, its server, seller, buyer, brewer, who asks for it to be brewed, whoever carries it, whomever it is carried to and whoever consumes its price.) Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded this Hadith. Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said, "Once, the Messenger of Allah went out and I went out with him. I walked to his right, but Abu Bakr came along and I gave way to him, and Abu Bakr was walking on the Prophet's right, while I was walking on his left. Then `Umar came along and he was walking on the Prophet's left, since I gave way to him. The Messenger of Allah then found a leather skin hanging containing alcohol, so he asked for a knife and ordered that the skin be cut open. He then said,
�and#1604;and#1615;and#1593;and#1616;and#1606;and#1614;and#1578;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1588;and#1614;and#1575;and#1585;and#1616;and#1576;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1587;and#1614;and#1575;and#1602;and#1616;and#1610;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1576;and#1614;and#1575;and#1574;and#1616;and#1593;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615;and#1576;and#1618;and#1578;and#1614;and#1575;and#1593;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1581;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1616;and#1604;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1581;and#1618;and#1605;and#1615;and#1608;and#1604;and#1614;and#1577;and#1615; and#1573;and#1616;and#1604;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1607;and#1616;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1593;and#1614;and#1575;and#1589;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615;and#1593;and#1618;and#1578;and#1614;and#1589;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1570;and#1603;and#1616;and#1604;and#1615; and#1579;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1616;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;�
(Khamr was cursed, and so are those who drink it, serve it, sell it, buy it, carry it, have it carried to them, brew it, have it brewed and consume its price.)''
Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded that Sa`d said, "There were four Ayat revealed about Khamr...'' He then said, "A man from Al-Ansar made some food and invited us. We drank Khamr before it was prohibited and became intoxicated, and thus started to boast about our status. The Ansar said that they were better, while Quraysh (the Muhajirin ) said that they were better. So a man from the Ansar took a bone and struck Sa`d's nose with it and made a flesh wound on it. Ever since that happened, Sa`d's nose had a scar from that wound.
The Ayah,
[and#1573;and#1616;and#1606;and#1614;and#1617;and#1605;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615;]
(Intoxicants, gambling,) until, [and#1601;and#1614;and#1607;and#1614;and#1604;and#1618; and#1571;and#1614;and#1606;and#1618;and#1578;and#1615;and#1605;and#1618; and#1605;and#1615;and#1617;and#1606;and#1578;and#1614;and#1607;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614;](So, will you not then abstain) was later revealed.'' Muslim recorded this Hadith.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, "This Ayah in the Qur'an,
[and#1610;and#1614;and#1600;and#1571;and#1614;and#1610;and#1615;and#1617;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1584;and#1616;and#1610;and#1606;and#1614; and#1570;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1573;and#1616;and#1606;and#1614;and#1617;and#1605;and#1614;and#1575; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1605;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1616;and#1585;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1575;and#1612;and#1617;and#1606;and#1589;and#1614;and#1575;and#1576;and#1615; and#1608;and#1614;and#1575;and#1604;and#1575;and#1612;and#1617;and#1586;and#1618;and#1604;and#1575;and#1614;and#1605;and#1615; and#1585;and#1616;and#1580;and#1618;and#1587;and#1612; and#1605;and#1616;and#1617;and#1606;and#1618; and#1593;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1604;and#1616; and#1575;and#1604;and#1588;and#1614;and#1617;and#1610;and#1618;and#1591;and#1614;and#1600;and#1606;and#1616; and#1601;and#1614;and#1575;and#1580;and#1618;and#1578;and#1614;and#1606;and#1616;and#1576;and#1615;and#1608;and#1607;and#1615; and#1604;and#1614;and#1593;and#1614;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1603;and#1615;and#1605;and#1618; and#1578;and#1615;and#1601;and#1618;and#1604;and#1616;and#1581;and#1615;and#1608;and#1606;and#1614; ]
(O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are only an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful.)[5:90], was also in the Tawrah; `Allah has sent down truth to eradicate falsehood, joyful play, flute or wind instruments, Zafan (dances) and Kibarat (refering to cabarets using the lute and bagpipe), tambourine, guitar, harp and lyric and love poetry. And Khamr is bitter for those who taste it. Allah has vowed by His grace and power, `Whoever drinks it after I prohibited it, I will make him thirsty on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever abandons it after I prohibited it, I will let him taste it in the residence of Grace (Paradise).''' Its chain of narration is Sahih
Ash-Shafi`i narrated that Malik narrated that Nafi` said that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
�and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1618; and#1588;and#1614;and#1585;and#1616;and#1576;and#1614; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1614; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610; and#1575;and#1604;and#1583;and#1615;and#1617;and#1606;and#1618;and#1610;and#1614;and#1575; and#1579;and#1615;and#1605;and#1614;and#1617; and#1604;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618; and#1610;and#1614;and#1578;and#1615;and#1576;and#1618; and#1605;and#1616;and#1606;and#1618;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1581;and#1615;and#1585;and#1616;and#1605;and#1614;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610; and#1575;and#1604;and#1570;and#1582;and#1616;and#1585;and#1614;and#1577;�
(Whoever drinks Khamr in the life of this world and does not repent from it, will be deprived of it in the Hereafter.) Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded this Hadith.
Every Intoxicant Is Khamr
Muslim recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
�and#1603;and#1615;and#1604;and#1615;and#1617; and#1605;and#1615;and#1587;and#1618;and#1603;and#1616;and#1585;and#1613; and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1612;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1603;and#1615;and#1604;and#1615;and#1617; and#1605;and#1615;and#1587;and#1618;and#1603;and#1616;and#1585;and#1613; and#1581;and#1614;and#1585;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1612;and#1548; and#1608;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1618; and#1588;and#1614;and#1585;and#1616;and#1576;and#1614; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1582;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618;and#1585;and#1614; and#1601;and#1614;and#1605;and#1614;and#1575;and#1578;and#1614; and#1608;and#1614;and#1607;and#1615;and#1608;and#1614; and#1610;and#1615;and#1583;and#1618;and#1605;and#1616;and#1606;and#1615;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1608;and#1614;and#1604;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618; and#1610;and#1614;and#1578;and#1615;and#1576;and#1618; and#1605;and#1616;and#1606;and#1618;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575;and#1548; and#1604;and#1614;and#1605;and#1618; and#1610;and#1614;and#1588;and#1618;and#1585;and#1614;and#1576;and#1618;and#1607;and#1614;and#1575; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610; and#1575;and#1604;and#1618;and#1570;and#1582;and#1616;and#1585;and#1614;and#1577;�
(Every intoxicant is Khamr, and every intoxicant is unlawful. Whoever drinks Khamr and dies while addicted to it, without repenting from drinking it, will not drink it in the Hereafter.)
Khamr the Mother of all Sins
`Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith bin Hisham said that he heard `Uthman bin `Affan saying, "Avoid Khamr, for it is the mother of all sins. There was a man before your time who used to worship Allah secluded from the people. Later, an evil woman loved him and sent her female servant to him saying that they wanted him to witness something. So he went with the servant. Whenever they went through the door, she locked it behind them, until he reached a beautiful woman with a young servant boy and some alcohol. She said to him, `By Allah! I did not invite you to be a witness for anything, but called you to have sex with me, kill this boy or drink this alcohol.' So she gave him some alcohol, and he kept asking for more until he [became intoxicated and] had sex with her and killed the boy. Therefore, avoid Khamr, because it is never combined with faith, but one of them is bound to expel the other (from the heart).'' This was recorded by Al-Bayhaqi. This statement has an authentic chain of narration. Abu Bakr bin Abi Ad-Dunya recorded this statement in his book on the prohibition of intoxicants, but he related it from the Prophet. Relating it from `Uthman is more authentic, and Allah knows best.
Reconciliation for Those Who Passed Away Before the Prohibition
Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "When Khamr was prohibited, some people said, `O Allah's Messenger! What about our brethren who died while still drinking Khamr' Allah sent down the Ayah
[and#1604;and#1614;and#1610;and#1618;and#1587;and#1614; and#1593;and#1614;and#1604;and#1614;and#1609; and#1575;and#1604;and#1614;and#1617;and#1584;and#1616;and#1610;and#1606;and#1614; and#1569;and#1614;and#1575;and#1605;and#1614;and#1606;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1608;and#1614;and#1593;and#1614;and#1605;and#1616;and#1604;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618; and#1575;and#1604;and#1589;and#1614;and#1617;and#1600;and#1604;and#1616;and#1581;and#1614;and#1600;and#1578;and#1616; and#1580;and#1615;and#1606;and#1614;and#1575;and#1581;and#1612; and#1601;and#1616;and#1610;and#1605;and#1614;and#1575; and#1591;and#1614;and#1593;and#1616;and#1605;and#1615;and#1608;and#1575;and#1618;]
(Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate,) until the end of the Ayah.
Thus the Islamic position is total abolition and abstinence from intoxicants and gambling. Islam operates from high moral ground that no other way of life can claim. There are over 200 million drinkers of alcohol in the United States , and over 117 million illegal drug users . Eighty-five percent of the 2 million incarcerated in America are there because of drug related crimes. Addiction costs America billions of health care dollars per year. Intoxicants and gambling are major causes of social dysfunction and poverty.