Podcast
In the last episode, we discussed the things and animals that are not allowed to eat. When there is food, there is also about drink. In this episode, we will discuss how alcohol prohibition evolved and happened.
Before Islam came to Arabia, like the Chinese, alcohol and gambling were very common. Drinking alcohol is like drinking water. They usually make wine with grapes, dried dates, honey, wheat and barley, and gambling style is varied. The Arabic word for wine is Al-Khamr (ٱلْخَمْرِ), which can also be interpreted as covering, and the second Muslim leader Umar bin Khattab often said Al-Khamr that except for alcohol, any substance that can be covered by reason is Al -Khamr.
In the first thirteen years after Muhammad (ﷺ) became a prophet, alcohol and gambling were not banned, and most Muslims did not dare to express their beliefs at the time, because suppression often occurred, so they lived carefully and did not casually drunk, for fear of being discovered or risking life at any time.
In the fourteenth year of becoming a prophet, after Muslims moved to “Medina”, they started afresh and their lives became stable. They no longer fear being violated and suppressed, so drinking became popular and prevalent again.
The Prophet’s uncle, Hamza attacked one of the Sahaba’s companion’s two female camels one day after being drunk, chopped off their humps, and tore their belly. That companion, the master of the female camels, was very surprised. After looking for the prophet(pbuh), Hamza said to him when he saw the prophet: “Are you not my father’s slave?” Afterwards, the Prophet knew that he was drunk and left him.
There is a Hadith record. After this incident, one day Umar bin Khattab prayed to Allah to give them a clear law on Al-Khamr. Allah descended the Quran (2:219). “They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, “In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they should spend. Say, “The excess [beyond needs].” Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought. “
Alcohol was not completely prohibited in this passage. In those days, fights or wars often occurred. Alcohol is one of the substances that can sterilize wounds, and also drink to reduce pain. However, many times, alcohol also interrupts rationality and many people cannot have self-control that makes themselves fall into difficult or bad situations.
Another hadith recorded that one day one of the companions invited several companions to eat and drink together. At that time, they were all drunk, but it was time for prayer, so one of the companions led the prayer. When reciting Surah 109 of the Quran, but he read it wrong and didn’t know what he read. Therefore, after Umar learned about it, he once again asked Allah for clear laws, so Allah sent down the Qur’an (4:43) “O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying…”
This section of the Qur’an was written in response to this incident. Soon after, several Sahaba companions ate and drank together. Afterwards, they were all drunk and began to brag about how good they were. For some trivial matter, one of them picked up a camel bone and attacked the other, causing his nose to be injured and from then on scars always there. Therefore, Umar once again asked Allah to give clear statutes. After that, Allah sent down the Quran (5:90-91) “O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?”
After this passage of the Qur’an came down, everyone who heard it would answer in unison, “Allah, we will all abstain from it.” There are many hadith records. When this verse descended, someone ran to the street to read the verse. Several groups of people who were banqueting heard it and spit out all the alcohol in their mouths and held them in their hands. All the contents of the barrel and the barrel were also discarded.
Some people ask, those who died before for Allah, and those who died in bed before, they used to drink and gamble, and Allah now pointed out that these two things were instigated by the devil, then how about those who died before? What could they do?
So Allah descends the Quran (5:93). “here is not upon those who believe and do righteousness [any] blame concerning what they have eaten [in the past] if they [now] fear Allah and believe and do righteous deeds, and then fear Allah and believe, and then fear Allah and do good; and Allah loves the doers of good.”
This Ayat clearly points out that the ignorant were not guilty. After believing in Allah, what kind of life in the past will be turned over with Allah, like a blank paper, and start over.
Besides this alcohol prohibition, there were several Ayats also coming down to address the current issues. From another perspective, the life or habits of the Arabs at that time did not change much, except for the problems clearly pointed out by Allah. Otherwise, their ways of living were almost the same. Wherever there’s no mention about prohibition, then everything and habits of life were permitted or acquiesced.
Therefore, from the life story of the prophet (also known as Seerah), if you clearly know the living environment and customs at that time, you will understand why the Qur’an is enduring and advancing with the times. One of the reasons is that history continues to repeat, and there are clear regulations and boundaries with the Qur’an. If there are no things that are not permitted in the Qur’an and Sunnah, then everything is permitted. . Of course, this boundary are whether you can face Allah later or not; face your own conscience and face the people around you; whether you need to obliterate your human conscience; or make yourself forget and stay away from Allah, etc. Allah’s likes and dislikes are always the central point. Finally, ask yourself when these things are presented again and again like a movie on Judgment Day, can you still be confident? The choice and decision should be clear.
In another hadith record, the prophet found a leather bag filled with alcohol. He tore it with a knife and said that alcohol has been cursed. Those who drink it, those who serve it, those who sell it, those who buy it The people who carried it, the people who brought it to others, the people who brewed it, the people who brewed it and sold it, were similarly cursed.
In Islam, alcohol or substances that can obscure the intellect, such as drugs, or drug abuse, are forbidden. Many people will think that without pork and wine, it is like the end of the world, there is no fun in life. In fact, if you walk into any store, there are many different types of drinks to choose from besides alcohol. There are so many choices. If you change to a different taste of drink every day, you may not be able to try all these drinks in a year. The food is the same, except for pigs, cows, sheep, rabbits, deer, chickens, ducks and geese, and all different seafood to choose from. After Allah has given so many choices, those who still insist on their own opinions have the right to choose freely, because everyone is in the end. Face your own merits and demerits alone and face the judgment of Allah.
And many people continue to enjoy pork and alcohol. Life is still going on. Some people are living well, no big deal, and not being punished. Indeed, Allah rewards all things for people to enjoy, and rewards good things for people to enjoy. All things He creates, whether they seem good or bad, have their functions. Although the times are progressing and science advocates clarity, there are still many unsolved mysteries. Here, will not discuss any health issues related to all these food and alcohol.
Because no matter what is good, people continue to enjoy pork and alcohol and live as usual. It is not that Allah is incompetent or non-existent. On the contrary, Allah loves the mankind, which He created, very much. He gives mankind time to know Allah, think, be grateful and regret. It is not that He is incompetent, but because He is really omnipotent, so He allows mankind to have freedom of thought and do whatever he wants. He is not afraid of human betrayal and rebellion. Therefore, He does not need to be like us humans and often wants to control the people around Him. People and other people want to control everything, because the most feared thing is to lose this control. And Allah has absolute control over all things, so He gives mankind freedom of thought, freedom of choice, freedom of action, freedom of speech, and He will not and does not need to control it, simply everything is in His absolute control already.
No matter mankind believes in Allah or not, it has no influence on him, because He can take back anything He has given to mankind at any time, a disease, a car accident, an accident, a germ, a virus, a storm, an earthquake, and a sinkhole, a landslide, and a flood. No force can prevent these things from happening except Allah. Finally, everyone has to taste the taste of death. When we stand in front of mountains, rivers, and seas, how small and insignificant human beings are. Recall that all the deceased grandpa and grandma may only be a hundred years ago, but how many of you remember them now?
In summary, everything you have can be a blessing or a curse. What you don’t enjoy in this world will be compensated by Allah one by one in the future. (47:15) “Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord, …”
And these wines in heaven are mentioned in the Qur’an (37:46-47), “White and delicious to the drinkers; No bad effect is there in it, nor from it will they be intoxicated. “
Because people who believe in Allah are willing to discipline themselves in this life, give up something for Allah, and will not lose big because of these small things, and (Chinese proverb) if one can’t be patient with small things, then one will lose the big outcome.
Not only the enjoyment of this world, but also one wants to reach the heaven of Allah. But for those who do not believe in Allah and do not want to follow Allah’s teachings, Allah will never owe him. They demand the enjoyment of this life, Allah will give them all, and there will be no blessings in the hereafter. (47:15) Point out: Is the person who lives in Paradise forever the same as the person who lives in Hell forever, who often drink scalding water that will sever their intestines?
The Quran (2:201) teaches us to pray: “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” Ameen
For the next one, we will continue to discuss other things that are permitted and forbidden. thanks for listening.