Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I had read your explanation about the Alcohol. Two points I want to clarify.

You have explained that Allah has forbidden any intoxicant to all beleivers. My question is, an intoxicant is an intoxicant only when it intoxicates. So why not use it as a medecine in very small quantities as it does not intoxicate.

Like for some people they do not react when a snake or a scorpion bites, for some people alcohol or wine does not react. So for such people the intoxicant is not an intoxicant. So why they cannot consume it? And besides the word intoxicate means to loose ones control mentally and physically. If one does loose control mentally and physically, then it means that he is not intoxicated. Please explain.

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Answer:

Quantity alcohol intoxicant

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your statement: You have explained that Allah has forbidden any intoxicant to all beleivers.

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

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?

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3672 Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Every intoxicant is ‘khamr’ (alcohol, wine, beer, etc.), and every ‘khamr’ is haraam.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2776 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) invoked the curse of Allah on ten 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.

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."

Allah Subhanah and His Messenger (saws) have categorically forbidden the consumption of absolutely all types of intoxicants for the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.

Your Question: My question is, an intoxicant is an intoxicant only when it intoxicates. So why not use it as a medecine in very small quantities as it does not intoxicate.

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.”

The majority of scholars are of the opinion that the use of intoxicants and other prohibited things as medicine, is unlawful. They base their arguments 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.)

Your Question: Like for some people they do not react when a snake or a scorpion bites, for some people alcohol or wine does not react. So for such people the intoxicant is not an intoxicant. So why they cannot consume it? And besides the word intoxicate means to loose ones control mentally and physically. If one does loose control mentally and physically, then it means that he is not intoxicated. Please explain.

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

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?

Such is the categorical prohibition of consuming any type or manifestation of ‘khamr’ or intoxicants in Islam that not only has The Lord Most Majestic prohibited the believers from ever consuming it, The All-Knowing All-Wise Lord has Commanded the believers to stay far away from it, if indeed they fear Allah and wish to attain salvation on the Last Day!

The appetite or level of intoxication of each individual might indeed be different; it is possible that one might need to drink a whole liter of whisky to get intoxicated, when another might get intoxicant with half a can of beer….that the consumption of alcohol intoxicates the human mind is not in question, but rather what quantity of its consumption intoxicates…for alcohol is indeed a natural intoxicant!

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3679 Narrated by Aisha

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: “Every intoxicant is haraam; if a quantity of anything causes intoxication, a handful of it is (also) haraam.”

Such is the categorical prohibition of consuming alcohol in Islam, that not only did the Messenger of Allah (saws) call ‘intoxicants’ the ‘Umm-al-Khabaith’ (mother or root of all evil), but he (saws) declared that if one has knowledge that the consumption of a substantial quantity of something causes intoxication, even a handful (or drop) of it is also prohibited!

Although the Messenger of Allah (saws) explicitly declared the consumption of intoxicants as ‘haraam’, the words used in the Glorious Quran by Allah Subhanah for the prohibition of intoxicants is ‘fajtanebu’ (stay far far away from it!).

For example, the consumption of swine, or blood, or dead meat, etc. are declared as ‘haraam’ in the Quran…..but there is no prohibition if for any reason one happens to approach it or sits at a table where these ‘haraam’ products are being consumed…..The majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that the term ‘fajtanebu’ (stay far far away from it!) is much more stronger than ‘haraam’, for not only are the believers forbidden from consuming intoxicants, they are forbidden from even coming near it!!!!

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.”

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan