يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَٰمُ رِجۡسٞ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَYaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanooo innamal khamru walmaisiru wal ansaabu wal azlaamu rijsum min amalish shaitaani fajtaniboohu la’al lakum tuflihoon Ala-Maududi 590 Believers! Intoxicants, games of chance, idolatrous sacrifices at altars, and divining arrows[108] are all abominations, the handiwork of Satan. So turn wholly away from it that you may attain to true success.[109] altars’ and divination by arrows see Surah Al-Aaraf, ayat 7 note 28 and Surah Al-Maidah, ayat 3note 14 above. While divination by arrow-shooting essentially constitutes a game of chance there is nevertheless a certain difference between the two, since divination by arrow-shooting, in addition to being a game of chance, is also tainted with polytheistic beliefs and superstitions. As for games of chance, this expression is applied to those games and acts in which accidental factors are considered the criteria for acquisition, fortune-making and the division of goods and property. 109. In this verse four things are categorically prohibited 1 intoxicants; 2 games of chance; 3 places consecrated for the worship of anyone else besides God, and altars for either sacrifices or offerings in the name of others than God; and 4 polytheistic divination by arrow-shooting. The last three items have already been explained. See Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 219 note 235 and Surah Al-Maidah, ayat 3 note 14. Two injunctions had already been revealed concerning the prohibition of intoxicants See Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 219 and Surah An-Nisa, ayat 43. Before the revelation of the last injunction, the Prophet peace be on him had warned the people that intoxicants were highly displeasing to God. Hinting at the possibility of their being prohibited, he advised people to dispose of intoxicants if they had any. A little later on the present verse was revealed and the Prophet peace be on him then proclaimed that those who had intoxicants should neither consume nor sell them, but rather destroy them. Intoxicating liquors were poured into the streets of Madina. When asked if such liquor might be offered to the Jews as a gift the Prophet peace be on him replied in the negative and said He Who has prohibited it has also required it not to be given away as a gift.’ Some people inquired whether it was permitted to make vinegar out of such liquor. The Prophet peace be on him told them not to do so, but to throw it away instead. Another person asked insistently whether or not an intoxicant could be used as medicine. The Prophet peace be on him replied that far from being a remedy for any malady it was in itself a malady. Others sought permission to consume intoxicating liquor on the plea that they lived in a very cold region and had to work very hard, and that the people of that region habitually drank intoxicants to combat exhaustion and cold. The Prophet peace be on him inquired if the drink concerned did cause intoxication. On being told that it did, he said that they should abstain from it. They pointed out that the people of their region would not accept this, to which the Prophet peace be on him replied that they should fight them. It is reported by Abd Allah Ibn Umar that the Prophet peace be on him said God has cursed khamr wine and him who drinks it, him who provides it to others and him who buys or sells it, him who squeezes the grapes into wine and him who causes others to squeeze grapes in order to make wine, him who carries it and him to whom it is carried.’ See Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 97; vol. 1, p. 316; Abu Da’ud, Ashribah’, 2 – Ed. According to another tradition the Prophet peace be on him instructed not to eat at the table where intoxicating drinks were being taken. In the beginning the Prophet peace be on him even forbade the use of vessels in which intoxicating drinks had either been made or served. Later on, when the prohibition of drinks was completely observed the Prophet peace be on him withdrew the interdiction regarding the use of these vessels. See Abu Da’ud, At’imah’, 18; Tirmidhi, Adab’, 43; Darimi, Ashribah’, 15; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 1, p. 20; vol. 3, p. 339 – Ed. Though the word khamr in Arabic means literally the drink made from grapes’, it was also used figuratively for intoxicating liquors made from wheat, barley, raisins, dates and honey. The Prophet peace be on him applied the prohibition of wine to all intoxicants. In this regard we find categorical statements from the Prophet peace be on him embodied in traditions Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is prohibited.’ Every drink which causes intoxication is prohibited.’ I forbid everything which intoxicates.’ In a Friday sermon Umar defined khamr in the following manner Whatever takes hold of the mind is khamr.’ See Bukhari, Wudu”, 71; Maghazi’, 60, Ashribah’, 4,10, Adab’, 8, Ahkam’, 22; Muslim, Ashribah’, 67-9; Abu Da’ud, Ashribah’, 5, 71; Ibn Majah, Ashribah’, 9, 13, 14; Darimi, Ashribah’, 8, 9; Muwatta’, Dahaya’, 8; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 1, pp. 274, 289, 350; vol. 2, pp. 16, 158, 171, 185, 429, 501; vol. 3, pp. 63, 66, 112, 119, 361; vol. 4, pp. 41, 416; vol. 6, pp. 36, 71, 72, 97, 131, 190 and 226 – Ed. The Prophet peace be on him also enunciated the following principle If anything causes intoxication when used in large quantity, even a small quantity of it is prohibited.’ If a large quantity of something causes intoxication, to drink even a palmful of it is prohibited.’ See Abu Da’ud, Ashribah’, 5; Ibn Majah, Ashribah’, 10; Ahmad b. Hanbal, Musnad, vol. 2, pp. 167, 179 and vol. 3, p. 343 – Ed. In the time of the Prophet peace be on him no specific punishment had been laid down for drinking. A person caught drunk would be struck with shoes, fists, and whips made of twisted cloth and palm sticks. The maximum number of lashes to which any culprit was subjected was forty. In the time of Abu Bakr the punishment continued to be forty lashes. In the time of Umar the punishment initially remained at forty lashes also, but when he saw people persist in drinking he fixed the punishment at eighty lashes after consulting the Companions. This was considered the prescribed legal punishment for drinking by Malik and Abu Hanifah, and even by Shafi’i according to one tradition. But Ahmad b. Hanbal, and, according to a variant tradition, Shafi’i, considered the punishment to consist of forty lashes, and Ali is reported to have preferred this opinion. According to Islamic Law, it is the bounden duty of an Islamic government to enforce this prohibition. In the time of Umar the shop of a member of the Thaqif tribe, by the name of Ruwayshid, was burnt down because he carried on the sale of liquor. On another occasion a whole hamlet was set on fire because it had become a center of illegal traffic in liquor. Ibn-Kathir 90. O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are a Rijs of Shaytan’s handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful. 91. Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with Khamr and Maysir, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from the Salah the prayer. So, will you not then abstain 92. And obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and beware. Then if you turn away, you should know that it is Our Messenger’s duty to convey in the clearest way. 93. Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate, if they have Taqwa and believe and do righteous good deeds, and they again have Taqwa and believe, and then once again have Taqwa and perform good. And Allah loves the good-doers. Prohibiting Khamr Intoxicants and Maysir Gambling Allah forbids His believing servants from consuming Khamr and Maysir which is gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib, the Leader of the Faithful, said that chess is a type of gambling. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Ata’, Mujahid and Tawus, or , two of them, said that every type of gambling, including children’s playing with a certain type of nuts, is Maysir. Ibn `Umar said that Al-Maysir means gambling, and this is the same statement that Ad-Dahhak reported from Ibn `Abbas, who added, “They used to gamble during the time of Jahiliyyah, until Islam came. Allah then forbade them from this evil behavior.” Meaning of Ansab and Azlam Al-Ansab were altar stones, in whose vicinity sacrifices were offered during the time of Jahiliyyah, according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata’, Sa`id bin Jubayr and Al-Hasan. They also said that Al-Azlam were arrows that they used for lotteries to make decisions, as Ibn Abi Hatim narrated. Allah said, ﴿رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ﴾ A Rijs of Shaytan’s handiwork meaning, abomination of Shaytan’s handiwork, according to `Ali bin Abi Talhah who reported it from Ibn `Abbas. Sa`id bin Jubayr said that Rijs means `sin’ while Zayd bin Aslam said; “An evil handiwork of Shaytan.” ﴿فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ﴾ So avoid that avoid all of these abominations, ﴿لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾ in order that you may be successful. and this is a statement of encouragement. Allah said next, ﴿إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَآءَ فِى الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَوةِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ ﴾ Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with Khamr intoxicants and Maysir gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from the Salah the prayer. So, will you not then abstain This is a threat and a warning. Hadiths that Prohibit Khamr Intoxicants 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, ﴿يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ﴾ They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say “In them is a great sin, and some benefit for men.”﴿2219﴾, until the end of the Ayah. The people said, `They intoxicants and gambling were not prohibited for us. Allah only said, ﴿فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ﴾ 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. Thereafter, Allah sent down a tougher statement, ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الصَّلَوةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـرَى حَتَّى تَعْلَمُواْ مَا تَقُولُونَ﴾ 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.﴿443﴾ xThen, the people would drink before the time of the prayer so that they would attend the prayer while sober. A firmer Ayah was later revealed, ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالاٌّنصَابُ وَالاٌّزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾ 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.﴿590-91﴾ So they said, `We abstained, O Lord!’ 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, ﴿لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ﴾ Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate… ﴿593﴾, until the end of the Ayah. The Prophet said, لَوْ حُرِّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَتَرَكُوهُ كَمَا تَرَكْتُم» Had they been made impermissible for them, they would have abandoned them as you have abandoned them. Ahmad recorded this Hadith. 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, ﴿يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ﴾ They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling. Say “In them is a great sin.”﴿2219﴾ `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, ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لاَ تَقْرَبُواْ الصَّلَوةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـرَى﴾ O you who believe! Do not approach the Salah when you are in a drunken state.﴿443﴾ 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 ﴿591﴾ was revealed, and `Umar was summoned and it was recited to him. When he reached the part of the Ayah that reads, ﴿فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ﴾ So, will you not then abstain﴿591﴾, `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.” 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.” Another Hadith 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. In another narration by Anas, “I was the butler of the people in the house of Abu Talhah when Khamr was prohibited, and in those days alcohol was made from unripe and normal dates. A caller then heralded, and Abu Talhah ordered me to see what it was about. So I found that a person was announcing that alcoholic drinks had been prohibited. Abu Talhah ordered me to go out and spill the wine. I went out and spilled it, and it flowed in the streets of Al-Madinah. Some people said, `Some people were killed and wine was still in their stomachs.’ Later on, Allah’s revelation came, ﴿لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ﴾ Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate…﴿593﴾.” Ibn Jarir recorded that Anas bin Malik said, “I was serving Abu Talhah, Abu `Ubaydah bin Al-Jarrah, Abu Dujanah, Mu`adh bin Jabal and Suhayl bin Bayda’, until they became intoxicated from an alcoholic drink made of mixed unripe and normal dates. Then I heard someone herald, `Khamr has been made illegal.’ So no one went in or out until we spilled the alcohol and broke its barrels. Some of us then performed ablution and others took a shower, and we wore some perfume. We then went out to the Masjid while the Messenger of Allah was reciting, ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالاٌّنصَابُ وَالاٌّزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ﴾ O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam are only an abomination of Shaytan’s handiwork. So avoid that…﴿590﴾, until, ﴿فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ﴾ So, will you not then abstain﴿591﴾. A man asked, `O Allah’s Messenger! What about those who died drinking it’ Allah sent down the verse, ﴿لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ﴾ Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate.﴿593﴾.” Another Hadith Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, لُعِنَتِ الْخَمْرُ عَلى عَشْرَةِ أَوْجُهٍ لُعِنَتِ الْخَمْرُ بِعَيْنِهَا، وَشَارِبُهَا، وَسَاقِيهَا، وَبَائِعُهَا، وَمُبْتَاعُهَا، وَعَاصِرُهَا، وَمُعْتَصِرُهَا، وَحَامِلُها، وَالْمَحْمُولَةُ إِلَيْهِ، وَآكِلُ ثَمَنِهَا» 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, لُعِنَتِ الْخَمْرُ وَشَارِبُهَا، وَسَاقِيهَا، وَبَائِعُهَا، وَمُبْتَاعُهَا، وَحَامِلُهَا، وَالْمَحْمُولَةُ إِلَيْهِ، وَعَاصِرُهَا وَمُعْتَصِرُهَا، وَآكِلُ ثَمَنِهَا» 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.” Another Hadith 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, ﴿إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ﴾ Intoxicants, gambling, until, ﴿فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ﴾ So, will you not then abstain was later revealed.” Muslim recorded this Hadith. Another Hadith Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Abdullah bin `Amr said, “This Ayah in the Qur’an, ﴿يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالاٌّنصَابُ وَالاٌّزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴾ 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.﴿590﴾, 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 Another Hadith Ash-Shafi`i narrated that Malik narrated that Nafi` said that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, مَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ فِي الدُّنْيَا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْهَا حُرِمَهَا فِي الآخِرَة» 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. Muslim recorded that Ibn `Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said, كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ، وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ، وَمَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ فَمَاتَ وَهُوَ يُدْمِنُهَا وَلَمْ يَتُبْ مِنْهَا، لَمْ يَشْرَبْهَا فِي الْآخِرَة» 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. `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. 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 ﴿لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ﴾ Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate, until the end of the Ayah. When the Qiblah direction of the prayer was changed from Jerusalem to Makkah, some people asked, `O Allah’s Messenger! What about our brethren who died while still praying toward Jerusalem’ Allah sent down, ﴿وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَـنَكُمْ﴾ And Allah would never make your faith to be lost.”﴿2143﴾ `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said that the Prophet said when the Ayah, ﴿لَيْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّـلِحَـتِ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ إِذَا مَا اتَّقَواْ وَءامَنُواْ﴾ Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is no sin on them for what they ate, if they have Taqwa, and believe… was revealed, قِيلَ لِي أَنْتَ مِنْهُم» I was told, that you are among them. This is the narration that Muslim, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasa’i collected. إِذَا مَا اتَّقَواْ وَّآمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ ثُمَّ اتَّقَواْ وَّآمَنُواْ ثُمَّ اتَّقَواْ وَّأَحْسَنُواْ وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٩٣﴾ if they have Taqwa and believe and do righteous good deeds, and they again have Taqwa and believe, and then once again have Taqwa and perform good. And Allah loves the good-doers.
ArabLatin: Min ajli żālika katabnā 'alā banī isrā`īla annahụ mang qatala nafsam bigairi nafsin au fasādin fil-arḍi fa ka`annamā qatalan-nāsa jamī'ā, wa man aḥyāhā fa ka`annamā aḥyan-nāsa jamī'ā, wa laqad jā`at-hum rusulunā bil-bayyināti ṡumma inna kaṡīram min-hum ba'da żālika fil-arḍi lamusrifụn
Melalui ayat ini, Allah memerintahkan kaum mukmin untuk menjauhi perbuatan setan. Wahai orang-orang yang beriman kepada Allah, kitab-Nya, dan Rasul-Nya! Sesungguhnya minuman keras, apa pun jenisnya, sedikit atau banyak, memabukkan atau tidak memabukkan; berjudi, bagaimana pun bentuknya; berkurban untuk berhala, termasuk sesajen, sedekah laut, dan berbagai persembahan lainnya kepada makhluk halus; dan mengundi nasib dengan anak panah atau dengan cara apa saja sesuai dengan budaya setempat, adalah perbuatan keji karena bertentangan dengan akal sehat dan nurani serta berdampak buruk bagi kehidupan pribadi dan sosial; dan termasuk perbuatan setan yang diharamkan Allah. Maka jauhilah perbuatan-perbuatan itu dalam kehidupan pribadi dan kehidupan sosial dengan peraturan yang tegas dan hukuman yang berat agar kamu beruntung dan sejahtera lahir batin dalam kehidupan dunia dan terhindar dari azab Allah di ayat ini Allah menjelaskan hukum-hukum-Nya mengenai empat macam perbuatan, yaitu minum khamar, berjudi, mempersembahkan kurban kepada patung-patung dan mengundi nasib dengan menggunakan alat-alat yang menyerupai anak panah yang biasa dilakukan oleh bangsa Arab sebelum datangnya agama Islam. Mengenai pengharaman minum khamar, para ahli tafsir berpendapat bahwa ayat ini merupakan tahap terakhir dalam menentukan hukum haramnya meminum khamar. Menurut mereka, Al-Qur'an mengemukakan hukum meminum khamar itu dalam empat tahap. Pertama, berupa informasi tentang adanya kandungan alkohol pada buah anggur pada surah an-Nahl/1667. Kedua, manfaat dan madarat minuman keras Mereka menanyakan kepadamu Muhammad tentang khamar dan judi. Katakanlah, "Pada keduanya terdapat dosa besar dan beberapa manfaat bagi manusia. Tetapi dosanya lebih besar daripada manfaatnya." al-Baqarah/2 219 Ayat ini turun pada masa permulaan Islam, ketika iman kaum Muslimin belum begitu kuat untuk dapat meninggalkan apa yang telah menjadi kegemaran dan kebiasaan mereka, yang sebenarnya tidak dibolehkan oleh agama Islam. Maka setelah turun ayat ini, sebagian dari kaum Muslimin telah meningalkan kebiasaan minum khamar karena ayat tersebut telah menyebutkan bahwa perbuatan itu merupakan dosa besar. Tetapi sebagian masih melanjutkan kebiasaan minum khamar, karena menurut pendapat mereka ayat itu belum melarang mereka dari perbuatan itu, karena masih menyebutkan bahwa khamar itu mengandung banyak manfaat bagi manusia. Alkohol atau khamr yang dimaksud adalah etanol yang diproduksi dengan fermentasi sari buah seperti anggur, nanas, dan sebagainya. Juga dapat diproduksi dari tetes, limbah dari pabrik gula tebu, dan ini merupakan bahan baku yang paling banyak digunakan untuk memproduksi alkohol di Indonesia. Alkohol memiliki beberapa manfat antara lain sebagai sumber energi dan pelarut. Alkohol merupakan sumber energi yang cukup tinggi, lebih tinggi dari gula dan hampir menyamai lemak dengan perbandingan sebagai berikut Karbohidrat/gula, 4 kkal/g, alkohol, 7 kkal/g dan lemak, 9 kkal/g Selain itu alkohol mudah dicerna sehingga badan mudah memperoleh energi setelah minum alkohol. Alkohol juga dipakai pelarut dalam obat “ obatan yang disebut elixir seperti dalam obat ginjal batugen elixir atau juga dalam obat batuk. Ketiga, larangan melaksanakan salat ketika mabuk Wahai orang yang beriman! Janganlah kamu mendekati salat, ketika kamu dalam keadaan mabuk¦ an-Nisa'/4 43. Karena ayat ini melarang mereka melakukan salat dalam keadaan mabuk, maka ini berarti bahwa mereka tidak dibolehkan minum khamar sebelum salat, agar mereka dapat melakukan salat dalam keadaan tidak mabuk. Setelah turun ayat ini, mereka tak bisa lagi minum khamar sejak sebelum Zuhur, sampai selesainya salat Isya, karena waktu Zuhur dan Asar adalah bersambungan, dalam masa yang pendek. Demikian pula antara Asar dan Magrib, dan antara Magrib dengan Isya. Apabila mereka minum khamar sesudah salat Zuhur, atau Magrib, niscaya tak cukup waktu untuk menunggu mereka sadar dari mabuk. Sehingga dengan demikian mereka tak akan dapat melakukan salat dalam keadaan sadar, sedangkan Allah telah melarang mereka melakukan salat dalam keadaan mabuk. Orang-orang yang hendak minum khamar hanya mendapat kesempatan sesudah salat Isya dan sesudah salat Subuh. Karena jarak antara Isya dan Subuh dan antara Subuh dan Zuhur cukup panjang. Dengan demikian, diharapkan orang yang minum khamar menjadi semakin berkurang. Keempat, penetapan keharaman khamar Setelah iman kaum Muslimin semakin kuat, dan kejiwaan mereka semakin mantap untuk meninggalkan apa yang tidak diperbolehkan agama, maka turunlah ayat 90 Surah al-Ma'idah/5 ini, yang memberikan ketegasan tentang haramnya minum khamar, yaitu dengan mengatakan bahwa minum khamar, dan perbuatan lainnya adalah perbuatan kotor, haram dan termasuk perbuatan setan yang tak patut dilakukan oleh manusia yang beriman kepada Allah. Dengan turunnya ayat ini, tertutuplah sudah semua kemungkinan bagi orang-orang mukmin untuk minum khamar. Demikianlah tahap-tahap yang telah diatur Al-Qur'an dalam memberikan hukum haram minum khamar. Prinsip ini sangat tepat untuk digunakan bila kita ingin mengadakan pemberantasan dan pembasmian apa yang telah berurat berakar dan mendarah-daging dalam masyarakat. Andaikata kita mengadakan tindakan yang drastis, pemberantasan yang mendadak dan sekaligus, maka akan terjadi kegoncangan dalam masyarakat, dan akan timbullah perlawanan yang keras terhadap peraturan baru yang hendak diterapkan. Agama Islam sangat mementingkan pembinaan mental manusia, dan menghindari timbulnya kegoncangan-kegoncangan dalam masyarakat. Khamar atau minuman berakohol dilarang karena dibalik kemanfaatannya alkohol juga memiliki kemudaratan. Di negara“negara maju, seperti Amerika dan Australia, alkohol penyebab kecelakaan lalu lintas lebih dari 55% dan juga merupakan sumber berbagai penyakit. Di Amerika diidentifikasi bahwa pemabuk banyak menderita penyakit karena avitaminosis. Di Australia didapatkan bahwa anak“anak suami istri pemabuk, banyak menderita cacat fisik dan atau mental. Di Papua Nugini, kegemaran minum para pekerjanya adalah penyebab penceraian, karena uang habis untuk minum“minum. Di Indonesia, alkohol adalah penyebab tindakan kriminal seperti perampokan, perkosaan dan pembunuhan. Juga penyebab kecelakaan lalu lintas, dan keretakan rumah tangga. Meskipun merupakan bisnis besar, tetapi telah diteliti bahwa setiap dolar yang diperoleh dari produk alkohol, memerlukan biaya yang lebih besar untuk mengatasi akibat kerusakan sosial yang diperoleh, seperti Tennese State Perolehan US$1,- biaya US$ Shelby State Perolehan US$1,- biaya US$ Memphis State Perolehan US$1,- biaya US$ Karena alkohol mudah diserap, maka makanan berlebih seperti gula, lemak dan protein disimpan dalam bentuk lemak sehingga kelebihan berat badan. Obesitas ini penyebab dari penyakit pembuluh darah, jantung dan gula diabetes. Perlu diketahui bahwa alkohol adalah minuman berenergi tinggi tetapi tanpa gizi atau disebut "empty calories". Juga alkohol penyebab tubuh tidak dapat menyerap vitamin dan mineral atau keduanya dibuang ke dalam urin. Akibatnya pemabuk menjadi malnutrisi. Dan ini pula penyebab utama bahwa anak “ anak para peminum atau pemabuk menderita cacat fisik atau mental karena sperma atau ovumnya kekurangan gizi. Detoksikasi alkohol dalam tubuh oleh lever terus menerus dapat merusak sel“sel. Kerusakan sel akan mengganggu kinerja lever. Selain itu kelebihan lemak disimpan dalam hati yang dapat menyebabkan kanker hati atau cirrosis yang belum ada obatnya. Alkohol merusak sistem syaraf, melemahkan koordinasi otot dan mata penyebab kecelakaan. Juga menghilangkan ingatan sehingga melakukan segala kejahatan tanpa kesadaran, seperti memperkosa, berkelahi, merampok dan membunuh. Alkohol termasuk bahan yang menyebabkan ketagihan atau adiktif. Sifat ini menyebabkan peminum ingin mengkonsumsi lebih banyak dan lebih banyak lagi karena tidak puas. Rasa yang selalu tidak puas itu yang akhirnya menyebabkan terjerumus ke dalam dunia narkotika seperti ganja, morfin, kokain, dan sebagainya. Sifat adiktif ini secara ilmu pengetahuan belum dapat dijelaskan dengan memuaskan. Adapun judi, amat besar bahayanya bagi pribadi dan masyarakat. Judi dapat merusak kepribadian dan moral seseorang, karena seorang penjudi selalu berangan-angan akan mendapat keuntungan besar tanpa bekerja dan berusaha, menghabiskan umurnya di meja judi tanpa menghiraukan kesehatannya, keperluan hidupnya dan hidup keluarganya yang menyebabkan rumah tangga hancur. Judi akan menimbulkan permusuhan antara sesama penjudi. Permusuhan ini terus berlanjut dalam pergaulan sehingga merusak masyarakat. Berapa banyak rumah tangga yang berantakan, harta yang musnah karena judi. Tidak ada orang yang kaya semata-mata karena berjudi lihat juga tafsir ayat 219 Surah al-Baqarah/2. Orang Arab sebelum Islam merupakan masyarakat penyembah berhala. Mereka membuat patung-patung dari batu dan sebagainya, kemudian mereka sembah dan mereka agung-agungkan. Mereka menyembelih hewan-hewan kurban untuk dipersembahkan kepada patung-patung tersebut. Perbuatan ini adalah perbuatan yang sesat. Karena yang patut disembah dan diagungkan hanyalah Allah. Manusia dapat menyembah Allah, tanpa perantara. Jika ingin berkurban, sembelihlah kurban itu, kemudian dagingnya dibagi-bagikan kepada manusia yang dapat memanfaatkannya, jangan kepada patung-patung yang tak akan dapat mengambil manfaat apapun dari daging kurban tersebut. Oleh sebab itu, sangat tepat bila agama Islam melarang kaum Muslimin mempersembahkan kurban kepada patung-patung, kemudian Islam menetapkan bahwa kurban itu adalah untuk mengagungkan Allah, dan dagingnya dibagikan kepada sesama manusia. Mengundi nasib, juga suatu perbuatan yang telah lama dikenal manusia, bahkan sampai sekarang masih dilakukan dan dipercayai oleh sebagian orang. Ada berbagai cara yang digunakan untuk keperluan itu. Ada kalanya dengan menggunakan alat, atau dengan meneliti telapak tangan, atau dengan memperhatikan tanggal dan hari kelahiran bintang-bintang, sebagaimana sering dicantumkan dalam majalah hiburan atau surat kabar-surat kabar. Bangsa Arab di zaman jahiliah biasa mengundi nasib dengan menggunakan azlam, yaitu anak panah yang belum memakai bulu. Mereka menggunakannya untuk mengambil keputusan apakah mereka akan melakukan sesuatu perbuatan atau tidak. Caranya ialah mereka mengambil tiga buah anak panah yang belum memakai bulu tersebut lalu pada anak panah yang pertama mereka tuliskan kata-kata "lakukanlah" sedang pada anak panah yang kedua mereka tuliskan kata-kata "jangan lakukan"; adapun anak panah yang ketiga tidak ditulisi apa-apa. Ketiga anak panah tersebut diletakkan dalam suatu wadah, lalu disimpan di dalam Ka'bah. Bila mereka hendak melakukan satu pekerjaan, maka mereka meminta kepada tukang kunci Ka'bah untuk mengambil satu di antara ketiga anak panah tersebut. Apakah mereka akan melakukan perbuatan itu atau tidak, tergantung kepada tulisan yang didapati pada anak panah yang diambil itu. Jika ternyata bahwa yang diambil itu adalah anak panah yang tidak ada tulisannya, maka undian itu diulang sekali lagi. Demikianlah mereka menggantungkan nasib kepada undian tersebut dan mereka sangat mempercayainya. Undian-undian dan ramalan-ramalan semacam itu mengandung banyak segi negatifnya. Apabila si peramal mengatakan bahwa orang yang bersangkutan akan menemui nasib yang jelek, maka hal itu akan membuatnya merasa kuatir, takut dan putus asa, bahkan akan menyebabkan tidak mau bekerja dan berusaha karena ia percaya kepada ramalan itu. Sebaliknya, bila peramal mengatakan bahwa ia akan menjadi orang yang kaya dan berbahagia, maka hal itu dapat menyebabkan dia malas bekerja dan memandang rendah segala macam usaha, karena ia percaya bahwa tanpa usaha pun ia akan berbahagia atau menjadi kaya. Orang beriman dilarang mempercayai ramalan-ramalan itu, baik yang dikatakan langsung oleh tukang-tukang ramal, ataupun yang biasa dipublikasikan dalam media cetak dan elektronik. Ramalan-ramalan tersebut dapat merusak iman. Orang beriman harus percaya bahwa Allah sajalah yang dapat menentukan nasib setiap makhluk-Nya. Percaya kepada qadha dan qadar Allah, adalah salah satu dari rukun iman. Pada akhir ayat ini Allah memerintahkan agar orang beriman menjauhi minuman khamar, berjudi, berkorban untuk patung-patung serta mengundi nasib, diharapkan dengan menjauhi perbuatan-perbuatan itu, mereka akan menjadi orang-orang yang sukses dan beruntung di dunia dan di akhirat.