*The Prohibition of Alcohol and Gambling
*يَسۡـئَلُوۡنَكَ عَنِ الۡخَمۡرِ وَالۡمَيۡسِرِؕ قُلۡ فِيۡهِمَآ اِثۡمٌ کَبِيۡرٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَاِثۡمُهُمَآ اَکۡبَرُ مِنۡ نَّفۡعِهِمَا
*(2:219) They ask you about wine and games of chance. Say: “In both these there is great evil, even though there is some benefit for people, but their evil is greater than their benefit.”...*
_One day ‘Umar al-Khattab, Mu’adh ibn Jabl and some other companions radhiAllahu ‘anhum approached the Prophet ﷺ and spoke to him about wine and gambling._
_They said that these two addictions not only spoil man’s reason but also cause financial loss and sought his advice in this connection. It was in answer to their question that this ayah was revealed._
📍 *This is the first ayah in which the Muslims have been stopped from wine and gambling.*
▪ It will be noted that drinking has not been clearly identified as something unlawful in this ayah, but its evils have been pointed out that may lead man into many sinful activities.
▪ soon after the revelation of this ayah, some Companions radhiAllahu ‘anhum took this so seriously that they stopped drinking then and there while others thought since the ayah does not declare wine as haram they could continue drinking.
▪ Consequently, so they did, until came a day when ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf radhiAllahu ‘anhu invited some of his friends from among the Companions to his home.
When dinner was over, everybody started drinking wine as usual. In the meantime, the Maghrib Salah time came.
Everybody got up and selected one of them to lead the prayers. The Imam began his recitation from the Qur’an, but drunk as he was, he recited the Surah all wrong.
_Thereupon, the second step against drinking was taken and the following ayah was revealed:_
*“O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated…” [an-Nisa 4: 43]*
📍 Here, drinking was declared to be absolutely unlawful at the time of the prayer.
Some of the Companions completely stopped drinking deducing that something which stops one from prayer cannot hold any good at all. But still the issue of alcohol was not clear.
📍 _Later a third ayah was revealed on the subject that completely prohibited alcohol consumption and gambling._
*“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.” [al-Ma’idah 5: 90]*
▪ Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Maysarah said that ‘Umar radhiAllahu ‘anhu once said,
_“O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr!”_
*Allah ﷻ sent down this ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah (2: 219).*
_‘Umar was then summoned and the ayah was recited to him. Yet, he still said, “O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr.”_
*Then, the ayah in Surah An-Nisa’ was revealed (4: 43).*
_Then, when the prayer was called for, a person used to herald on behalf of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ “No drunk person should attend the prayer.” ‘Umar was summoned again and the ayah was recited to him. Yet, he still said, “O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr.”_
*Then, the ayah that is in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5: 90) was revealed,*
_‘Umar was again summoned and the ayah was recited to him. When he reached:_
*فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ*
*“So, will you not then abstain?” (5:91)*
_he said, “We did abstain, we did abstain.”_
_*About alcohol, ‘Umar radhiAllahu ‘anhu said, “It includes all what intoxicates the mind.”*_
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