concept

Intoxicants

الْخَمْرُ

In Islam, intoxicants, known as *khamr* (الْخَمْرُ), encompass any substance that impairs judgment and consciousness. Their prohibition is a cornerstone of Islamic law, understood as a divine protection for individuals and society. The Quran clearly declares intoxicants, along with gambling, as [defilement from the work of Satan]. This strong prohibition is not arbitrary but deeply rooted in the well-being of the community. Allah explains that Satan's goal through intoxicants is to [cause between you animosity and hatred... and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer]. The ultimate aim is to ensure believers remain mindful of their Creator and maintain harmonious relationships. Earlier, the Quran noted that while there might be [some benefit for people, their sin is greater than their benefit], highlighting a gradual divine guidance towards complete prohibition. Even from sources like [the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision], indicating Allah's wisdom in distinguishing between what is truly beneficial and what poses spiritual and social harm. Thus, avoiding intoxicants is seen as a path to spiritual clarity, personal integrity, and communal peace, ensuring believers can [be successful] in their worldly and spiritual lives.

Quran 5 verses

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Yas'aloonaka 'anilkhamri walmaisiri qul feehimaaa ismun kabeerunw wa manaafi'u linnaasi wa ismuhumaa akbaru min naf'ihimaa; wa yas'aloonaka maaza yunfiqoona qulil-'afw; kazaalika yubaiyinul laahu lakumul-aayaati la'allakum tatafakkaroon

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.

(اے پیغمبر) لوگ تم سے شراب اور جوئے کا حکم دریافت کرتے ہیں۔ کہہ دو کہ ان میں نقصان بڑے ہیں اور لوگوں کے لئے کچھ فائدے بھی ہیں مگر ان کے نقصان فائدوں سے کہیں زیادہ ہیں اور یہ بھی تم سے پوچھتے ہیں کہ (خدا کی راہ میں) کون سا مال خرچ کریں۔ کہہ دو کہ جو ضرورت سے زیادہ ہو۔ اس طرح خدا تمہارے لئے اپنے احکام کھول کھول کر بیان فرماتا ہے تاکہ تم سوچو

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary: This verse forms part of the series of questions asked by the noble Companions. These are as they appear in this Surah along with the answers given. Here, the question is about wine and gambling which has been answered by Allah Almighty by pointing out that the use and practice of these ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: They ask you about wine and divinatory arrows gambling and what the ruling is regarding them. Say to them ‘In both that is in the partaking of both is great sin a variant reading for kabīr ‘great’ has kathīr ‘much’ because of the fighting cursing and swearing that ensue from it; and profit for men b...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Gradual Prohibition of Khamr (Alchoholic Drink) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Maysarah said that `Umar once said, "O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding Al-Khamr!" Allah sent down the Ayah of Surat Al-Baqarah: يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ (They ask y...

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanooo innamal khamru walmaisiru wal ansaabu wal azlaamu rijsum min 'amalish shaitaani fajtaniboohu la'al lakum tuflihoon

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.

اے ایمان والو! شراب اور جوا اور بت اور پاسے (یہ سب) ناپاک کام اعمال شیطان سے ہیں سو ان سے بچتے رہنا تاکہ نجات پاؤ

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Linkage of Verses Earlier, considered abandonment of Halal things was prohibited. Prohibited now is the use of some Harm things. Commentary Creation of the Universe is for the Benefit of Human Beings Through these verses, the purpose is to tell that the Master of the Universe has created it to serve...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O you who believe verily wine that intoxicates and overcomes the mind and games of chance gambling and idols and divinatory arrows are an abomination an evil deemed vile of Satan’s work which he adorns; so avoid it this abomination consisting of the things mentioned do not do it; so that you might p...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): 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 ...

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ

Innamaa yureedush Shaitaanu ai yooqi'a bainakumul 'adaawata wal baghdaaa'a fil khamri wal maisiri wa yasuddakum 'an zikril laahi wa 'anis Salaati fahal antum muntahoon

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?

شیطان تو یہ چاہتا ہے کہ شراب اور جوئے کے سبب تمہارے آپس میں دشمنی اور رنجش ڈلوا دے اور تمہیں خدا کی یاد سے اور نماز سے روک دے تو تم کو (ان کاموں سے) باز رہنا چاہیئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The second verse (91) describes the physical and outwardly visible defects of drinking and gambling: إِنَّمَا يُرِ‌يدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ‌ that is, the Satan wants nothing but to plant enmity and malice between you through drinking and gambl...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Satan desires only to precipitate enmity and hatred between you through wine and games of chance when you partake of them because of the evil and discord that result therefrom; and to bar you by your being preoccupied with them from the remembrance of God and from prayer — He has specifically mentio...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): 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 ...

يَٰصَٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ

Yaa saahibayis sijni ammaaa ahadukumaa fa yasqee rabbahoo khamranw wa ammal aakharu fa yuslabu fataakulut tairu mir raasih; qudiyal amrul lazee feehi tastaftiyaan

O two companions of prison, as for one of you, he will give drink to his master of wine; but as for the other, he will be crucified, and the birds will eat from his head. The matter has been decreed about which you both inquire."

میرے جیل خانے کے رفیقو! تم میں سے ایک (جو پہلا خواب بیان کرنے والا ہے وہ) تو اپنے آقا کو شراب پلایا کرے گا اور جو دوسرا ہے وہ سولی دیا جائے گا اور جانور اس کا سر کھا جائیں گے۔ جو امر تم مجھ سے پوچھتے تھے وہ فیصلہ ہوچکا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: After having made his call to truth, Sayyidna Yusuf (علیہ السلام) turned to the dreams mentioned by two of his prison mates declaring that one of the two of them will get his release, return to his job and keep serving wine to his master. As for the other, the crime against him will stand proved and...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: O fellow-prisoners! As for one of you that is the cup-bearer he will depart after three days and he shall serve his lord his master wine to drink as usual; and as for the other he will depart after three days and he will be crucified so that the birds will eat from his head this is the interpretatio...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Interpretation of the Dreams Yusuf said, يصَاحِبَىِ السِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُ خَمْرًا (O two companions of the prison! As for one of you, he will pour out wine for his master to drink;) to the man who saw in a dream that he was pressing wine. He did not direct this speech at...

وَمِن ثَمَرَٰتِ ٱلنَّخِيلِ وَٱلْأَعْنَٰبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

Wa min samaraatin nakheeli wal a'nnaabi tattakhizoona minhu sakaranw wa rizqann hasanaa; inna fee zaalika la Aayatal liqawminy ya'qiloon

And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason.

اور کھجور اور انگور کے میووں سے بھی (تم پینے کی چیزیں تیار کرتے ہو کہ ان سے شراب بناتے ہو) اور عمدہ رزق (کھاتے ہو) جو لوگ سمجھ رکھتے ہیں ان کے لیے ان (چیزوں) میں (قدرت خدا کی) نشانی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary Described in the previous verses were blessings of Allah Ta’ ala which manifest the stunning marvel of Divine power and creativity. Of these, the first to be mentioned was milk which nature has gifted human beings with after having made it go through its own processing in the bellies of a...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And of the fruits of date-palms and vines comes forth a fruit from which you draw an intoxicant a wine that intoxicates — it the wine is referred to by the verbal noun sakaran ‘intoxicant’ and this verse came before it was prohibited — and goodly provision such as dates raisins vinegar and molasses....
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Lessons and Blessings in Cattle and the Fruit of the Date-palm and Grapevine وَإِنَّ لَكُمْ (there is for you) - O mankind - فِى الاٌّنْعَـمِ (in the cattle) - meaning camels, cows and sheep, لَعِبْرَةً (a lesson) meaning a sign and an evidence of the wisdom, power, mercy and kindness of the Creator...

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