Is only the consumption of wine prohibited

The question of alcohol, as it relates to Muslims, is something that is misunderstood by many and certain points need clarification. It is for the reader to ponder these and to learn more and avoid taking a position on a matter based on ignorance or misunderstanding.

Allah says: 

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ادْخُلُواْ فِي السِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلاَ تَتَّبِعُواْ خُطُوَتِ الشَّيْطَـنِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

"O you who believe! Enter Islam completely, and follow not the footsteps of Shaytan (Satan). Verily, he is to you a plain enemy" [Quran 2:208]

This is a clear instruction from Allah that, upon accepting Islam, the Laws of Islam has to be adhered to, i.e. the instructions of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad ﷺ has to be accepted and followed. The laws of Allah must be obeyed in totality. It is in human nature that we falter and commit sin, but a Muslim is one who realises this and repents. The Muslim does not deny the laws of Allah or changes it to suit his whims and fancies. He may commit wrong out of ignorance or it may be out of weakness.

يَسْـئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا

"They ask you (O Muhammad ) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: "In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.'' " [Quran 2:219]

يَـأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالاٌّنصَابُ وَالاٌّزْلاَمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَـنِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ - إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَـنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَآءَ فِى الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَوةِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُّنتَهُونَ - وَأَطِيعُواْ اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ

"O you who believe! 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? And obey Allah and obey the Messenger and beware..." [Quran 5:90-92]

The above verses establishes the fact that all intoxicants, including alcohol and drugs, are prohibited. Allah further exhorts us to obey Him and His messenger, Muhammad ﷺ.

The gravity (of the sin) of the association with alcohol is further explained in the hadith of Prophet Muhammad  ﷺ

إِنَّ رَجُلًا أَهْدَى لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَاوِيَةَ خَمْرٍ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : هَلْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ حَرَّمَهَا ؟ قَالَ : لَا . فَسَارَّ إِنْسَانًا ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : بِمَ سَارَرْتَهُ ؟ فَقَالَ : أَمَرْتُهُ بِبَيْعِهَا . فَقَالَ : إِنَّ الَّذِي حَرَّمَ شُرْبَهَا حَرَّمَ بَيْعَهَا

A man gave the Messenger of Allaah (S) a small skin full of wine, and the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to him: “Do you know that Allaah, may He be exalted, has forbidden it?” He said, No, then he whispered to another man. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “What are you whispering about?” He said: I told him to sell it. He said: “The One Who has forbidden drinking it has also forbidden selling it.” [Muslim]

This then clearly establishes that trading in alcohol is prohibited.

عن عمر بن الخطاب رضي الله عنه قال : قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : " من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر : فلا يقعد على مائدة يشرب عليها الخمر " .

It was narrated that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, let him not sit at a table where wine is being drunk.” [Ahmad, 126; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 7/6]

Attending places where wine is consumed makes it very likely that one will come into contact with the drinker or the alcohol itself (spillage, etc). Worse, of course, is for wine to be consumed at the table one is sitting because that is clearly in contravention of the hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, whom Allah has instructed us to obey. Allah has prohibited wine - its manufacture, its trading, its consumption and being in the company of those who consume it at that time.

People will wish to see things in a way that suits them, forgetting what Allah wants and the ways to draw closer to him. We must ponder on the laws of Allah and get some understanding. The aim is to please Allah as certainly we were only created for the worship of Allah. Thus everything we do must be in the obedience of Allah. Obedience is worshipping Allah. Worshipping Allah is not restricted to rituals but is totality of our actions and speech.

We find that there are Muslims consuming alcohol claiming it to be permissible. They have no proof but they follow their whims and fancies.

We find that there are Muslims who attend functions and socialise with people who consume alcohol in their presence claiming that it (this socialisation) is permissible. Nothing prevents Muslim from socialising with non-Muslims except that which specifically makes it prohibitive, like being in the presence of those who consume during that socialisation. The rule would equally apply to a situation where Muslims consume alcohol or take drugs.

Islam is a complete way of life. Allah is our Creator and Lord. We were created only to worship Him and thus being obedient to Him. We say "we hear and we obey" when Allah commands us with anything or He prohibit us from anything.

We pray for His guidance and protection