From the ‘Book of Drinks’, Chapter; ‘Forbidden Drinks’ D’aaim ul Islam Vol. 2

Molana Ali Zainulabedin (as) states; ‘Wine is of five kinds; from dried dates, raisins, wheat, barley and honey aside from grapes. Every intoxicant is a form of ‘khamr’.

Khamr is derived from takhmir (covering something) and that is to cover it up so that it warms and ferments.’

A lengthy disputation concerning the unlawfulness of intoxicants has been related to us from Ahlul Bayt (as) which we bring here in a shortened form and what we have stated here is sufficient and beyond dispute.

Rasulallah (sa) forbade the use of wine and intoxicants for medical treatment or for administration to children or animals. He said, ‘The sin is on he that gives wine to drink.’

Imam Al-Sadiq (as)  was asked about the drinking of ‘fuqqa’ (barley wine) and he asked the questioner as to how it is brewed. The questioner explained the process to which the Imam (as) replied, ‘It is forbidden, do not drink it.’

Imam Al-Sadiq (as) further states, ‘Wine and intoxicants cannot be used for medical treatment or by women to beautify their hair.’ He related from Molana Ali (as) that, ‘Allah has not bestowed the quality of healing on impure things which He has declared forbidden.’

Imam Al-Sadiq (as) was asked about vessels that have been contaminated by traces of wine and he said, the wine or juice has not been forbidden due to the container but any intoxicant has been forbidden be it in large or small quantity.’

From the ‘Book of Drinks’, Chapter; ‘Forbidden Drinks’ D’aaim ul Islam Vol. 2

Molana Ali (as) states, ‘Do not bear affection towards he that considers an intoxicant to be lawful. Verily the drinker of wine, with that it is forbidden, will find it easier a death than the one who considers it lawful, or declares it to be lawful, even though he does not drink it himself. His declaration of the lawfulness [of intoxicants] is sufficient for [his] disavowal and rejection of that which the Prophet has brought [ie Islam, the Shari'a] and his preference to be with devilish.’

Imam Sadiq (as) states, ‘The one that consumes an intoxicant; loses his mind and the essence of faith (imaan) decamps from him.’

Imam Husain (as) wrote to Muawiya (l.a.) upbraiding and rebuking him for actions he had taken; in it he wrote thus:

‘You have appointed as ruler your son [Yazid, (l.a)], a juvenile who drinks wine and sports with dogs; thus you have dishonoured the trust placed in you and brought detriment upon your subjects and not fulfilled the obligation of your Master. How can you appoint over the community of Mohammed (sa) a man who drinks intoxicants? The drinker of intoxicants is amongst the profligate and from those of vile character. When a man who drinks cannot be trusted with even a dirham [penny] then how can he be appointed to rule over the Muslim Ummah? Shortly you will come to face your actions whilst the pages of forgiveness will have been closed.’

This chapter will conclude with the next posting insha Allah.