The drink prohibited in Islam is described as Khamr. The word khamr which is equivalent to the word liquor and alcohol in English is derived from the verb khamara which means “he covered, hid, or concealed.” Since liquor and alcohol shrouds the intellect of man, and renders it invalid for discriminating between right and wrong, it is, therefore, called khamr. According to the Arabic-English Lexicon by E. W. Lang, khamr is “what intoxicates, of the expressed juice or grapes, or the juice of grapes when it has effervesced and thrown up froth, and become freed there from, and still, or it has a common application to intoxicating expressed, juice of anything, or any intoxicating thing that clouds, or obscures the intellect.”

Another view is that khamr has been so termed due to the reason that it is put up in a place till it turns into wine. Turning of a drink into liquer implies the change of odor. All these features appear in khamr.

Definition according to the Islamic Shari’ah

Liquer under the term khamr as defined by the Islamic Shari’ah implies all things which intoxicate. In Bukhari and Muslim it is reported on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar (r) that Caliph ‘Umar (r), in one of his Friday sermons, defined khamr as everything that dulls the faculty of thinking.

Ibn ‘Umar (r) reported that ‘Umar (r) delivered sermon upon the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah (s) and said: O mankind! The prohibition of khamr has been revealed and that is made of five things: Grapes, dates, wheat, barley and honey: and khamr is what covers intellect. (Bukhari, Muslim)

The Holy Qur’an has made a mention of some of these kinds of liquor:

1. Al-khamr: It is the most famous and common name of liquor because drinking khamr brings about a number of harms and troubles.
2. Al-Sukr: Liquor has been termed as sukr because it has the effect of intoxication.
3. Al-Rahiq: It is a wine, clear, pure and old. This word has been used as a characteristic of the wine of paradise in the following Qur’anic verse: They are given therein (paradise) to drink of a pure wine, sealed. (83:25)

 The word Kharm has appeared six times in the Holy Qur’an: Once in subjective case in verse 5:90, twice in objective case in verses 12:36, 41 and thrice in genitive case in verses 2:219, 5:91 and 47:15. The Prophet(s) has named liquor and alcohol as:

Ummul khaba’ith:                           The fountainhead of evils.

Ummul fawahish:                           The origin of all sorts of atrocities.

Akbarul Kaba’ir:                             The most heinous of major sins.

Ra’su kulli khatia’:                           The head of all errors and lapses.

Miftahu kulli sharr:                            The key to all evils and mischief.

 The Prophet (s) has attributed these names to Khamr because it embodies all the above characteristics.

The prominent companions of the Prophet (s), like Abu Bak, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali (r) abstained from drinking alcohol during the pre-Islamic period ‘Uthman (r) was asked why he had not touched alcohol even during his pre-Islamic life. His answer was, Khamr ‘robs’ the mind totally; and I have not yet seen anything which when entirely ‘robbed’ or curtailed will come back in its original intact from.’’ Another contemporary of ‘Uthman (r) refused to drink alcohol. He said, “I refuse to consume that which consumes my mind.”

 The Holy Qur’an on the Prohibition of Khamr

The verses of the Holy Qur’an which touched the problem are:

 They ask thee (O prophet) about khamr (intoxicants) and games of chance (gambling). Say: In both of them there is great harm although there is some advantage as well in them for men, but their harm is much greater than their advantages. (2:219)

O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are in a state of intoxication until you know that you utter. (4:43)

O believers! Surely, alcohol and games of chance, (ungodly) shrines, and divining devices, are abomination of Satan’s work. Avoid them, that ye may prosper. Only would Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by alcohol, and games of chance, and turn you aside from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: Will you not, therefore, abstain from them? (5:90, 91)

 From the forgoing Qur’anic verses we can deduce that all intoxicants resulting into loss of wit, wastage of wealth and ruin of health, debauching status and nobility and marring personality, are unlawful like liquor opium, hemp etc. All these substances are unlawful in Shari’ah, whether they are smelt, snuffed or drunk.

 Ahadith on Prohibition of Khamr

Though originally the Arabic word khamr meant only liquor, it is also applied to all the alcohols brewed from wheat, barley, dried grapes, dates and honey. Whatever is the material from which liquor is prepared and whatever is the process of preparation, every intoxicant is forbidden. The Prophet (s) prohibited all sorts of intoxicants, and there are Ahadith that clearly testify this.

 Every Intoxicants is Haram

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr (r) reported that the Prophet (s) prohibited intoxicants, games of chance, card-playing and Gobairah and he said: Every intoxicants is unlawful. (Abu Dawud)

 Ibn ‘Umar (r) reported that the Messenger of Allah (s) said: Every intoxicants is khamr and every intoxicants is forbidden. He who drinks alcohol in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not be given a drink in the Hereafter.  (Muslim)

 ‘Aisha (r) reported that the Prophet of Allah (s) was a about Bit’, whereupon he said: Every drink that causes intoxicants is forbidden. (Agreed upon)

 Umm salama (r) reported that the Prophet of Allah (s) prohibited every intoxicants and exciting food. (Abu Dawud)

 Abu Musa (r) reported: Allah’s Messenger (s) sent me and Mu’ adh bin Jabal (r) to Yemen. I said Allah’s Messenger, in our land wine is prepared out of barley which is known as Mizr (beer of our times) and also from honey which is known as Bit’ (are these also forbidden? ), whereupon he said: Every intoxicants is forbidden. (Muslim)

 Abu Burda (r) reported on the authority of his grandfather that Allah’s Messenger (s) sent him and Mu’adh bin Jabal (r) to Yemen and said to them: Given glad tidings to the (people), and make things easy (for them), teach (them), and do not repel (them); and I think he also said: Cooperate cheerfully with each other. When he (the prophet) turned his back Abu Musa (r) turning towards him, said: Allah’s Messenger, they (the people of Yemen) have a drink which is made from honey and that is prepared by cooking it until it coagulates, and Mizr is prepared from barley, whereupon Allah’s Messenger (s) said; Every Askara (intoxicant) that detains you from prayer is forbidden. (Muslim)

 Here the word Askara (intoxicant) has a very comprehensive and meaningful expression that covers so many shades of meaning connected witch the use of alcohol and liquor. It may mean the intoxicants which keeps us away from prayer as we read in the Qur’an:

 Draw not near unto prayer when you are in a state of intoxication.  (4:43)

 The state of intoxication is thus described as an obstacle in the way of prayer. This expression may also mean that intoxicant makes one unmindful of prayer as we find in the Qur’an:

 By means of intoxicants and games of chance, Satan seeks only to sow enmity and hatred amongst you, and to turn you away from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. (5:94)

 This expression may also imply the drink that clouds the intellect and consciousness of a person so that he fails to keep himself devoted in prayer. In prayer man faces Allah spiritually; he is, therefore, required to have full consciousness of his own self. Consciousness is indispensable in every act of worship which is destroyed under the influence of an intoxicant. One should be in his senses to be aware of what is he doing.

Jabir (r) reported that a person came from Jaishan, a town of Yemen, and he asked Allah’s Messenger (s) about the alcohol which was drunk in his country and which was prepared from millet and was called Mizr. The Prophet (s) asked him whether that was intoxicating. He replied in affirmative. Thereupon the Prophet (s) said: Every intoxicant is forbidden. Verily Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, made a covenant to those who drank intoxicants to make theme drink Tinat al-Khabal. The said: O’ Allah’s Prophet what is Tinat al-Khabal? He (the Prophet) replied: It is the sweat of the denizens of Hell or the discharge of the denizens of Hell.  (Muslim)

 Nafi’ (r) reported Ibn ‘Umar (r) as saying: the Prophet (r) has said: Every intoxicant is khamr and every khamr is forbidden. (Muslim)

This hadith clearly shows that all kinds of intoxicants, e.g., opium, hemp and cocaine are forbidden. Abdur Rahman al-Jaziri, a great ‘Aalim of our time, in his book “Kitabul Fiqh ‘alal Madhahib al-arba’ah” states that there is a consenses of Sahabah and Aayema that all the intoxicants are Haram whether they are in liquid or solid form. Imam Taimiyah, Ibn Qayyam, Ibn Hijr and many scholars of Islam agreed upon all intoxicants including opium, hemp, or any new substance that dulls the intellect are Haram.

 Intoxicant even in Smallest Quantity is Unlawful

Some people think that a small quantity of alcohol can do no harm. But it is one of the myths which the scientific analysis has already exploded. Even such a tiny concentration of alcohol in blood as 0.015% (i.e., one–seventh of one percent) impairs the faculties so much that driving becomes extremely dangerous. Because alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and it is the central nervous system which is the bodily system that is most severly affected by alcohol. The degree to which the central nervous system function is impaired is directly proportional to the concentration of alcohol in the blood. In low concentrations, alcohol reduces inhibitions. As blood alcohol concentration increases, a person’s response to stimuli decreases markedly, speech becomes slurred, and he or she becomes unsteady and has trouble walking. With very high concentration – greater than 0.35 grams /100 milliliters of blood (equivalent to 0.35 grams/210 liters of breath) – a person can become comatose and die. The American Medical Association has defined the blood alcohol concentration level of impairment for all people to be 0.04 grams /100 liters of blood (equivalent to 0.04 grams/210 liters of breath).

 Also, it requires a strong will-power to restrict a drunkard’s intake of alcohol. As the alcohol destroys the power of judgment, as it frees man from every inhibition, it is foolish to believe that once started a man can control his drinking habits. When the will-power is weakened by the effect of alcohol, drinking leads to drunkenness and finally to alcoholism. Islam does not tend a man into this trap. It was for this reason that the Prophet (s) laid down the principle: If a large quantity of something is intoxicant, then even its smallest portion is also unlawful, and if a cup of anything is intoxicant, then even a drop of it is also unlawful.

 Jabir (r) reported that the prophet (s) said: What intoxicants in greater quantity is unlawful also in small quantity. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Maja)

 A’isha (r) reported from the Messenger of Allah (s) who said: What is intoxicating up to Farq (a measuring tool of large quantity), is unlawful even in its handful. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ahmad)

 Two points should be clearly borne in mind in this connection:

(a)Anything that causes intoxication is forbidden in Islam, whether its quantity is large or small. No person can argue that since the small quantity of any intoxicants does not affect the mind adversely, it may not be treated as unlawful. This is a fallacious reasoning. It is the intoxicant which is unlawful, no matter whatever be its quantity. The Haram is Haram and a Muslim should be scrupulous enough to abstain from it, whatever its quantity is large or small.

(b) Secondly, no person can say that since the use of liquor does not intoxicate him, he is justified in using that. If a habitual drunkard does not lose control over himself altogether, it does not mean that the liquor ceases to be forbidden. Islam has made certain foods and drinks unlawful primarily on the basis of the pernicious effects that these create on the spiritual and moral health of human beings. Drinking is an evil through and through-the undesirable fact which is recognized by all right-thinking people whether they belong to our age or to the old age. It saps the very root of morality, self-controls and Allah-consciousness, making man an easy prey to evil.

A Drunkard is not a Believer

Abu Huraira (r) reported that the Prophet of Allah (s) said: “An adulterer, at the time he is committing illegal sexual intercourse is not a believer; and a person, at the time of drinking alcohol is not a believer; and a thief, at the time of stealing, is not a believer. (Bukhari) 

 A Habitual Drunkard will not Enter Paradise

Ibn ‘Umar (r) reported that the Prophet (s) said: There are three for whom Paradise has been prohibited­­­-a habitual drunkard, one disobedient to parents, and a careless husband who establishes impurity in his family. (Ahmad, Nasa’i)

 Abu Musa al-Ash’ ari (r) reported that the Prophet of Allah (s) said: There are three (categories of persons) who will not enter Paradise-a habitual drunkard, one who cuts off blood–ties and one who believes in sorcery. (Ahmad)

 Abu Umama (r) reported that the Prophet of Allah (s) said: Verily, the Almighty Allah sent me as a mercy for all the worlds; and my Almighty, the Glorious Lord ordered me to abolish musical instruments, idols, cross and the affairs of the Days of Ignorance. My Allah Almighty, the Glorious has promised: By My honor, out of My servants who­­ drinks a cup of liquor but I will give him drink like it from hot water (of Hell); and one who gives it up out of My fear but I will give him drink from the Holy Fountain.  (Ahmad)

 The Cursed Ten Persons

Anas (r) reported that the Prophet (s) said: Verily Allah has cursed ten persons–one who squeezes it (liquor); one who is engaged for squeezing it; one who drinks it; one who carries it; one to whom it is carried; one who serves drink; one who sell it; one who devours its price; one who purchases it and one for whom it is purchased. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawuid, Ibn Maja)

 Alcohol is a Disease

In medicines, alcohol should be avoided because alcohol itself is a disease:

Wa’il al–Hadrami (r) reported that Tariq ibn Suwaid al–Ju’fi (r) asked the Prophet (s), about liquor. He forbade (its use) and he expressed hatred that it should be prepared: He (Tariq) said: I prepare it as a medicine, whereupon he (the Prophet) said: It is no medicine, but an ailment. (Muslim)

 Liquor should not be offered as a Gift

The Prophet (s) did not permit liquor to be offered to non–Muslims as a gift. It was declared forbidden. Some of the Muslim said: Why spill it, why not given it to the Jews? Thereupon the Prophet (s) said: He who made it unlawful has also forbidden it to be offered as a gift to other people.

 No Excuse for Liquor or Alcohol Drinking

Cold climate is no excuse for alcohol drinking:

 Dailamah al–Humairi (r) reported: I asked: O Messenger of Allah (s), verily we are in a cold land, and we have to do hard labor therein, and we prepare liquor from this wheat which gives us strength in our works and in the chill of our cities. He said: Does it intoxicate? ‘Yes’, said I. He said: Given it up. I said: Verify the people cannot give it up. He said: If they do not given it up, fight with them. (Abu Dawud)

 A Drunkard is a Worshipper of Idol

Abu Huraira (r) reported that the Prophet (s), said: One who is addicted to alcohol is like one who worships idols. (Ahmad, Nisa’ i)

 Ibn ‘Abbas (r) reported that the Messenger of Allah (s) said: If the habitual drunkard dies, he meets Allah like one who worship idols.  (Ahmad, Ibn Maja)

 The Ahadith mentioned above are enough testimony to prove that every intoxicant is khamr and every khamr is Haram. If the large quantity of a thing causes intoxication, its small quantity even if it does not provoke intoxication, is also Haram.  Thus everything which causes intoxication is unlawful.