by Anne Davey

Created on: March 05, 2008

The word "Muslim" means "one who submits." Islam is a religion of submission to the will of Allah. The straightforward truth is that someone who is not in control of their own body because they are drunk can not submit to Allah's will, as they have not the control to make that choice. So Islam forbids alcohol primarily for that reason to prevent Shaytan (the Devil) taking control of a person's body when they are too intoxicated to control their body themselves. If that happened the person would not then subject to Allah's will, but rather they would then be a slave to sin. In the Qur'an it says: "Shaytan's plan is to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain? (Surah 5:91)

You do not need to be a Muslim to believe that drunkenness and excess alcohol consumption are undesirable and have a hugely negative impact on society. Alcohol drunk to excess causes cirrhosis of the liver and other diseases leading ultimately to death. Drinking in pregnancy can have a terrible effect on the developing baby, leading to foetal alcohol syndrome. This is to say nothing of all the havoc caused by drink-driving, drunken brawls and other bad actions exacerbated by drinking alcohol. Alcohol removes a person's inhibitions making them more likely to commit acts they will regret when sober sexual indiscretion, aggressive behaviour and stupidity all happen when a person is drunk and though most live to tell the tale, a few don't and many have to face the harsh consequences of their actions in the cold light of day and live to regret it. At the very least such actions offend one's friends, put strain on the police and medical services who have to mop up the problems caused by drink and can cause the breakdown of family life.

A non-Muslim may well agree that this list of things is socially undesirable and we need to do something to prevent it, but still think it is perfectly acceptable for a sensible person to have a glass of wine with their dinner or a beer on a summer's evening with some friends. Islam does not take this view.

The Qur'an gives a clear instruction: "O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged" so you must pray sober and clear-headed. Given Islam is a religion where people pray five times a day, that doesn't leave you a lot of time to fit any drinking in!
In addition, both gambling and alcohol are sinful according to the revealed word of Allah the Qur'an: "They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." (Surah 2:219) So many Muslims would take this to mean that they should not sell alcohol as part of their business either, as the sin would be greater than the profit.

Islam views alcohol as a slippery slope and whilst one might recognise that profit mentioned in 2:219 might be a hint about possible health benefits from imbibing small amounts, the risk is that someone who intends to drink a small amount will end up drinking a large amount and make a mistake. It is potentially a terrible mistake, as it lets Shaytan get a head start on you. That is simply not worth it.

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