🍹 Understanding INTOXICANTS (Khamr & Nabidh) in Islam

🌍 Intoxicants in Islam: Comprehensive Exploration

Definitions

• Intoxicants: Substances that alter the mind and impair judgment, which in Islamic terms primarily refer to alcoholic beverages. Over time, this has expanded to include narcotics and other harmful substances.

Etymology and Linguistic Roots

• Khamr (خَمْر): The Arabic term for wine or any intoxicating drink derived from fermentation. The root “khamara” means to cover or obscure, indicating something that clouds the mind.
• Nabidh (نَبِيذ): Originally referred to both fermented and non-fermented drinks made from soaked fruits. Nabidh could become an intoxicant over time if it undergoes fermentation.

Historical Context and Facts

• Early Islam: The prohibition of intoxicants is clearly outlined in various verses of the Qurʾān, notably in Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:90-91), which describes intoxicants and gambling as “abominations of Satan’s handiwork” to be avoided.
• Umar I’s Era: Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab institutionalized the punishment for consuming intoxicants, fixing it at eighty lashes.
• Literary Blossoming: Despite these prohibitions, poetry praising wine (khamriyyat) flourished, especially during the Abbasid dynasty.

Cultural Differences and Similarities

• In many contemporary Islamic countries, adherence to the prohibition on intoxicants varies. Some nations enforce strict bans, while in others, like certain parts of the Levant, there lurk occasional clandestine indulgences.
• The prohibition extends to cultural settings, with terms for intoxicants evolving over time and spreading to include modern substances like narcotics.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms: Alcohol, Booze, Spirits, Narcotics
• Antonyms: Sobriety, Temperance, Abstinence

Related Terms with Definitions

• Halal (حلال): That which is permissible under Islamic law.
• Haram (حرام): Forbidden under Islamic law.
• Tayyib (طيب): Wholesome or pure, often used to describe permissible and beneficial substances or foods.

Exciting Facts

• Cultural Impact: Despite religious bans, royal courts and literary circles in Islamic history prominently featured wine poetry, reflecting a fascinating interplay between religion, culture, and artistic expression.
• Cinematic Depictions: Movies and dramas from the Islamic world often navigate the delicate rules regarding portrayal of intoxicants, balancing religious adherence and artistic realism.

Inspirational Quotation

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” — Proverbs 20:1 (Though a Biblical verse, its wisdom mirrors Islamic teachings on intoxication.)

Further Reading and References

• Books:
  • “Prohibition of Intoxicants: An Overview in Islamic Jurisprudence” by Mohammad Hussein
  • “Wine and the Vine in Islamic Traditions” by S.Q. Daly
• Academic Journals:
  • “Islamic Law and Society”
  • “Journal of Middle Eastern Literatures”
• Websites:
  • Al-Islam.org
  • Quran.com

Translations

• Arabic: النبيذ, الخمر
• Urdu: نشہ آور (Nasha Awar)
• Turkish: içki
• Persian: شراب (Sharab)

Farewell thought: “Understanding the roots of prohibitions in our faith helps us appreciate the wisdom behind them, guiding us to a path of conscious living and moral integrity.”

— Tariq al-Mahmoud, October 10, 2023