When was intoxicants forbidden and why
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The ninth question from the fatwa number ( 3056 )
Q 9: Why and when were intoxicants and eating pork forbidden?
A 9: First: It should be known that the Muslim’s affair regarding the commands of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His prohibitions is one of submission and surrender, whether he understands the wisdom behind the command or prohibition or not, while holding the firm belief that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not command His servants except with what is in their benefit, and does not prohibit them except from what is harmful to them. What becomes apparent to him of the wisdom of a command or prohibition increases his faith, and what remains hidden from him likewise increases his faith through submission to Allah and trust in Him. Second: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) forbade intoxicants because of the devastating harms they contain for the minds, for they cover them, meaning they veil them. Their prohibition was in the sixth year of the Hijrah, or it is said the fourth year, and Allah knows best. This was definitively established by the revelation of the words of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He):[Al-Ma'idah 5:90] up to His words (Glorified and Exalted is He): [Al-Ma'idah 5:91]
As for eating pork, it was forbidden before the Hijrah, and its prohibition was revealed in the Meccan verses. A similar question to this one has previously been sent to the Permanent Committee, which answered it with the following text of the fatwa: Indeed, Allah has encompassed all things with knowledge, and His mercy, wisdom, and justice have encompassed all things. He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is All-Knowing of the interests of His servants, Merciful to them, Wise in His creation, management, and legislation. So He commanded them with what brings them happiness in this world and the Hereafter, made lawful for them what benefits them from the good things, and forbade them what harms them from the bad things. And Allah has forbidden all of the pig and informed that it is an impurity. He (the Exalted) said:[Al-An'am 6:145] So it is among the bad things. And He (the Exalted) said: [Al-A'raf 7:157] It has been established by observation that its food is filth and impurities, and that these are the most delicious food to it; it pursues them and frequents their places. The experts have mentioned that eating it generates worms
in the belly, and that it has an effect in weakening jealousy and destroying chastity, and that it has other harms such as difficulty in digestion, and preventing some organs from secreting their juices to help digest food. If what they mentioned is true, then it is among the harm and impurity for which it was forbidden. If it is not true, then the sensible person should trust in the news of Allah and His ruling regarding it that it is an impurity, believe in the prohibition of eating it, and submit to the ruling of Allah, for He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the One who created it and He knows best what He has placed in it[Al-Mulk 67:14] And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q 9: Why and when were intoxicants and eating pork forbidden?
A 9: First: It should be known that the Muslim’s affair regarding the commands of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and His prohibitions is one of submission and surrender, whether he understands the wisdom behind the command or prohibition or not, while holding the firm belief that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not command His servants except with what is in their benefit, and does not prohibit them except from what is harmful to them. What becomes apparent to him of the wisdom of a command or prohibition increases his faith, and what remains hidden from him likewise increases his faith through submission to Allah and trust in Him. Second: Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) forbade intoxicants because of the devastating harms they contain for the minds, for they cover them, meaning they veil them. Their prohibition was in the sixth year of the Hijrah, or it is said the fourth year, and Allah knows best. This was definitively established by the revelation of the words of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He):
O you who have believed, 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
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالأَنْصَابُ وَالأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُSo will you not desist?
فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُنْتَهُونَAs for eating pork, it was forbidden before the Hijrah, and its prohibition was revealed in the Meccan verses. A similar question to this one has previously been sent to the Permanent Committee, which answered it with the following text of the fatwa: Indeed, Allah has encompassed all things with knowledge, and His mercy, wisdom, and justice have encompassed all things. He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is All-Knowing of the interests of His servants, Merciful to them, Wise in His creation, management, and legislation. So He commanded them with what brings them happiness in this world and the Hereafter, made lawful for them what benefits them from the good things, and forbade them what harms them from the bad things. And Allah has forbidden all of the pig and informed that it is an impurity. He (the Exalted) said:
Say, "I do not find within that which was revealed to me [anything] forbidden to one who would eat it unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure - or it be [that slaughtered in] disobedience, dedicated to other than Allah
قُلْ لاَ أَجِدُ فِي مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ مُحَرَّمًا عَلَى طَاعِمٍ يَطْعَمُهُ إِلا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَيْتَةً أَوْ دَمًا مَسْفُوحًا أَوْ لَحْمَ خِنْـزِيرٍ فَإِنَّهُ رِجْسٌ أَوْ فِسْقًا أُهِلَّ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ بِهِprohibits for them the evil
وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَin the belly, and that it has an effect in weakening jealousy and destroying chastity, and that it has other harms such as difficulty in digestion, and preventing some organs from secreting their juices to help digest food. If what they mentioned is true, then it is among the harm and impurity for which it was forbidden. If it is not true, then the sensible person should trust in the news of Allah and His ruling regarding it that it is an impurity, believe in the prohibition of eating it, and submit to the ruling of Allah, for He (Glorified and Exalted is He) is the One who created it and He knows best what He has placed in it
Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?
أَلا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.