I am proud to be a Moderate British Muslim Christian who follows Jesus Christ.
Drinking a refreshing drink “Magnus” Pear Cider.

This is the most generally misconceived notion that is held by majority of the Muslim and non-Muslim population in the world. Let me address this subject and then open the forum for any intelligent discussion.

I am no scholar in Islamic history, Islamic law, Islamic jurisprudence and above all an expert in exegesis of holy scripture but can present you with facts and information that you can use to make your own determination on this subject.

The five Ayat (chapters) of the Quran that most directly address the consumption of alcohol are as follows:

1. They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin (dhanb), and some profit, for men; but the sin (dhanb) is greater than the profit.” (Quran : Al-Baqara; 2:219)

2. And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink and food: behold, in this also is a sign for those who are wise. (Quran : An-Nahl; 16:67)

3. O ye who believe! Approach not prayers with a mind befogged, until ye can understand all that ye say…. (Quran : An-Nisa; 4:43)

4. O ye who believe! Intoxicants (alkhamri) and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination, Of Satan’s handiwork: Eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. (Quran : Al Maeda; 5:90)

5. Satan’s plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God, and from prayer: Will ye not then refrain? (antummuntahoon). (Quran : Al-Maeda; 5:91)

Quran does not use the word “prohibition” in the context of alcohol (khMr) anytime, anywhere. KhMr is the arabic term used for anything that causes intoxication.

In other words, alcohol has not been categorized as “haram” in the Quran.

Only three things have been categorized as “haram“.

These are :

(a) animals that die of any basis other than being sacrificed and eat upon mentioning
in the name of Allah
(b) blood of animals
(c) flesh of pigs.

What occurs after the life of the Mohammad only has Fiqah (full comprehension) and its consequential effects as its context. Islamic history just as the rest of human history is a matter of who wanted what as they dictated frameworks of social control through evolutionary constructs or lack thereof.

If Quran is your reference, then this is what the Quran states. Everything that happens after the life of Mohammad only has Islamic history and Fiqah (full comprehension) as its context. Anything that happens outside the realm of the Quran has no bearing in the context of exegesis.

For those who understand Urdu and Arabic, the word for refrain used in the Quran is “ijtinab. And for those who are more fluent in spoken Hindi or Urdu vernacular, the word for refrain is “PrHaez“.

Just as a left handed glove does not become a right handed one by any and all forms of Euclidean motion, neither does “ijtinab” become “haram“, “prohibited” or “forbidden” by any cognitively developed exegesis.

I read the writings of “religious scholars” who suggest that certain ayat (passages) of the Quran are or have been “abrogated” in favor of others since the Quran was revealed over a significant time period.

If the Quran is divine text then each and every word revealed from Allah is to be treated with equal respect and understood with cognitively and analytically formulated exegesis. The Quran is not a constitutional framework where clauses and amendments are abrogated to suit the wants of some or to force the interpretation and explanation to fit the needs of others.

We have Scholars coming out of our ear holes an still sects, factions and varying opinions within Islam – something is not quite right.

Sin (dhanb) and Crime are two different matters. Sin is between you and the divine.

No mortal may punish another for sin. Let the divine deal with it when that time cometh.

Crime is what you commit through acts which are repugnant to just and equitable laws for all members of so society. Sin should not be conflated with crime.

“They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: “In them is great sin (dhanb) , and some profit, for men; but the sin (dhanb is greater than the profit.” (Quran : Al-Baqara; 2:219)

Still the Quran nowhere says that alcohol is haram.

We are to teach our children what God has taught us…That :

– Alcohol has benefits but it also has harmful effects (2:219).
– People can make a lawful trade from alcohol (16:67).
– If a person is intoxicated, he/she should never approach Salat (Prayer) whether it be spiritual or physical (4:43).
– The devil will attempt to utilize our consumption of alcohol in a negative way, so be extra careful from this potential weakness (5:90-91).
– In paradise we will also have alcohol, but without the negative side-effects/risks (47:15).

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Let see what the Bible has to say about Drunkenness : 

Although moderate use of alcohol is approved in the Bible, drunkenness is strongly opposed in both the Old and New Testaments:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. (Old Testament, Proverbs 20:1)

Woe to those who rise early in the morning that they may pursue strong drink, Who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them! Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the LORD, Nor do they consider the work of His hands. (Old Testament, Isaiah 5:11-12)

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. (New Testament, Luke 21:34)

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. (New Testament, Romans 13:13)

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. (New Testament, Ephesians 5:18)

Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (New Testament, Galatians 5:19-21)

Christian churches approve of moderate and responsible use of alcoholic beverages. Islamic Mosque need to be inspired by this and by their Holy Scriptures, there is always good & bad in all walks of society, let not judge the people with moderate values and let’s all integrate into society without these psychological oppressed beliefs that refashions many Islamic Muslims  in a man made inventions of HALAL (Permissible) & HARAAM (Impermissible).