Why Islam (Justifiably) Forbids Drinking

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 22 May 2024 "The Only Radical Remedy I Know For Dipsomania Is Religiomania Because Fire Puts Out Fire And Iron Cuts Iron. Transit From One Mania To Another Equally Powerful Mania Could Be A Potent Solution. " American Psychologist William James "Jise Kahte Hain Log Ummul-Khabais/ Rahe Un Ke Usi Se Rishte-Naate" Anwar Shuoor (Though people call it the mother of all evils/ They often hobnob with it) Two recent road accidents in Patiala and Poona in quick succession snuffed out six young lives in their early 20s. In Poona's mishap, one 17-yr-old inebriated son of an obscenely rich realtor, driving his Porsche at a breakneck speed, mowed down two motorcycle-borne youngsters. All these people had drinks while partying and behaved recklessly at the wee hours which highlights the negative influence of drinking. Alcohol has a liberating influence on the senses and neurologically speaking, it hyper-activates neurons and brain cells. You know, why is drinking prohibited in Islam? That many Muslims also drink a lot is immaterial. It's haram (prohibited) in Islam because it influences your thinking and makes you do things, which you won't do when you're in your element. There's no denying the fact that most of the drinkers lose their marbles and behave quite uncontrollably after gulping down one or two pegs. The word 'Sharaab' is an Arabic word. It's the combination of 'Shar+Aab' (Shar=Vices+ Aab=Water; water that begets vices). There's yet another term for it in Arabic: Ummul-Khabais (Ummul=Mother+Khabais=Vices and ills; Mother of all vices). We've seen how drinking has resulted in loss of lives. It also culminates in loss of self-respect. "Be-Qaaboo Ho Jaata Hoon Jab Bhi Peeta Hoon/ Go Aadat Hai Buri, Phir Bhi Ghulaam Ban Jaata Hoon" (I tend to act uncontrollably/ I know it's a bad habit, yet I'm slave to drinking). Since drinking tends to make a drinker uninhibited, he/she acts, reacts and responds in a manner that's often unbecoming of the person's dignity. You may have noticed that many people start talking too much and also incoherently after drinking. There's an old and rather condescending English adage that 'lowly people (people of England at that time) start conversing in French after consuming alcohol'. The logic behind this old English adage is that there was a time (14th to 16th centuries), when French was the language of the elites across entire Europe and English was the language of petty thieves and pirates. By the way, English is still justifiably called the language of pirates and Vikings in aristocratic French societies. And it's called a patois by the French and German snobs. People with inferiority complex tried to converse in French after getting liberated, thanks to drinking. The same happens in India. Here, many people, esp. rustic and loutish types, start conversing in English after gulping down the ' bitter ale.' Many drinkers drink to hide their deep-seated inferiority complex and there're also many, who try to caress their over-bloated ego by drinking and behaving in an unruly fashion. There's no use drinking, abusing and making a fool of oneself when hemmed in by people. As an alcoholic, you'll violate your standards quicker than you can lower them. It's embarrassing for all and it only shows the frivolity of the person and causes others to opine: 'Ise Sharaab Pachti Nahin' (this man cannot remain in senses after drinking). Remember the words of Roman statesman Seneca, " Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness." So, stay away from this vice. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/drinking-alcohol-ummul-khabais/d/132361 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism