Alcohol, the mother of every evil...

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection

The Declining Day (Al-'Asr)
1. By the declining day,
2. Lo! Man is in a state of loss,
3. Save those who believe and do good works, and exhort 
one another to truth and exhort one another to endurance.

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REGARDING the latest issue of alcohol on flights, hopefully this 'little experience of mine' and my two sen worth opinion would be given a thought especially during this blessed month of Ramadan.

I had been to India two times; during both stays I used domestic airliners to travel the vast country - to my surprise Indian local flights banned passengers from drinking and smoking - they made the announcement 'very loud and clear' before the planes took-off.

They mentioned 'drinking' first before 'smoking'...thus in my opinion they were 'very particular' and 'concerned' about the risk of passengers being drunk on board...

That's the 'thinking' of 'some' top brass in India, but in our beloved self confessed top Islamic nation on the planet, a top corporate leader have this to say: "MAS (our national carrier) is a commercial airline and is used by all races, regardless of their religious beliefs.

“It does not only fly Muslims or Malays. It flies all nationalities. MAS is trying to fly as many people as they can (to make profit),” the Muslim corporate figure was quoted saying.

Indian planes too do not fly Indians only; well if MAS continues to serve alcohol on its planes..okay that is 'your business' but remember you are answerable to God. To Muslims please 'absorb' these warnings regarding alcohol from our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. especially during this holy month of Ramadan. If you could follow Allah SWT's orders on 'siyam' (fasting), isn't the prohibition on alcohol is also from Him?

In a 'hadith' the Prophet s.a.w. said: “Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed.” (Bukhari: Book 26, Number 3666)

“Every intoxicant is prohibited. God has made a covenant regarding those who consume intoxicants to give them to drink the discharge (of the inhabitants of Hell)!”  - Muslim

In Islam, alcohol is the mother of every evil - it is perhaps useful to have readers ponder over the following well-known story; well-known at least to many a cautious Muslim.

Once upon a time, a bad woman invited a good man to bad deeds.  The man, fearing God, flatly refused.  But, determined not to let her prey escape, the woman offered him one of three choices, each one more dastardly than the other: to consume alcohol, to commit adultery, or to murder her child from a previous marriage.  If the man refused, she would cry rape.  

So, after having pondered his predicament, the pious man chose what he reckoned to be the lesser of the three evils.  However, upon taking the alcohol, the man became drunk and then, under the influence of his brain-killing beverage, he killed the child and committed adultery with the wicked woman.

Ponder, and then consider how easily you yourself could degenerate as a human being if, that is, you too were to embrace 'the mother of every evil'.

In a 'hadith' Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. says: "Jealousy, pride and alcohol are the roots of all the evils." Yes, drinking (alcohol) is the root of all evil but not many people; not even those in power were willing to admit it and take steps to recitify the problem. 

Please admit that alcohol not only destroys its consumer but everything of him – his house, family and wealth. Note that Islam values the moral and spiritual health of the people as well as their physical well-being. This is why Islam considers anything which interferes with the normal working of the mind and senses or clouds or perception as harmful. It is because of this and several other reasons that Islam has totally prohibited substances like alcohol and all other intoxicants (drugs etc) which can destroy the clarity of mind. 

Unfortunately many Muslims today do not value their moral, spiritual or physical well being as they have turned to alcohol, drugs and other intoxicants which Islam has clearly prohibited. Now the Muslim ummah has morally decline. 

In Malaysia, ‘haram’ (forbidden) drinks are sold openly in convenience stores including those situated in Muslims densely populated areas. Nowadays 'our boys' could have their 'happy hours boozing away' and some 'add the kicks' by trying 'dadah' (drugs). Who actually cares about them?

Regarding alcohol and all other intoxicants; Allah SWT says in the Qur'an: (1) “They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say “in them there is great sin, and some profit for mankind, but the sin is greater than the profit.” (2:219) 

(2) “O you who believe. Approach not prayers, with a mind befogged, until you can understand all that you say” (4:43) 

(3) “O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Avoid such (abomination) that you may prosper” (5:90) 

(4) “Shaytaan’s plan is to show enmity and hatred amongst you with intoxicants and gambling, and to hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not then give up?” (5:91) 

Hence all intoxicants which are drunk, smoked and chewed are forbidden by Allah SWT in every sense. 

What Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has to say about wine and intoxicants? Anas r.a. said: “I was giving drink to people in the abode of Abu Talhah, and their wine at that time was made from dates. Then the Messenger of Allah, ordered a crier to make it known that wine was forbidden.” He added: “Abu Talhah said to me, ‘Get out and pour in out’. I poured it out, and it flowed in the streets of Medina.” 

‘A’isha said: “The Messenger of Allah was asked about it.” It is a drink made of honey and the people of Yemen used to drink it. So the Messenger of Allah said, “Every drink that intoxicates is prohibited.” 

Of whatever thing a large quantity intoxicates, even a small quantity is prohibited. Do not drink wine, for it is the root of all evil. 

Abu Hurairah relates that a drunkard was brought to the Holy Prophet who ordered people to beat him. Abu Hurairah says: “Some of us beat him with hands and others with shoes and still others with their clothes. When he was gone, some people cried; “May God harm him!’ The Holy Prophet said: “Do not say like that, and let not Satan overpower him.” 

The question is why our Malaysian society does not look upon drinking alcohol as a serious crime? Not long ago, I read an interesting article entitled ‘The alcohol problem in Malaysia’.

Among others it was written: “Malaysia, though a small country, is the tenth largest consumer of alcohol in the world. Each year Malaysians spend over US$500 million (nearly RM2 billion) on alcohol. Whilst the per capita consumption is 7 litres, those who do drink alcohol consume heavily.

“Among the drinking population, the Malaysian Indians who make up about 8 per cent of the population are by far the heaviest drinkers with an annual consumption of absolute alcohol exceeding 14 litres. Beer consumption in Malaysia at 11 litres per capita is comparable to that of European countries known for their high consumption. 

“The easy availability of alcoholic drinks in coffee shops, supermarkets, sundry shops (including convenient 24 hours stores), and plantations together with aggressive advertising and promotions are driving Malaysians to drink. The average age for alcohol dependence is 22 years.”

Subhanallah, Malaysia, self proclaimed the most dynamic Islamic nation on the planet was the 10th largest consumer of alcohol in the world! Perhaps that's why MAS can't be 'separated' from alcohol...