Is it permissible to consume a small quantity as it is not intoxicating? It is not allowed to consume alcohol even in small quantities, including confectionery, or in meals that are cooked with alcohol, as the alcohol does not all evaporate, including in dishes which are flambé, as the alcohol remains after it has been…
Alcohol clouds the brain Allah Almighty called alcohol Khamr (intoxicant) in Surat un-Maidah from ‘cover’. Khimar means head cover*. Therefore khamra is something which covers, clouds and befuddles the brain. When someone is intoxicated they cannot think clearly, their mind is fogged. They can’t function properly. Allah Almighty’s prohibition is clear: O you who have believed,…
The prohibition of alcohol was introduced gradually. It happened in stages. This is gradualism. As Islam was revealed over 23 years, the dos and dont’s were not delivered in a single complete package as we have now. Rather, a process of transforming hearts, minds and social practices took place as the verses were revealed bit…
Desire is normal The instinct which Allah Almighty created in us makes it very easy for us to be tempted by the opposite sex. This is our nature and how we function and what makes us balanced and human. If we did not feel desire, it is not normal and we would need help to…
The majority of food is halal The list of what is haram is not long. In fact, Allah Almighty is saying that everything is halal except the few things which are prohibited. There are 10 prohibitions mentioned in the Quran and some more from the Sunnah – all in all not more than 20 things….
The Concept of Gradualism Tadarruj or gradualism is the introduction of a concept over a period of time so that it is not overwhelming in the first instance. Though we have all the rulings now, and see Islam as black and white package of halal and haram, it is worth remembering that the Quran was…
What Prevents Us from Submitting? And who would be averse to the religion of Abraham except one who makes a fool of himself. And We had chosen him in this world, and indeed he, in the Hereafter, will be among the righteous. (2:130) The Core of Deen brought by all Prophets is the Same. Allah…
What are the rulings about Alcohol in Islam? It is unthinkable for governments today to ban alcohol. The US tried it in the 1920s but found prohibition created a new wave of problems than those it was to eradicate. Often there is confusion surrounding the ayahs concerning alcohol in the Qur’an – is it haram,…