Islamists And Beer: Drinking Culture Clash

Alcohol is widely considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. However, this prohibition is not universally observed, and some Muslims do drink alcohol.

The consumption of alcohol is discouraged in the Quran, which refers to intoxicants as the abominations of Satan's handiwork. Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities also point to sayings of Prophet Muhammad and the negative effects of alcohol consumption as evidence of its forbidden status.

Despite this, some Muslims do consume alcohol, and it is available in some Islamic nations, albeit with varying regulations and restrictions. Historically, many Muslim elites consumed alcohol, and Muslim-majority countries continue to produce a variety of regional alcoholic beverages.

The permissibility of alcohol consumption among Muslims is a complex and nuanced issue, with some schools of thought adopting more relaxed attitudes than others.

Alcohol is forbidden in Islam because it is considered haram, or not halal

Alcohol is forbidden in Islam and is considered haram, or impermissible. Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities point to verses in the Quran, the Muslim holy book, that refer to intoxicants as "the work of Satan", instructing believers to avoid them.

The Quran took four revelations to Muhammad to give a complete prohibition on alcohol, with each revelation increasing in severity. The first revelation states that wine is a gift for humankind, while the second says that alcohol and gambling are sins but are still useful. The third revelation prohibits praying while drunk, and the fourth and final revelation states that wine, gambling, and idol worship are abominations of Satan.

The consumption of alcohol is believed to be destructive to the individual and their obligations to the community. If an individual were intoxicated, for example, they would be unable to go about their daily duties. It is also believed that blindly consuming alcohol to the point of intoxication can lead people to commit moral atrocities.

While the prohibition on alcohol in Islam is widely observed, not all Muslims abstain from drinking. Some drink privately, and some drink publicly. In a Pew Research Center survey, most people surveyed said that drinking alcohol was morally wrong. However, in 11 out of 37 countries, at least 10% of those surveyed said that drinking alcohol is morally acceptable.

Alcohol is available in some Islamic nations, although regulations vary. Some countries, like Saudi Arabia, outlaw alcohol altogether and impose punishments such as flogging, fines, imprisonment, and deportation for drinking. Other places, like Dubai, have a more relaxed approach, with many bars, nightclubs, and lounges. Alcohol sales can also be a significant source of tax revenue for some countries.

Muslims are forbidden from drinking alcohol because it clouds the intellect, gives the wrong message to children, causes forgetfulness of God and prayer, and can lead to crime

Alcohol is forbidden for Muslims because it clouds the intellect, gives the wrong message to children, causes forgetfulness of God and prayer, and can lead to crime.

The consumption of alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. The Quran, the Muslim holy book, calls intoxicants "the work of Satan" and instructs believers to avoid them. The Quran also instructs Muslims not to pray while intoxicated, as they may not know what they are saying.

The Prophet Muhammad instructed his followers to avoid any intoxicating substances, and warned that participating in the alcohol trade is forbidden. Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities cite the negative effects that alcohol can have, including clouding the intellect and causing forgetfulness of God and prayer.

The consumption of alcohol can also send the wrong message to children, and set a poor example for them. Furthermore, alcohol can increase the likelihood of crime and negative behaviours. For these reasons, Muslims are forbidden from drinking alcohol.

While the prohibition on alcohol in Islam is believed to be widely heeded, not all Muslims abstain from drinking. Some drink, whether privately or publicly. However, the majority of Muslims surveyed in a Pew Research Center poll said that drinking alcohol was morally wrong.

Alcohol derived from honey, wheat, barley or corn is haram when used as an intoxicant, but permissible for medical purposes

Drinking alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities typically point to a verse in the Quran that calls intoxicants "the work of Satan" and instructs believers to avoid them.

However, there are differing opinions on the permissibility of alcohol derived from certain substances. According to some sources, alcohol derived from honey, wheat, barley, or corn is haram when used as an intoxicant but may be permissible for medical purposes, hygiene, or perfumes.

Early Hanafi scholars, for example, restricted the definition of forbidden alcohol to the fermented juice of grapes or dates. As a result, some followers of Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf permitted alcohol derived from honey, barley, wheat, and millet, such as beer, whiskey, or vodka. This view, however, was in stark contrast to other schools of Islamic jurisprudence, which prohibit the consumption of alcohol in all its forms.

Over time, the Hanafi school embraced the general prohibition of all alcoholic beverages, falling in line with the other schools. Despite this, contemporary scholars have ruled that the prevalent perfumes, deodorants, and creams containing alcohol derived from substances other than grapes, dates, and barley, or synthetic alcohol, may be used externally but not orally.

It is important to note that the permissibility of alcohol for medical purposes is debated. While some scholars argue that alcohol can be used for medical treatment if it is not derived from grapes or dates and does not cause intoxication, others assert that treating diseases with haram substances, including alcohol, is forbidden in Islam.

The Quran does not prescribe a penalty for consuming alcohol, but Islamic law states that the punishment for drinking alcohol is flogging

Alcohol consumption is forbidden in Islam and is considered haram. Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities cite a verse in the Quran that calls intoxicants "the work of Satan" and instruct believers to avoid them.

Despite the prohibition, a minority of Muslims do drink alcohol, believing that consumption is not forbidden by the Quran. However, the Quran does not prescribe a penalty for drinking alcohol. Islamic law, or Shariah, states that the punishment for drinking alcohol is flogging, according to the consensus of jurists. The number of lashes varies according to different Islamic schools of jurisprudence, ranging from 40 to 80, depending on the person's status.

The punishment for drinking alcohol is derived from a hadith, or sayings of Prophet Muhammad, in which he prescribed 40 lashes "administered with two palm branches ... for someone accused of consuming alcohol". Another hadith reports that Muhammad flogged someone who had drunk wine with palm branches stripped of their leaves and with shoes.

In some Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia, drinking alcohol is punishable by flogging, fines, imprisonment, and deportation for foreigners. Other countries, like the United Arab Emirates, have a more relaxed approach, with bars, nightclubs, and lounges serving alcohol to residents and tourists in cities like Dubai.

While Islam forbids alcohol, not all Muslims abstain from drinking

While the Islamic faith prohibits the consumption of alcohol, not all Muslims abstain from drinking. Drinking alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Islamic scholars and Muslim religious authorities point to a verse in the Quran, the Muslim holy book, that calls intoxicants "the work of Satan" and instructs believers to avoid them.

However, a Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the world found that while most people surveyed said that drinking alcohol was morally wrong, in 11 out of 37 countries, at least one in ten people said that drinking alcohol is morally acceptable. In some countries, sizable percentages said that consuming alcohol is not a moral issue.

Historically, many Muslim elites consumed alcohol, including during the reign of the Umayyads, the Abbasids, Islamic Spain (al-Andalus), and dynasties that ruled Egypt and the eastern, Persianate half of the Muslim world.

Today, alcohol is available in some Islamic nations, although regulations vary widely, and there can be intricate rules and restrictions on its sale or consumption. Some countries, like Saudi Arabia, outlaw alcohol altogether. In other places, like Dubai, there is a more relaxed approach, with a variety of bars, nightclubs, and lounges.

Even in countries where alcohol is banned, some people go to great lengths to obtain it, sometimes risking arrest or worse. For example, in Saudi Arabia, there have been reports of people making liquor runs to neighboring Bahrain and attempting to smuggle bottles of whiskey hidden in socks and cans of beer disguised as Pepsi.

While the majority of Muslims abstain from alcohol, a minority of Muslims do drink and believe that consuming alcohol is not forbidden by the Quran.

Frequently asked questions