-Alcohol can never become pure.
Ibn Al-Uthaymeen
explains that this is the view of the Madhab.
Alcohol in
the Shareeah is any beverage that intoxicates. Alcohol is Haraam by the Quraan,
the Sunnah and Ijmaa of the Muslims. It is something so well-known that the
scholars of the past stated that anyone who denies this is a Kaafir, there is
no excuse for him as it is something so well-known.
Ibn al-Uthaymeen
states that the opinion of the Hanablees and the majority is that alchohol is
physically impure (Najis). It is also the opinion of Ibn Taymiyyah.
They quoted
as evidence:
-The Statement of Allaah, the
Most High, “O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of
alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansab , and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan's (Satan)
handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be
successful . ”
[5:90]
-Also, “Say (O Muhammad
): "I find not in that which has been
inspired to me anything forbidden to be eaten by one who wishes to eat it,
unless it be Maytatah (a dead animal) or blood poured forth (by slaughtering or the
like), or the flesh of swine (pork, etc.) for that surely is impure, or impious
(unlawful) meat (of an animal) which is slaughtered as a sacrifice for others
than Allah (or has been slaughtered for idols, etc., or on which Allah's Name
has not been mentioned while slaughtering). But whosoever is forced by
necessity without wilful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits, (for him)
certainly, your Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."” [6:145]
The point here is that something may be pure
and then becomes impure because of a characteristic, a characteristic here is
intoxication.
-“ and their Lord will give them a pure drink.” [Insaan: 21]
Meaning, in Jannah intoxicants
are pure but in the Dunya it is not.
Others were
of the opinion that alcohol is pure, even if it is an intoxicant. They quoted:
-There is no clear proof to suggest
that it is impure.
-It may be that something is Haraam but not impure, such as poison.
-Hadeeth of Anas that when alcohol
was made Haraam, the Companions poured it out their vessels to the extent that
alcohol was pour down the streets of al-Madeenah. [al-Bukhaaree (2464) and
Muslim (1980)]
It is well-known that it is Haraam
to pollute the streets and pavements with impurities or something that may harm
passers-by.
Historians stated that the pavements
at the time of al-Madeenah during the Prophets time were approximately seven
arm-spans apart [see: Fath al-Baaree (5/118)], thus they weren’t very wide. So
it is likely that alcohol was flowing the pavements of al-Madeenah whilst
people were walking through it[1].
-As for the Aayaat quoted then the
meaning is referring to the effects and not that it is impure in and of itself.
We know this because of the Statement, “Min Amal Shaytan (the handiworks of
Shaytan)”
-As for the Aayah in Surah al-Insaan,
“a pure drink”, then this is referring to the Akhirah, not the Dunya.
Even if argue that this Aayah refers
to alcohol being pure/impure, then again we are talking about its
characteristics as Allaah Says, “Neither they will
have Ghoul (any kind of hurt, abdominal pain, headache, a sin,
etc.) from that, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom” [Saffaat:47] meaning everything in
Jannah is pure and doesn’t lead to negative characteristics.
-If we say that the Aayah in Surah
al-Insaan refers to alcohol being impure in the Dunya, then we can
counter-argue that in Jannah they will be given drinks of water, milk and honey
also; so can we say water, milk and honey are also impure?
The latter opinion here is the one favoured by Ibn al-Uthaymeen.
NOTE: It is possible that the correct opinion contradicts the majority.
This is because Allaah, the Most High, has Commanded us to follow His Book and
the Sunnah – so if we differ, this becomes our referred point and not the
opinion of the majority.
[1/428-432]
And Allah Knows best
[1]
TN: It is narrated on the
authority of Aboo Hurayrah that the Prophet commanded that the walk-ways be
made seven arm-spans wide (approx. 3.5 meters). [Reported by Aboo Dawood
(3633), at-Tirmidhee (1356) and Ibn Maajah (2338) and classed as Saheeh by
al-Albaanee]
No comments:
Post a Comment