Scientific Wisdom Behind Prohibitions: Alcohol

“يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ ” (البقرة:219).

“They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, ‘There is gross sin in them, and some benefits for people but their sinfulness outweighs their benefit’” (Qur’an, 2:219).

During the early days of Islam, consumption of liquor was prevalent. It was then prohibited by Islam gradually. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that alcohol initiates all offences against the laws of God.

People who get drunk suffer from slurred speech and impaired judgement and motor skills, among many other side effects. They then suffer from headaches, nausea and other unpleasant side effects (hangover).

About 2 billion people worldwide consume alcoholic drinks. Approximately 10% of social alcohol consumers become alcoholics.   It is estimated that over 76 million people are currently affected by dependence and abuse. Alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths a year, which represent 3.2% of all deaths worldwide.

Public offences

Alcohol was found to be closely associated with violent crimes, including murder, rape, assault, child and spousal abuse. In the USA, about 3 million violent crimes occur each year in which the offender was drunk.

Economic and social effects

• Alcohol abuse may lead to depression and suicide.
• It can lead to physical aggression e.g. slapping, hitting and beating of the other partner and children.
• Alcohol causes psychological abuse, e.g. humiliation and intimidation of the other partner and children.
• Heavy drinkers waste thousands of pounds on alcohol, they have fewer employment opportunities, and they suffer from their increased medical expenses.
• Heavy drinkers have lower performance and are more likely to have work accidents.

Effect on health

• Long-term alcohol abuse can cause serious health problems like:
• Liver damage, cirrhosis, and cancer.
• Damage to the ends of neurons, which affects nerve communication and may result in the loss of neurons in some parts of the brain, and memory problems, confusion, and paralysis of the eyes.
• It may damage the heart and increase the risk of experiencing strokes.
• It causes hypertension and 2% of the cases of coronary heart disease.
• It increases the risk of pancreatic inflammation and the development of diabetes.
• In women, it may affect the fetus negatively, leading to the birth of disabled children.

Alcohol in alcoholic drinks promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species which harm all our organs especially the liver.
Drunken people suffer from slurred speech and impaired motor skills and judgement. Alcohol can damage the dendrites of the brain cells.