Jalees Ahmad & Jazib Mehmood, Al Hakam
Although we’ve read far too much about how alcohol can adversely harm our bodies, it is clear that many don’t consider it enough. The BBC recently reported that a top US doctor called for cancer warning labels to be put on alcoholic drinks. They said that over “the last two decades, countries have increasingly introduced warning labels to inform consumers about the health risks of alcohol.” (“US top doctor calls for cancer warnings on alcohol”, bbc.co.uk, 3 January 2025)
In recent years, countries like South Korea have introduced cancer warnings on alcohol. Canada has now limited alcohol to two drinks per week, while the US and UK set stricter daily and weekly guidelines. (Ibid.)
Similarly, in 2026, Ireland will become the first country in the world to introduce an “alcohol health labelling policy”. This will “alert people to calorie content, grams of alcohol, risks of cancer and liver disease and dangers of drinking while pregnant.” (“Ireland to introduce world-first alcohol health labelling policy”, www.theguardian.com, 22 May 2023)
This is certainly not an overreaction. According to the WHO website, alcohol or ethanol “causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer.” (“No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health”, www.who.int, 28 December 2022)
Alcohol also affects women differently. According to National Geographic, as the gender gap in drinking narrows, alcohol-related complications in women are rising. From immune system disorders to breast cancer, it is clear that women process alcohol differently and that means that in recent years, alcohol is killing more women than ever before. (“Alcohol is killing more women than ever before”, www.nationalgeographic.com, 22 August 2023)
That’s just the health concern. There are other concerns too. Many are addicted to alcohol and drink to drown their sorrows. A popular example in the recent past is Tom Holland, who spoke candidly about how he felt “enslaved” to alcohol. “I just sort of said to myself, like, ‘Why? Why am I enslaved to this drink? Why am I so obsessed by the idea of having this drink?’” (“Tom Holland says he felt ‘enslaved’ to alcohol”, www.bbc.com, 11 July 2023)
But drinkers are just as determined to skew the research in their favour. Some say it’s not too bad if taken in small amounts. They say moderate alcohol consumption “may lower stress” and “reduce heart disease risk.” (“Moderate alcohol consumption may lower stress, reduce heart disease risk, study finds”, independent.co.uk 13 June 2023)
But it’s so painfully obvious that this is not the case. An op-ed put it rather frustratingly: “Enthusiastic drinkers, drowning in a dark sea of health warnings, will cling on to such words as stricken sailors might hold on to the hull of their capsized boat.” (“Drinking alcohol is bad for you – end of. Ignore the headlines that claim otherwise”, www.theguardian.com, 14 June 2023)
And so, it seems, the world is slowly beginning to “sober up,” placing rules, regulations, and restrictions in place. However, they are still far behind Islam which banned this mind-numbing, mental blinder, perception muter substance known as alcohol 1,400 years ago.
Islam’s clear stance against alcohol
To get a better overview of what Islam says about alcohol and its prohibition, we must rewind to pre-Islamic Arabia, where alcohol was extremely rooted in Arabian culture; they consumed it five times a day and it was a common part of gatherings.
Even before Islam prohibited it, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa never consumed alcohol and discouraged it, even though many companions would also drink. However, incidents linked to alcohol’s harmful impacts, such as improper conduct and recitation of the Quran during prayer, highlighted its dangers.
Many disliked the act of drinking, and, although the Holy Prophetsa disapproved of alcohol, it was, to begin with, not initially forbidden by Islamic law. The desire for an assertive ruling on alcohol rose among the early followers of Islam, especially after incidents linked to intoxication.
After the Battle of Uhud, a divine revelation categorically prohibited alcohol in Islam. The Holy Quran clearly states: “They ask thee concerning wine and the game of hazard. Say: ‘In both there is great sin and also some advantages for men; but their sin is greater than their advantage.’” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.220)
The word “wine” in the Quran is used as الخمر. The word الخمر comes from خمر, meaning to cover or conceal. Wine is called خمر because it covers the intellect and numbs the senses.
Note how this verse follows on from the subject of war. The Holy Quran, after discussing war, turns to wine, alcohol, and gambling, which are linked to war. In pre-Islamic Arabia, wine was a means to fund wars and rouse courage. (Five Volume Commentary, Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.220)
When Muslims asked the Holy Prophetsa about these practices, Islam refused both alcohol and gambling due to their greater harm, stating: “‘their sin is greater than their advantage.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.220)
Islam forbids alcohol because its harmful consequences and results outweigh any benefits, unlike other religions that don’t fully prohibit it. “It is worthy of note that of all religions, Islam alone has forbidden the use of wine. In Hinduism, drinking forms an essential part of certain religious ceremonies. Judaism does not seem to prohibit drinking, because nowhere has the Bible declared it to be unlawful; while according to the New Testament, the very first miracle which Jesus showed was that he turned water into wine for the use of a marriage party (John 2:7-9).” (Five Volume Commentary, Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.220)
In another verse of the Holy Quran, we read:
“O ye who believe! wine and the game of hazard and idols and divining arrows are only an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. So shun each one of them that you may prosper.” (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.91)
The Promised Messiahas, commenting on this verse, said that when people become blind due to prejudice and sinful life, they can no longer differentiate between right and wrong. They consider everything that is halal (permissible) as haram (forbidden) and vice versa. They do not hesitate even a little to abandon good deeds. Alcohol, which is the mother of all evils, is considered permissible by Christians, but in our Sharia (Islamic law), it is strictly forbidden, and it is described as “rijs” (filth) from the work of Satan. (Al Hakam, 17 June 1903, p. 17; Tafsir Hazrat Masih-e-Maud, Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.91)
Huzooras further states that, consequently, the widespread consumption of alcohol has created new crimes in Europe daily. Gambling leads to the loss of rights, and with alcohol consumption, other sins like adultery and murder are almost inevitable. As far as we know from the testimonies of criminals, alcohol consumption promotes adultery. Thus, alcohol consumption is ranked number one in Europe at the moment, and so is adultery. (Ibid.)
It is essential to note how Allah explains the wisdom as to why acts, such as drinking and gambling, are forbidden. Thus, as evident from the two verses, Allah explains that while wine and gambling may offer some temporary benefits, their harmful effects – such as impairing judgment, promoting sin, and distancing individuals from righteousness – far outweigh any advantages, making them actions to be avoided altogether.
The real price of alcohol
And so, society must now put their pints down and confront the long-overdue question: what is the real price of alcohol? Sure, you may pay a sum and buy it off the counter, but the cost is far greater than what you pay.
With the recent article published on the BBC, it’s clear that the strong link between alcohol and cancer, which causes around 100,000 cases and 20,000 deaths annually, should stop everyone from drinking, as no amount of alcohol is safe for consumption.
However, knowing about the ill effects of alcohol is not anything new; they have been identified for centuries. It causes bodily harm, such as liver damage, and addiction, and contributes to social issues like violence and broken families.
It’s easy for anyone to pull out and display any statistics that show how harmful alcohol is – from health issues to the death toll, to drinking and driving accidents. However, since this topic has been discussed for many years and this may not be the first time you’ve read about how Islam prohibited alcohol from the very beginning, I shall finish this article here and leave you with a question: What is the true cost of alcohol in your life, beyond just the numbers?