I was reading old email messages today, and stumbled upon my 2003 view of alcohol prohibition in Islam, as articulated to a non-Muslim friend. Here it is.
Alcohol.
The issue here is one that overarches all of the so-called 'rules' imposed by Islamic doctrine. The issue here is that of human fallibility, human responsibility, human accountability, and divine direction. We, as humans are fallible, we are prone to err and have a long history of abusing not only ourselves but others as well. In keeping with this fact, knowing that alcohol is permissible will increase temptation rather than limit it, thus setting us up (not all, granted) but indeed setting some of us up for failure. If we know that something is allowed, who is to stop us at one drink? What will stop us from drinking to the point of intoxication, which we all know has the potential to put us in very compromising situations? Why risk it?
My second point is about human responsibility. We as humans have been endowed with intellect, reason, logic and loads of potential. Therefore, God has commanded that we refrain from jeopardising that by exposing ourselves to ANYTHING harmful or that could limit our capacities at any given point in time. How are we to make the most of our gifts if we spend part of that time under the influence of alcohol or drugs?
Which leads me on to my next point. In Islam, every human is held accountable for his own actions and will be judged accordingly. There is no concept of a 'saviour'.
We will each bear the burdens of our own (and we can ourselves ask for forgiveness without need of a mediator). God hears and listens to us all. Therefore, by being out of control, however momentarily, through the influence of alcohol, how then can we be held accountable?
God has shown his mercy upon us by laying down some directions for us, some guiding principles for our own benefit. Tell me, if you were to honestly weigh up the pros and cons of having that one drink to the pros and cons of never having a drink at all, which is for our benefit, not just physically, but for our overall wellbeing?
Honestly, (and this not for you to respond to, but merely a question to think about), have you not ever been tempted to have more than a couple of drinks- to the point where you were no longer in control of your own behaviour?
