Intoxicants and gambling (L-278)
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يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ 219a. |
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219a. Wa yas-‘aluunaka ‘anil-khamri
wal-maysir. |
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219a. They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. |
‘Al-khamri – (strong drink), khamr means to cover any thing. The veil is named as khumaar because it covers the women’s head. Wine is called Khamr too because it conceals the human sense and the senses of the mankind do not remain in order. Besides the grapes and dates, every such thing is called khamr which provides intoxication.
‘Al-maysir – (games of chance, gambling), this word has vast meanings also and it covers all kinds of the games of chance; whether those have any form or name.
Before Islam, the strong drink and games of chance were common traditions in the Arab. Every individual, little or elder, used to drink wine so much that it was like a medicine for children (Ghutti), and the gambling had uncountable sorts. As a result of these both things, the disorder in sexual relationship, financial difficulties, and plague of oppression and exorbitance had been spreading, but there was none to think about this condition. The people had sold their wisdom in exchange to these things.
It has been described concerning some Companions (May God be pleased with them) that they asked personally from the Messenger of God (ﷺ) the order about strong drink and games of chance because these both things ruin the sense and wealth. It was necessary to grow the disgust among the Companions (May God be pleased with them) about these impure and addled things due to the company and teachings of the Prophet (ﷺ). They had understood that the things like wine and gambling are impediment in the way of getting those goodnesses and virtues which are commanded in Islam, because purpose of these Commandments is to produce purity, goodness and foresightedness in our hearts. Contrary to it, the sense is lost due to strong drink and games of chance, the individual becomes habitual to abuse others, tendency is produced toward the stench and the passion inclines to fornication.
The Israelite Prophets (Peace be upon them) commanded to their followers also that strong drink and games of chance were unlawful, but their followers could not refrain despite the forbidden. At last, Islam has narrated clearly about their badness that today the drunkard and gambler are seen with hatred eyes so much that perhaps none other evil-doer or sinner is seen in the Muslim community.
It is the first verse in which use of strong drink has been forbidden. From here, the recitation about unlawful use of wine and games of chance begins.
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