Strong Drink And Games Of Chance

LESSON # 253 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

Strong Drink And Games Of Chance

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse –219a    of  286, Section – 27 (Part - 2)

They question thee about strong drink and games of chance.

Wa  yas-‘aluunaka  ‘anil-khamri  wal-maysir.

Lesson

‘An – (about) about the Divine Order, lawful and unlawful

‘Al-khamri – (strong drink) khamr means to cover any thing. The veil is named as khumaar because it covers the women’s head. The Wine has been called as Khamr too because it conceals the human sense and the senses of the mankind does not remain in order. Besides the grapes and dates every that thing is called khamr which provides intoxication.

‘Al-maysir – ((gambling) this word has also vast meanings and it covers all kinds of the games of chance whether those have any shape or name.

Before Islam the strong drink and games of chance had common tradition in the Arab. Every person, little or elder, used to drink wine so more 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 tyranny and exorbitance had been spread, but there was none to think about this condition. The people had sold their wisdom in exchange to these things.

It has been stated about some Companions (may God be pleased with them) that they asked personally the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) the order about strong drink and games of chance because these things ruin the sense and wealth. It was necessary to grow the disgust in the Companions (may God be pleased with them) about these impure and addled things due to the company and teachings of the Prophet of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). They had understood that the things like wine and gambling are impediment in the way of getting those goodness and virtues which are commanded in Islam, because the purpose of these orders is to be produced the purity, goodness and foresightedness in our hearts. Contrary to it the sense is lost due to the strong drink and games of chance, the person becomes habitual to abuse others, tendency is produced toward the filth and the temperament inclines to fornication.

The Israelite Prophets (peace be upon them) also commanded their followers that strong drink and games of chance were unlawful, but their followers could not refrain despite the prohibition. At last the Islam has narrated clearly their badness that today the drunkard and gambler are seen with hatred sight as much that perhaps none other evil-doer and sinner is seen in the Muslim community.  

It is the first verse in which strong drinking has been forbidden. From here the recitation about unlawful use of the wine and games of chance begins.

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’aan published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)