Science - Prohibition of consuming intoxicants

Unfortunately the research on the effects of consuming alcoholic beverages on human body is greatly impacted by the beverage industry.  This is a pattern that is very much similar to what the cigarettes companies and sugar industry adopted.  

Alcohol is a poison such as Benzene and cigarettes. 

A robust 2018 study published in “The Lancet”  suggests the only truly “safe” level of drinking is zero!  The Lancet is a world-leading source of clinical, public health, and global health knowledge.

The World Health Organization states

• “Alcohol is a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties”
• “Alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people. Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease”
• “Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10% of all deaths in this age group”.

National Institute of Health (NIH) states: "Alcohol has been associated with violent crimes and domestic violence across many nations. Various etiological factors were linked to chronic alcohol use and violence including psychiatric comorbidities of perpetrators such as personality disorders, mood disorders, and intermittent explosive disorders. Aggression is the precursor of violence and individuals prone to aggressive behaviors are more likely to commit impulsive violent crimes, especially under the influence of alcohol. Findings from brain studies indicate long-term alcohol consumption induced morphological changes in brain regions involved in self-control, decision-making, and emotional processing."

Being a poison, alcohol causes oxidative stress on cells. The “Biological consequences of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae“ scientific paper published by NIH states “Oxidative damage, produced by intracellular ROS, results in DNA base modifications, single- and double-strand breaks, and the formation of apurinic/apyrimidinic lesions, many of which are toxic and/or mutagenic.” Recent studies have verified that oxidative stress can damage the sperm and egg leading to issues with the baby and long term diseases such as Autism.

The “American Addiction Centers” states: “Any amount of alcohol can affect your body’s health and wellness, and the risk starts from the moment you take a sip. An estimated 95,000 people (approximately 68,000 men and 27,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, with more than half of those deaths due to health effects like heart or liver disease from drinking too much over time.”

NIH states that alcohol consumption affects:

Brain - Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. 

Heart - Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems including Cardiomyopathy (Stretching and drooping of heart muscle), Arrhythmias, Irregular heartbeat, Stroke, and High blood pressure. 

Liver - Heavy drinking takes a toll on the liver, and can lead to a variety of problems and liver inflammations including Steatosis (or fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis, Fibrosis, and Cirrhosis.

Pancreas - Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis, a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion. 

Cancer - According to the National Cancer Institute: "There is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer. Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and increased risks of certain types of cancer:

• Head and neck cancer, including oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx cancers.
• Esophageal cancer, particularly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, people who inherit a deficiency in an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol have been found to have substantially increased risks of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma if they consume alcohol.
• Liver cancer.
• Breast cancer: Studies have consistently found an increased risk of breast cancer in women with increasing alcohol intake. Women who consume about 1 drink per day have a 5 to 9 percent higher chance of developing breast cancer than women who do not drink at all.
• Colorectal cancer.

Immune System - Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

Some of the Short-Term Health Risks are

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
• Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.
• Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
• Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.

Some of the Long-Term Health Risks are:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.
• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.
• Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick.
• Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.
• Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.
• Social problems, including family problems, job-related problems, and unemployment.
• Alcohol use disorders, or alcohol dependence.

Qur'an - Prohibition of consuming intoxicants

The Holy Qur'an addresses the prohibition of intoxicants, encompassing substances that have the potential to intoxicate, such as alcoholic drinks and recreational drugs. These verses were revealed gradually over a span of 13 years. Ultimately, verses 5:90-91 proclaimed the complete ban. The Holy Qur'an employs a step-by-step approach in addressing various issues, including the matter of drinking and gambling. Society needed to be educated and prepared in order to reach a point where they would be receptive to Allah's final command. It is essential for wisdom and belief to be nurtured and developed over time before individuals can be expected to fully control their desires. Certain prerequisites must be met incrementally before society is ready to embrace a complete prohibition. The drinking ban also falls within this category. History reveals the deep entanglement of the Arab society 1400 years ago with alcohol. Historical records clearly illustrate the difficulty they faced in accepting this ban, even after 13 years of preparation.

The Arabic term ٱلْخَمْرِ  in the verses derives from the root meaning "to cover," "to hide," and "to isolate oneself from intelligent thinking." In both old and modern Arabic, it specifically denotes beverages that induce intoxication. Nevertheless, it is evident from Quranic verses that the Holy Quran encompasses any substance capable of causing intoxication and clouding the mind. Our intelligence and wisdom are what distinguishes us from animals, and Islam assigns utmost significance to human wisdom and intellect. By consuming alcohol, we directly impede our wisdom and impair our ability to make sound decisions.

The different tribes engaged in continuous and brutal warfare against each other. These savage acts had such a profound impact on the Arabs that they sought solace in drinking. They would turn to alcohol in order to forget the atrocities they had committed and to prepare themselves for future acts of cruelty. This is precisely why they referred to alcoholic beverages as "khamr". Intoxication provided a cover for their guilt, clouding their minds and inhibiting their ability to confront the cruelty and crimes of war. Alongside drinking, they also indulged in womanizing and poetry as forms of entertainment. Furthermore, the alcoholic beverages market played a significant role in the economy. Many scholars argue that, among all the verses commanding or forbidding certain actions, the verses concerning drinking in chapter 5 of the Holy Quran, specifically verses 90 and 91, posed the greatest challenge for the people of that time to accept. Even some of the prophet's companions struggled to embrace the message conveyed in those verses.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination,- of Satan's handwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.  5:90

Let us now examine the aforementioned verse. In this verse, Allah unites four elements and deems them equally significant: intoxication, gambling, idolatry, and thoughtless actions or decisions guided by chance rather than wisdom. Initially, these four factors all lead to a loss of faith and a neglect of our relationship with our creator. Furthermore, they have an impact on our lives within society. God attributes all of these to the insidious whispers of Satan. Towards the end of the verse, the Holy Quran urges humanity to alter their mindset and way of life, in order to avoid proximity to these four vices and attain both worldly and eternal goodness. It is worth noting how the Qur'an groups these four sins together.

Satan, along with his descendants, manifests as a kind of unseen beings. As per the Holy Qur'an, Satan displayed disobedience towards Allah's command due to his arrogance during the story of Adam (refer to the "Articles" section). This act marked the initiation of original sin. Consequently, Satan was cursed but granted respite until the Day of Judgement. He and his descendants possess the ability to subtly influence our thoughts, aiming to prove their superiority over humans and create a divide between us and the Creator. This interaction between Satan and humanity serves as a testing ground for our personal growth. Through the application of our wisdom and discernment, we have the choice to either succumb to Satan's whispers or elevate ourselves, drawing closer to Allah. In the following verse, the role of Satan and intoxicants is explained:

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ 

Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?  5:91

One of the earlier verses (in Mecca) about drinking and gambling is below. Again, it is clear that the society was addicted to intoxication and gambling since people were asking the prophet about it. In response, this verse is revealed to answer the questions! 

The root of Arabic word إِثْمٌ  means “detrimental”, “harmful”, “damaging”.   Indeed, intoxication and gambling are grave transgressions; however, the true magnitude of their sinfulness arises from the adverse outcomes and detrimental effects they bring. The Quran acknowledges that there may be slight advantages associated with them. Undoubtedly, one may derive financial or other benefits from engaging in such activities. Yet, when contemplating a purchase or embarking on a business venture, it is customary to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages before reaching a final verdict. Would you ever contemplate acquiring an over-the-counter dry skin cream, fully aware that it could lead to cancer?!
 
The Holy Quran also mentions that there exists a limited advantage in engaging in these activities. Perhaps one may derive financial or other forms of benefit from them. However, when it comes to making crucial decisions such as purchasing an item or starting a business, we typically evaluate the positives and negatives of the arrangement prior to reaching a final verdict. Would you ever contemplate consuming a medication with numerous adverse effects and minimal advantages? Would you acquire a vehicle plagued by mechanical and safety concerns solely due to your fondness for its color? The Quran advises us that the detriments associated with drinking and gambling far outweigh their limited benefits.



يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask you how much they are to spend; Say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus does Allah Make clear to you His Signs: In order that you may consider  2:219

Below, Verse 7:33 also mentions the word  إِثْمٌ   (“detrimental”, “harmful”, “damaging”)  and basically says anything that is considered   إِثْمٌ    is forbidden. This is the same word that is used to describe drinking and gambling in Verse 2:219! 

قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْفَوَٰحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلْإِثْمَ وَٱلْبَغْىَ بِغَيْرِ ٱلْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِۦ سُلْطَـٰنًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

Say: the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are: shameful deeds, whether open or secret; sins and trespasses against truth or reason; assigning of partners to Allah, for which He has given no authority; and saying things about Allah of which you have no knowledge 7:33

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that intoxication is the root of all harm & wickedness. 

The 6^th Imam Jafar Al Sadegh (AS) said that Allah has placed drinking and idolatry at the same level.

The 12^th Imam (AS) said, each and every prophet appointed by Allah has prohibited people from drinking.

Below, please see a scientific video by Dr. Andrew Huberman who is a tenured professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine.



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