Pre-islamic Age of Ignorance: The custom of drinking wine was very common. Poets would always talk about the feast of drinking, and drinking was a big part of their literature. The greatest pleasure for the men of Jahiliyya was drinking. For them, wine was the supreme gift of fortune. They drank constantly. They were both proud and proud of drinking the wine they wanted. Large sums of money were spent on wine.[672]

Drinking was extremely common. They were so addicted to drinking that there were about 100 names of alcohol in Arabic. In their poems, they depicted all kinds of drink and their tables. In Medina, a drink called Fadih, which was made from palm grove and dates, was used. Wine was also made from grapes. The people of Yemen produced a drink called Bit’ made from honey. The people of Yemen had another drink called Mizr made from barley or corn. They also made another drink called Gubayrâ from wheat and millet. The same drink was also called Sükreke.[673]

ISLAM: Satan wishes to sow enmity and hatred among you through drink and gambling, and to keep you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. Are you not putting an end to them now? Obey Allah and the Prophet and avoid disobeying them. If you turn away from this directive, know that the Prophet’s duty is only to announce clearly.”[674]

TODAY: Today, drinking is a very common custom, and many poets and vocal artists in their literature also show the solution of their troubles as drinking. On the basis of the bases that invite people to drink such as fatelessness, bad luck, misfortune, inability to love and meet, incomprehensibility, misfortune, they serve to lead people to despair. Problems that are not solved by drinking lead the person to rebellion and depression.

Not only is there no solution to the problems, but there is also economic and health damage. In addition, this lack of solution causes the person to be socially recognised as a weak person who cannot fight against troubles and to be devalued in the eyes of people.

In the verse, it is emphasised that Satan is the enemy who promotes these things in order to sow the seeds of hatred and enmity. Drink is at the root of many things such as divorce, violence, separation and resentment. Apart from all worldly reasons, alcohol prevents people from remembering Allah (swt) and from prayer. This reveals the greatest wish of Satan, who wants people to spend their worldly life in misery and to be tormented in the Hereafter. Now you are putting an end to this, are you not?

[672] Toshihiko Izutsu, Religious and Moral Concepts in the Qur’an, Pınar Publications, pg. 79

[673] Ali Osman Ateş, All Aspects of Islam in Asr-ı Saadet, Beyan Publications, Volume 2, p.72

[674] Surah al-Ma’ida, Verses 91-92