Is Wine Forbidden in Islam?
I do not think so because God says in the Quran one should not approach to prayer (Salat) being drunk. Everybody knows that it is very dangerous to drink excessive amount of wine or alcohol to be drunk. It can damage one’s health cause other serious problems such as road accidents, domestic or other kinds of violence etc. Therefore, the holy Quran is perfect to say that one must not approach towards prayer if he/she is drunk.
[The Quran 4:43] O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying…
The Quran talks about wine in other verses as well, for instance, when Prophet Joseph was imprisoned, he had few companions there. One of his companions was destined to be free by the king and became the wine butler of the king and the second one was crucified.
Red wine
God here does not say anything negative about the king who drank wine. Please see the verses of the Quran [12:36, 41]. This indicates that wine is not a forbidden thing.
The most interesting verse of the Quran in this regard is that it is mentioned that dwellers of paradise will have rivers of wine. Obviously, dwellers of paradise will not commit any sin in paradise so how come wine be forbidden for Muslim!
[The Quran 47:15] The allegory of Paradise that is promised for the righteous is this: it has rivers of unpolluted water, and rivers of fresh milk, and rivers of wine – delicious for the drinkers – and rivers of strained honey. They have all kinds of fruits therein, and forgiveness from their Lord…
It is interesting to mention that fruit juice even contains small amount of alcohol. So should we stop drinking fruit juice as well to avoid alcohol completely?! Of course, like many other things in our daily life, excessive drinking of wine is very harmful for our health.
Many recent scientific studies report that drinking wine in moderation could have many beneficial effects on one’s health and well being. Some of the benefits are as follows:
- Memory Protection Against Alzheimer’s Disease: The powerful antioxidant resveratrol protects against cell damage and prevents age-related mental decline.
- Resveratrol is also responsible for heart-healthy benefits, including improved physical performance and muscle strength. It also mimics cardiovascular enhancements similar to exercise.
- Cancer Treatment: Researchers aren’t exactly sure how, but another active antioxidant in red wine known as quercetin works against cancer cells, according to theAmerican Cancer Society. It helps to induce natural cell death in certain types of cancers, most often colon cancer.
- Promotes Long Life: Red wine drinkers have a 34 percent lower mortality rate than beer or vodka drinkers, according to a 29-year-long study.
- Lowers Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke: Red wine tannins, which are what make red wine the color red, contain procyanidins — known for protecting against heart disease. Resveratrol also helps to remove chemicals responsible for causing blood clots, which is the primary cause of coronary disease. A daily dose of red wine cuts blood clot-related stroke rates by 50 percent.
Therefore, especially red wine is very much beneficial drink that one can enjoy in moderation. God almighty definitely does not forbid anything good or beneficial for His servants. God only forbids which is harmful for us because God loves us very much. Thank you and may God bless you.