Pre-Islamic Age of Ignorance: The custom of drinking wine was very widespread. Poets always spoke of the feast of wine, and a large part of their literature was again about wine. Drinking alcohol was the greatest pleasure for men in the Jahiliyyah. For them, wine was the supreme gift of fortune. They drank constantly. They both boasted and took pride in drinking whatever wine they wanted. Large sums of money were spent on wine. 

Alcohol was extremely widespread. They were so addicted to alcohol that there were about 100 names for it in Arabic. In their poetry, they described all kinds of alcohol and banquets. In Medina, they used a drink called Fadih, made from date palm sap and dates. Wine was also made from grapes. The people of Yemen produced an alcoholic beverage called Bit, made from honey. The people of Yemen also had another alcoholic beverage called Mizr, made from barley or corn. They also made another alcoholic beverage called Gubeyrâ from wheat and millet. The same beverage was also called Sükreke. ([673])

ISLAM: Satan seeks to sow seeds of hatred and enmity among you through wine and gambling, and to prevent you from remembering Allah and performing prayer. So will you not cease? Obey Allah and His Messenger, and beware of opposing them. If you turn away, know that the Messenger’s duty is only to convey the message clearly.

Nowadays: Today, drinking alcohol is a very common custom, and many poets and singers portray drinking as the solution to life’s problems in their works. They serve to drive people to despair on the basis of themes that invite drinking, such as misfortune, bad luck, unhappiness, unrequited love, incomprehensibility, and misfortune. Problems that cannot be solved with alcohol push the person to rebellion and depression.

Aside from the lack of a solution to problems, there are also economic and health consequences. Furthermore, this lack of resolution leads to the person being defined as a weak personality unable to cope with problems socially, causing them to become worthless in the eyes of others.

The verse emphasizes that Satan, who encourages these things, is the enemy who sows seeds of hatred and enmity. Alcohol is at the root of many things such as divorce, violence, separation, and resentment. All worldly reasons aside, alcohol prevents people from remembering Allah (swt) and praying. This reveals the devil’s greatest desire, which is for people to live their worldly lives in disgrace and suffer torment in the hereafter. You are putting an end to these things now, aren’t you?

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

[673]  Ali Osman Ateş, Islam in the Age of Happiness in All Its Aspects, Beyan Publications, Vol. 2, p. 72

[674]  Surah Maida, verses 91-92