Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualikum...

I would like to know about wine, i know wine is regarded as haram in Islam but wine is made of grapes so why is it haram? and when a muslims goes to a non muslim country , and drinking wine before meal is tradition in some non muslim countries, if we dont drink its considered as bad manners in such cases are we supposed to drink????how will we explain them ..

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Answer:

Wine made from grapes unlawful

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verses 90-91:

O you who have believed! ‘Khamr’ (all types of intoxicants), games of chance, idols, and divining arrows are all abominable works of the Shaytaan; therefore, stay (far) away from these so that you may attain success. Indeed, the Shaytaan seeks to sow enmity and hatred among you by means of ‘khamr’ (intoxicants) and gambling, and to prevent you from the Remembrance of Allah and from Salaah. Will you not, then, abstain from these things?

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3672 Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “Every intoxicant is ‘khamr’ (alcohol, wine, beer, drugs, etc.), and every ‘khamr’ is haraam.”

Your Question: …but wine is made of grapes so why is it haram?

Although the fruit grape is lawful in its essence, when the extract of this fruit is treated and fermented, it produces a drink which intoxicates…..and every type of drink (or substance) which intoxicates when consumed is absolutely prohibited for the believers who sincerely fear Allah and the Last Day.

Your Question: ….if we dont drink its considered as bad manners in such cases are we supposed to drink????how will we explain them ..

Such is the absolute detestability of intoxicants in the Sight of Allah that not only has the Lord Most Majestic and His Messenger (saws) prohibited its consumption for the believers, the Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the believers to sit at a table or gathering where intoxicants are being drunk or circulated!

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4477 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

The Prophet (saws) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must not sit at a cloth (table or gathering) where wine is being circulated."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3765 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the sitting at a cloth (table or gathering) on which wine is drunk.

If one perchance happens to visit a nation where wine or intoxicants are consumed, and one is invited to a gathering where one knows wine or alcohol will be drunk or circulated…..it would be the duty of the believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day to politely but firmly inform the host that it is against his moral and religious principles to attend a gathering where wine is circulated.

In our own humble experience, the disbelieving host has always and without exception, accepted the excuse without any ill-feeling whatsoever. But if perchance one fears that the host would feel ‘bad’ or hold an ‘ill-feeling’, a believer should know that the consequences of the Displeasure and Wrath and Anger of the Lord Who Created far supersedes the displeasure of any in creation by a considerable and unimaginable margin! The Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme has a greater right that the believers should fear Him and His Displeasure.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan