Forty Gems of Beauty — Page 110
110 That is, even if they have, beyond doubt, some benefits, their injurious properties far exceed their advantages. The true Muslim should, therefore, abstain from them. If the question is posed that since there are exceptional cases of men who can keep themselves within limits in respect of the use of wine, and that there is little danger of their exceeding the small dosage, will consumption of wine in limited quantities be considered permissible in their case? The answer is an emphatic “ no. ” Even so, the consumption of wine will not be permissible for any Muslim. For, primarily in the matter of such regulations, the majority aspect and mass angle will be kept in view, that is to say, that when something is definitely dangerous for the general population, in consideration for the collective aspect of the law, that particular thing is declared unlawful even for the minority, for the laws cannot otherwise hold their ground. Secondly, even if a man can keep himself in check today, where is the guarantee that he will not slip up and lose his grip on himself tomorrow? Thirdly, this Hadith does not list all the evils of drinking but has only by way of example, pointed out its intoxicating ill-effect. Wine, in fact, has many other injurious properties besides this one. Therefore, in the case of a person in whom the ill-effect of intoxication is absent, the wine will still be considered unlawful for him on the grounds of its other harmful properties. And it is therefore that the Holy Prophet (May peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has declared it unlawful in every way. In short through this Hadith, our master (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has invited our attention to three important things. Firstly, that every intoxicant is unlawful to Muslims, whether it is wine, bhang, chars, opium, h ash i sh , cocaine, or any other thing. Secondly, whatever induces intoxication when used in a large quantity, even its small dosage is unlawful. Therefore, nobody can consume wine or bhang , opium or h ash i sh on the pretext that he uses