Imam al-Kadhim and prohibition of alcohol

This article answers the question: “What is Imam al-Kadhim’s proof for the prohibition of ‎alcohol?”‎

News ID: 450589

Date: 11 August 2020 - 12:17

Question: What is Imam al-Kadhim’s proof for the prohibition of alcohol?‎

Concise answer:‎

The Abbasid caliph Muhammad, more famously known as Mahdi once came to Madinah to ‎visit the grave of the Prophet, on this particular visit he went to visit Imam al-Kadhim to test ‎his knowledge. He decided to do this through asking the Imam about the prohibition of ‎alcohol in the Quran. He explained to the Imam that most people understand that the Quran ‎has asked people to stay away from alcohol, however they do not understand this as being ‎a prohibition, thereafter asking ‘has alcohol been prohibited in the Quran?’‎

Detailed answer:‎

The Imam replied in the affirmative, saying ‘Yes, alcohol has been clearly prohibited in the ‎Quran.”‎

Mahdi then asked ‘where in the Quran?’‎

The Imam responded with the verse in which God addresses the Prophet saying “Say, ‘My ‎Lord has only forbidden indecencies, the outward among them and the inward ones, and sin ‎and undue aggression....” [1]‎

The Imam finished reciting the verse and then went on to explain it. He told Mahdi that the ‎term ‘ithm’ in this verse which has been prohibited is referring to alcohol because God has ‎said elsewhere in another verse “They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say, ‘There is ‎a great sin in both of them, and some benefits for the people, but their sinfulness is greater ‎than their benefit.’” [2]‎

He continued, elaborating that ‘ithm’ has clearly been introduced as something prohibited in ‎Surah al-Araf, and in surah al-Baqarah, this term has been used to mean alcohol and ‎gambling, therefore alcohol has clearly been prohibited in the Quran.‎

Mahdi was so impressed by the Imams reply that he turned to Ali ibn Yaqtin, who was ‎present in the gathering, and said “By God, this verdict was the verdict of a Hashimi!” Ali ibn ‎Yaqtin in reply said “All praise is to God who has placed this knowledge in the family of the ‎Prophet.” [3]‎

Ali ibn Yaqtin’s answer upset Mahdi, however he controlled his temper and replied “you ‎speak the truth Oh Rafidhi.” [4,5]‎

Footnotes:‎

‎1. ‎حَرّمَ رَبّىَ الهفَواحِشَ ما ظَهَرَ مِنهها وَما بَطَنَ و الهاًّثمَ وَالهبَغهىَ بِغَيهرِ الحَقّ‎... ‎
Quran (Surah 7: Ayah 33) – Translated by Ali Quli-Qarai ‎
‎
2. ‎يَسهئَلُونَكَ عَنِ الهخَمهرِ وَ الهمَيهسِر قُله فيهِما اِثهمٌ كَبيرٌ وَ مَنافِعُ لِلنّاسِ وَ اِئهمُهُا اَكبَرُ مِنه ‏نَفهعِهِما‎...
Quran (Surah 2: Verse 219) ‎
‎
3. Kulayni, Furu’ min al-Kafi, Tehran, Dar al-Kitab al-Islamiyyah. volume 6, page 406 4. ‎Kulayni, Furu’ min al-Kafi, Tehran, Dar al-Kitab al-Islamiyyah. volume 6, page 406 5. ‎Collected from the book: Sireh Pishvaiyan, Mehdi Pishvai, page 420‎

Makarem.ir

112/940