A little bit of alcohol
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From the Mayo Clinic website
Health benefits of moderate alcohol use-Reduce your risk of developing heart disease
-Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
-Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
-Lower your risk of gallstones
-Possibly reduce your risk of diabetesI'm not for or against other people drinking alchohol, but just pointing out that in modern times, scare tactics to prove your point are ineffective at best and counter-effective at worst. For every list you can make with the negative health effects of drinking, there's another, equally valid, list of the positive aspects. I came of age at the time when Americans were finally seeing all the damage the DARE program did with scare tactics instead of honest info, so I'm especially sensitive to that method of persuasion. It always does more harm than good when so much information is out there and readily available.
It doesn't matter what health benefits you made find in alcohol.
there is great harm as well as some benefit, but their harm is greater than their benefit. 2220
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Can anyone send me a link or provide a quick explanation if 2220 and the other verses are only speaking about alcohol or not, or if they are referring to intoxicants in general.
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Salaam,
Their use invites Satan and his temptations (often called sins), that is why it is not recommended for a believer to drink alcohol or use other drugs.
Harmless use of drugs is not meant to be included in the recommendation though, such as topical salves or other products containing alcohol, which will not adversely affect the mind and body, especially the judgment.
Using drugs may make one to lose focus of God, cause immoral behavior, prevent normal praying practice and also have negative effects on the body, such as permanent damage.damage. A temporarily or permanently impaired person loses valuable time that could be spent doing something better, such as praying for forgiveness, seeking God's nearness and guidance, and protection from the evil one and his followers.
It is disputable whether or not to include medical use of certain drugs under this label of recommendation. Individual judgment may be necessary.
I hope the above information was helpful, otherwise please excuse me and disregard the advice.
God bless you
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Can anyone send me a link or provide a quick explanation if 2220 and the other verses are only speaking about alcohol or not, or if they are referring to intoxicants in general.
I have seen it written as "intoxicants" in most modern translations. But I'm not sure what the Arabic word precisely means. Any insight would be great.
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Hi Everyone,
I hope they don't use the word "intoxicants" because if we go the way of the Mormons, that would mean caffeine is included! I love my tea!!! Sugar also alters behavior!! So does chocolate!!
Agggh... No enjoyment left.
My personal thoughts are anything that clouds your ability to make contact with Allah. Alcohol keeps you from being able to focus on Allah during your prayers.
Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace -
Peace JewishDude,
I suppose each individual has to judge him/herself what is considered an intoxicant. Just think about what has happened when you are intoxicated and if it will impair your ability to worship God properly, and/or if you do immoral and irreligious stuff.
God bless you
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Whatever so called health benefits one can get from alcohol, you would be able to get from other things as well, or by avoiding some things... simply maintaining a more healthy diet. I'm sure there is nothing unique in alcohol which provides some unique benefits that you cannot find elsewhere.
Alcohol is a chemical used as disinfectant. And we pour it into our bodies... funny. How could that possible be good in any one way? Has anyone ever felt BETTER due to alcohol? Im not talking about the losing of inhibitions etc, since that is an effect on our brain and thus emotions, so it's not an improvement, rather is is a temporary relief from our negative emotional make up. Has anyone ever felt whole, healthy, strong and lively the morning after drinking? All effects of alcohol on the biological system that the body is, is detrimental. Other claims would be signs of denial or wishful thinking. In my humble opinion...
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Peace Zulf,
Yes, I actually find it a bit confusing when realizing alcohol is a disinfectant and killing bacteria, among other things. It is not exactly the best booster for the body hmm
Yet I was among the ones who used to drink, and I was nearly abusing alcohol and other stuff in the past. It is strange how merciful the Lord can be and provide guidance, even if you are among the small people &
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Hi Everyone,
I hope they don't use the word "intoxicants" because if we go the way of the Mormons, that would mean caffeine is included! I love my tea!!! Sugar also alters behavior!! So does chocolate!!
Agggh... No enjoyment left.
My personal thoughts are anything that clouds your ability to make contact with Allah. Alcohol keeps you from being able to focus on Allah during your prayers.
Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peaceHmm, what is your definition of intoxicated? Is it what you typed "anything that clouds your ability to make contact with Allah." I've read
"The singular form of the same word "KHaMR," has been used for intoxicants, which "cover" the mind" and I spent some time thinking about if coffee does this to me, but so far I'm at 'no', since I just become alert and sometimes a bit hyper. If we think that becoming hyper is being intoxicated, then lack of sleep can be a sort of intoxication as well, since in my experience, after around 24 hours without sleep it is difficult for me to think of anything too complex. I find definitions of intoxicated, and they include to excite, but I disagree with this I understand intoxication as what impairs your ability to see right from wrong. I found this definition to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcoholic liquor, a drug, or another substance, especially to excite or stupefy with liquor. Again, I don't agree with the excite part. You can be excited by eating chocolate, but does that impair you at all? I have read about caffeine intoxication, but I've also read about water intoxication. -
Coffee is not an intoxicant. It can be abused, just as much as anything, and it is not addictive, although it may become a habit, but habits are not necessarily harmful, working everyday is a habit, having breakfast is a habit... habits give shape and structure to everyday's life.
What I would recommend coffee drinkers is to drink may be less of it but drink the best coffee they cang get. Because on top of its tonificant benefits, it is a pleasure. Too much bad coffee, is acid and is not good for the stomach. In general, regarding food I would say that it is better to eat less and try to get the best quality of whatever it is one eats or drinks.
Salaam
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Hi Everyone,
I was trying to be a bit cheeky. I wanted to mention how the Mormons treat intoxicants. They don't allow caffeine nor alcohol. I agree tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, etc. are not intoxicants. Just wanted to push the boundary for discussion.
Just my crazy thoughts...
JewishDude
peace Salam, Shalom, Peace peace -
Salaam JewishDude,
I think like someone has said before, that this verse relates to conditions when your mind is clouded and you cannot think straight. The English choice to describe the word, "intoxicants", does perhaps not entirely give exactly the same meaning, but you can just think of what it means by being intoxicated.
Obviously alcohol comes directly to mind, but also excessive use of coffee can cause some adverse psychological and physiological changes in the body, such as anxiety, more stress and increased heart beating rate etc, then coffee becomes an intoxicant too.
Having adverse psychological effects on your body will clearly affect your prayers and your judgment, so just about anything can be an intoxicant when it comes down to the truth.
Consuming huge amounts of water can be lethal and water is not even an intoxicant to begin with.
Now I do not say you have to stop drink coffee or any other substance that may affect the mind and body, I just say it is to each one of us to judge what is appropriate and of course check with the Lord. God will most certainly have you do the most righteous choice if you are walking along the beach with the Lord.
Last, I want to say that most anything in the Quran is just a recommendation, but the reverent will see it is a commandment. We have the free choice to choose whether to follow the recommendations or not, but it will affect our fate for sure.
God bless you people
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Intoxicants is not an very accurate translation of the arabic word Khamr. Although it is probably the most close one.
If you want to say that Khamr = intoxicants, then salt is at least as prohibited as alcohol. Because eating 200gr of salt will most likely cause more damage (caugh death caugh) than alcohol. And what about apples? Eating 50 kilograms of apple is also intoxicating.
I hope it's clear that intoxication is something relative, not absolute.
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Intoxicants is not an very accurate translation of the arabic word Khamr. Although it is probably the most close one.
If you want to say that Khamr = intoxicants, then salt is at least as prohibited as alcohol. Because eating 200gr of salt will most likely cause more damage (caugh death caugh) than alcohol. And what about apples? Eating 50 kilograms of apple is also intoxicating.
I hope it's clear that intoxication is something relative, not absolute.
It's a bit like when people say eat/drink in moderation. These are usually specific to such things like alcohol or triple chocolate fudge cake. Have too much and you'd be intoxicated/feeling pretty sick and lethargic....
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While 2220, states that the harm of khamr is more than the benefit, no instruction is issued with respect to this, and no instruction is given to ignore khamr's benefit. One should not read into the Quran an instruction that was not given. Especially since "strong/intoxicating drink" is referred to as a "Sign" (166 and khamr is one of the 4 drinks of heaven (along with milk, honey and water) (4716). An explicit instruction is given in the Quran regarding intoxication (sukarna), but not that intoxication is prohibited, only that one should not approach salat while intoxicated until one know's what one is saying (444). The Quran does not anywhere prohibit or condemn the act of being intoxicated. These are the plain facts.
Further, nowhere in the Quran does it "recommend" against khamr - 591-94 states as follows
"O ye who believe, khamr and maysr and monuments/idols and unfeathered arrows are an infamy/means/(foul) tools (rijs) of Satan's work. So avoid him (faijtanibuh) so that you might be successful. Satan seeks only to create/inspire enmity and hatred among you by means of khamr and maysr, and to keep you back from dhikr and salat - will you keep back? And obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and be cautious. But if you turn away, know that on our Messenger lies only the clear conveyance of the Message. On those who believe and do good deeds, there shall be no sin/fault for what they taste, provided they are God-conscious and believe and do good deeds, and again are God-conscious and believe, and yet again are God-conscious and do good deeds. And Allah loves the doers of good."
Note that the phrase "faijtanibuh" is usually translated as "so avoid them", but this is a mistranslation meant to misguide people into thinking that this verse orders abstaining from khamr. Such a mistranslation not only renders the following verses pointless, but also abrogates 444. But according to the correct translation of "faijtanibuh", 591 certainly does not contradict 444. (As a side note - some people believe in the concept that later revealed verses of the Quran abrogate earlier revealed ones, but not only can we not be sure of the order of the revelation of verses (since it is not compiled in the order of revelation) but this concept means that the Quran contains contradictions, even though the Quran asserts it does not. Those who argue that the prohibition of khamr came gradually or in stages fall into the same trap because they believe that earlier verses are trumped by later ones, and are thus abrogationists. Further, they ignore the fact that all of the words of the Quran can be interpreted to all be consistent with each other.)
591-94 constitutes a warning that Satan uses khamr to keep us back from salat and dhikr, and asks if we will let him succeed. Nowhere in these verses does it say to avoid or stay away from khamr, but to stay away from what Satan uses khamr to achieve in us. Then the Quran stresses the importance of God-consciousness, belief and good deeds. The instruction given here is to be cautious - if one completely abstains from khamr, then there is no need to be cautious of how Satan will use it.
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Peace )
First of all, I apologize if my post is confusing. I just sent most of this to my sister who recently accepted that the Qur'an is the word of God because of the irrefutable mathematical code throughout the Qur'an and of course many other reasons. I just want to share what I sent to her...
hmmm, I've been thinking about intoxicants. The Qur'an does not actually say that intoxicants are prohibited. It actually says that their harm is greater than their benefit. Hmm, but the Qur'an is fully detailed, and it does not say "it's harm is greater than it's benefit, so, you are prohibited from using painkillers after getting surgery" No. It does not. Hmmmmmmm.... It says that intoxicants are tools of the devil and we should avoid HIM. How does the devil use intoxicants? He uses intoxicants to cause hatred between people. People getting drunk is a fine example of that. When I got drunk once, I was not a very nice person. I think I screamed at my great grandmother. So I think that the devil was messing around there. Could that verse which says the harm is greater than the benefit be sort of a message to be cautious? To avoid the devil by not using intoxicants in a way that will probably lead to hatred between people? So, I would avoid it by not drinking large amounts of alcohol. As for medicinal purposes, I do not see a problem. As for recreational purposes? I do not see a problem, only a message to be cautious, to avoid the devil from entering. Again, I would avoid it by not drinking large amounts of alcohol. That is my personal view of it. I think we all have to set our limit.
If you believe that intoxicants are prohibited, then tell your doctor not to drug you while they cut you open and perform surgery.
I read an example regarding gambling, this is something similar to what I read If some workers who are required to clean the sewage systems, find themselves in a situation where only one person is able to fit in a small area that must be cleaned, and is also extremely disgusting, play Eeny, meeny, miny, moe to decide who goes in, what is the harm? Where does the hatred come in there? But, if they are betting 10 000 $ on grown men fighting over a ball, and one loses, that is much more likely to cause a lot of negative things to happen. Just some thoughts of mine.
Edit So, sorry if I repeat things, but I want to go over it quickly
We are not to avoid the intoxicants themselves. If you want, you can enjoy some hashish or whatever. People will probably get angry at that, but get over it We are to avoid the devil? How? We have to be cautious. We can drink alcohol, but be aware of the ways that the devil can come in, which are Through hatred between yourselves, to repel you away from remembering God and from the commitments. If you drink a few glasses to relieve some stress, while being aware that none of those things are happening, where is the problem?
But, if you drink an entire bottle of wine, you are more likely to punch your son in the face, forget about God, and break your commitments like your commitment to always obeying God, or possibly your personal commitments to other things.THEN the devil has come in. So avoid the devil by being cautious. PEACE
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I do not know much about Arabic verbs or whatever, so can someone please explain how it is not "avoid them" or "avoid it" but it is "avoid him (the devil)"?
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I found this
fa ijtaniboo hu (singular masculine, most likely referring to the preceding masculine, which is shaytan/~opposing force)
so/then avoid him/it
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glorytothegracious, AA,
Based on my study, 'faijtanibuh' means either "so avoid him" or "so avoid it" because it is in the singular, not plural (and thus not "avoid them". The technical term of Arabic grammar is 'dhameer'. To determine whether the meaning is "avoid it" or "avoid him", one looks back into the sentence to see which of the items is mentioned in the singular and not as a part of a list. As Satan is the only thing/person mentioned on their own, then the term 'faijtanibuh' must be referring to him - therefore, "avoid him" is the meaning.
I can understand you being concerned regarding your reaction to alcohol. I have known lots of people from Christian backgrounds who, because they become temperamental or belligerent from drinking, become ashamed of their past behaviour, and so they avoid it altogether or exercise great caution and restraint. Although they are not Muslims, they are exercising their caution within the spirit of the Quran, although they don't know it. That said, the majority of people I have seen do not become belligerent when they drink, but rather, relax and become cheerful. If that were not the case, the streets of major Western cities would become war zones every Saturday night! It depends on amount, a particular person, and what issues that person is dealing with at the time.
I am not an Arab by background, directly anyways, but certain Arabs have told me that, based on certain cultural norms, "hot-headedness" is normal and encouraged as well as overt machoism. I don't know if this is true, either for certain Arab cultures of today or during the Prophet's lifetime, but if it were true, I can see how alcohol is something that could be used by Satan to create enmity and friction in such cultures by amplifying such norms. That said, that the Quran warns by giving caution, and not banning the substance altogether, means it is encouraging personal responsibility, like that demonstrated by many Christians I have known, who seem perfectly rational and capable of doing so for the most part.
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I do not know much about Arabic verbs or whatever, so can someone please explain how it is not "avoid them" or "avoid it" but it is "avoid him (the devil)"?
Peace -- look also at other verses and not possible to avoid temptation (i.e. suggestive thoughts) those always pop up...
590 O dear/you the ones believe yeh only al-kmr/the inebriant and the gambling and the monuments and the arrows filth from work al-shayni/the devil so avoid it (i.e. filth from work the devil) that may you succeeding 591 only intends al-shaynu/the devil that cause among you the hostility and the hatred in al-kmr/the inebriant and the gambling and hinder you about remembrance the god and from the prayer so shall be you those abstaining 592 and obey yeh the god and obey yeh the messenger and beware yeh so if turn away you so know yeh that what on messenger ours the conveyance the clear
1636 and truly in each community messenger of that serve yeh the god and avoid yeh the idols so from them from guidance the god and from those from justified onto him the error so travel yeh in the earth so look yeh how it is consequence the deniers
2230 that and from honors sanctity the god so it best for him near lord his and lawful for you the livestock except what recited upon you so avoid yeh the filth from the idols and avoid yeh speech the false