Download PDF: [S] Alcohol is the Mother of all Evils (Islamic Story)

In Islam, Alcohol is considered as “Ummul Khabaa’is” or the mother of all evil and sin. One of the countries that suffered the most from this was Russia and certain other Western countries. According to the 2005 statistics, nearly a hundred and twenty people from every thousand is most likely to die from alcohol consumption. One of the great reasons for these deaths is due to their national brand of vodka.

 

It is also mentioned that when there was a slight move to make people aware of this, it did decrease consumption but only for a short spell. In fact, every year, hundreds of people die from alcohol poisoning. At the same time, in certain parts of Russia, where the Muslims are in the majority, deaths from alcohol abuse are so few that it is hardly world reporting.

 

One of the greatest evil of alcohol is the seriousness of crimes which are committed through it. It makes a person commit sins and crimes which he would normally not do.

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – narrates that once the blessed Ashaab were sitting together after Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – had left this world and they were under the leadership of Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr – may Allah be pleased with him. They were also discussing among themselves as to the most serious of sins. No one was satisfied with the answers given at that moment.

 

They then sent someone to ask Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them. Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with them – narrates, “I explained to them that the greatest of sins was drinking alcohol. When they heard this, they were still not sure and then approached me to inquire further. I then made them listen to the blessed words of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – which was, ‘During the time of the Bani Israel, the King of that time arrested a certain person. The King gave him three choices or else he would be killed. He was given the choice of either drinking alcohol, either to kill a small child or to eat pork. This person chose alcohol and he later became guilty of committing all of the other sins as well.’” (Majma’uz Zawaa’id)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Uthman Ghani – may Allah be pleased with him – has stated that, “Refrain from drinking alcohol because it is the mother of all sins (or the basis or foundation of all sins).”

 

It is mentioned that in the past, there was a lady who had become infatuated with a certain pious person. She sent her female slave to call this pious person claiming that they needed him as a witness on a certain issue. This person then entered with the female slave and as he passed through each door, she closed that door. This continued until he reached the private chambers of the lady who had become infatuated with him. The lady had a small child with her and also a glass of alcohol. She then said to the pious person that, “I swear by the Lord that I have not brought you here to be a witness but with the purpose of committing adultery. And if you cannot do this, then at least you can have the one glass of alcohol. And if you cannot drink this, then at least kill the little child.”

 

The pious person then informed her that he was only prepared to drink the glass of alcohol. (He was of the opinion that if he drank the alcohol, he would be saved from committing the other sins).

 

She then gave him the glass of alcohol. When he had drunk the one glass, he asked for another until he became completely drunk. He then committed adultery with this lady and killed the little child. Therefore, you people should stay far from alcohol. The reason is that when Imaan is mixed with alcohol, then one removes the other. (Sunan Nisaa’i)

From this incident, we come to understand that alcohol indeed is the mother of all sins and this is the reason that Islam has prescribed a specific punishment for anyone who is found guilty of this. In fact, it is mentioned that in the Hereafter, such people will be given the pus of the people of Hell to drink. This is mentioned in Sahih Muslim Shareef.

 

Sayyiduna Rasoolullah – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – has also mentioned that all intoxicants are Haraam.