First published on:  The Negative Effects of Wine and Gambling on the Individual, His Family and Society 

Abd El-Khaliq Al-Sayed

Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, said in the Glorious Qur’an defining some of the negative effects of wine and gambling on the individual, his family and society:


O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.”  [Qur’an 5:90] (1)


  This verse means that wine and intoxicants are abominations disgusted in feeling and meaning whether related to Shari’a (Islamic Law) or mind. They are both Satan’s handiwork. So people should evade and keep away from them. They are to take a path other than that of the devil in order to succeed and prosper in purifying themselves and making their bodies free from illnesses and diseases. Both wine and gambling are some of the most dangerous social, religious and economic illnesses.


Abu Darda’ said


My friend enjoined me thus, “Do not associate anything with God even if you are cut to pieces and burnt; do not abandon a prescribed prayer intentionally, for if anyone abandons it intentionally protection will not apply to him; and do not drink wine, for it is the key to every evil.” [Hadith] (2)


The Social Danger


  The devil wants you to drink wine and gamble so that enmity and hatred arise among you. This way you will destroy your company, disperse and break up your assembly. Islam is quite careful about your brotherhood, union and solidarity among you. It is also careful about removing reasons for and incentives of dissension and disputes among you. Evidences about that are several and quite clear.


  Wine takes away the conscious mind and conceals it. It’s only the mind that realizes and follows the rules of customs and religion that prevent us from committing evil acts. If the mind is lost and sent away, the brutish nature of man with desires and lust emerges. Then he is ready to commit the most vicious and degrading deeds.


  Both wine and gambling mislay man’s character and ruin youth and destroy his health. It is well-known that those who drink wine and gamble indulge in vice. This is a fact that needs no proofs or texts. Gambling results in profit and loss without any work or business. Consequently, enmity and antipathy arise among gamblers.


The Financial and Economic Danger


  Those who drink wine and gamble waste lots of money on the green and red tables day and night. This is quite clear and seen by all.


The Religious Danger


  Both wine and gambling hold man off and keep him away from praying to and praising Allah. Prayers purify and refine his heart. They also purge souls and guide them to the straight path. Wine and gambling shut man out of performing prayers which represent the main pillar of Islam. The drunkard loses his mind and heart, so he can’t be guided to prayers and goodness.


 The gambler sits for an hour or more, sometimes even the day and night. He is unaware of who and what surround him or even aware of himself, forgetting and ignoring his house, family and children, sitting with cards around him forgetting everything else. Even if someone from his family needs his help in case of danger such as fire, accident … etc. His wife, his daughter or even his mother may be attacked or raped by one or more of his fellow gamblers or drunkards, yet he is unable to do anything to save them. Is he able and ready then to think of prayers? Even if he could pray, his prayers would be without soul or heart.


 Allah called them both (Wine and Gambling) “Abomination” because they are acts and handiwork of the devil. “Abu Bakr bin ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Harith narrated that his father said:


I heard ‘Uthman say: ‘Avoid Khamr for it is the mother of all evils. There was a man among those who came before you who was a devoted worshipper and used to stay away from people.'” And he mentioned something similar. He said: “Avoid Khamr for, by Allah, it can never coexist with Faith, but soon one of them will expel the other.“ [Hadith] (3)


 


Conclusion


     In short,  Allah, the Almighty suspended success and prosperity in life upon keeping away from. Among the negative effects of wine and gambling on the individual, his family and society are that they hold man off praying to and praising Allah and arouse enmity and hatred among people. Also, they urge dissension and grudge among those who drink wine or gamble as well.


Allah said in His Glorious Book, the Qur’an:


Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.”[Qur’an 13:28] (4)


Now, what is the negative effect you feel the most regarding wine and gambling? Feel free to chat with our team if you have any questions!


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References:


(1) Verse (5:90) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(2) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(3) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(4) Verse (13:28) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


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