What Does the Quran Say About Alcohol?
Allah mentions alcohol in multiple verses, gradually prohibiting it over time.
1 First the warning
This was early on when consuming alcohol had not been made haram but was warned against indulging in it.
They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is great evil in both, as well as some benefit for people—but the evil outweighs the benefit.” They ask you what they should donate. Say, “Whatever you can spare.” This is how Allah makes His revelations clear to you, so perhaps you may reflect.
يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌۭ كَبِيرٌۭ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ
Quran 2:219
2 Prohibition During Prayer
O believers! Do not approach prayer while intoxicated until you are aware of what you say, nor in a state of impurity—unless you merely pass through the mosque—until you have bathed. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth, wiping your faces and hands. And Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَـٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا
Quran: 4:43
3 Complete Ban
These verses are considered the final and most decisive revelation concerning the prohibition of alcohol (intoxicants), gambling, and other vices:
O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all evil of Satan’s handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
Satan’s plan is to stir up hostility and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling and to prevent you from remembering Allah and praying. Will you not then abstain?
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ
Quran 5:90-91
Hadith on Alcohol in Islam
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) reinforced this ruling:
Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden. He who drinks wine in this world and dies while he is addicted to it, not having repented, will not be given a drink in the Hereafter.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ وَمَنْ شَرِبَ الْخَمْرَ فِي الدُّنْيَا فَمَاتَ وَهُوَ يُدْمِنُهَا لَمْ يَتُبْ لَمْ يَشْرَبْهَا فِي الآخِرَةِ ” .
Sahih Muslim: Book 36, Hadith 92
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah : That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whatever a lot of it intoxicates, a little of it is unlawful.” He said: There are narrations on this topic from Sa’d, ‘Aishah, ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr, Ibn ‘Umar, and Khawwat bin Jubair. [Abu ‘Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Gharib as a narration of Jabir.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، وَحَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ ” . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَخَوَّاتِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ جَابِرٍ .
Jami` at-Tirmidhi: Book 26, Hadith 5
Additionally, Islam prohibits:
- Selling alcohol
- Producing or serving it
- Consuming even “small amounts”
Why Is Alcohol Forbidden in Islam?
1. Spiritual Harm
Alcohol clouds judgment, leading to sin and neglect of prayer.
It distances believers from Allah’s remembrance.
2. Physical & Mental Damage
Liver disease, addiction, and cancer (WHO confirms alcohol causes 3 million deaths yearly).
Impaired decision-making, increasing accidents and violence.
3. Social & Family Destruction
Drunkenness breaks families and fuels abuse.
Societies with alcohol bans (e.g., Saudi Arabia) report lower crime rates.
Key Takeaways: Is Alcohol Not Allowed in Islam?
Alcohol is 100% haram in Islam
The Quran and Hadith strictly forbid it
Science supports its physical and mental risks
