سورة المائدة

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): When the prohibition of wine and gambling was revealed, the Companions said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), what do you say about our brothers who have passed away while they used to drink wine and eat from gambling?" Then this verse was revealed.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn Sinan narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "The hadd (prescribed punishment) for khamr (wine) applies to anyone who drinks it, whether a little or a lot." Then he said: "Umar brought Qudamah ibn Maz'un, who had drunk wine and against whom evidence had been established. Umar asked Ali (peace be upon him) about him, and the Imam ordered that he be given eighty lashes." Qudamah said: "O Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him)! The hadd punishment does not apply to me, for I am among the people of this verse: لَیْسَ عَلَی الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ جُنَاحٌ فِیمَا طَعِمُوا [On those who believe and do good there is no blame for what they eat]." He said: Ali (peace be upon him) said: "You are not among the people of this verse, for the food of the people of this verse is lawful, and they eat and drink only what Allah has made lawful for them." Then the Imam said: "If one who has drunk wine has drunk to the point that he does not know what he is eating or drinking, give him eighty lashes."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Rabi' narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: Nabidh is not on the level of khamr (wine). Allah has forbidden khamr itself, so both a small amount and a large amount of it is haram, just as He forbade carrion, blood, and the flesh of swine. And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) forbade the drinking of every intoxicant. Whatever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) forbade, Allah has certainly forbidden. I said: "How did the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) punish for khamr?" The Imam said: "He used to strike with a sandal, and would increase or decrease the number. After that, people also increased or decreased the number, and there was no fixed limit until Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) set the punishment for drinking khamr at eighty lashes. When he lashed Qudamah ibn Maz'un, Qudamah said to the Imam: 'The hadd punishment and lashing does not apply to me, for I am among the people of this verse: لَیْسَ عَلَی الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ جُنَاحٌ فِیمَا طَعِمُوا إِذَا مَا اتَّقَوْا وَ آمَنُوا وَ عَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ ثُمَّ اتَّقَوْا وَ آمَنُوا [On those who believe and do good there is no blame for what they eat, when they are careful (of their duty) and believe and do good deeds, then they are careful (of their duty) and believe].' The Imam addressed him and said: 'You are mistaken; you are not one of them, for they did not drink what is haram.' Then the Imam said: 'A drinker of khamr is one who becomes intoxicated to the point that he does not know what he is saying or what he is doing.' If the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) encountered such a person, he would strike him with the hadd. He would strike him with the hadd a second time as well, and if it happened a third time, he would strike his neck." I said: "If someone has drunk an intoxicating nabidh and become intoxicated from it, how is he ruled upon?" He said: "He is given eighty lashes, and if he is caught a third time, he is killed, just as one who drinks khamr is killed." I said: "If a drinker of khamr finds an intoxicating nabidh and becomes intoxicated from it, is he given eighty lashes?" He said: "No, less than that. Whatever intoxicates is haram, whether a little or a lot. [Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, even a small amount of it is haram.]"

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): When the command prohibiting wine and gambling was revealed and the prohibition of these two matters was intensified, a group of the Muhajirun and Ansar said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)! Our companions were killed while they too used to drink, and Allah has called it filth and placed it among the works of Satan. You too have said much on this. Do our companions, after their death, incur any harm from having done this?" Then Allah revealed this verse: لَیْسَ عَلَی الَّذِینَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ جُنَاحٌ فِیمَا طَعِمُوا [On those who believe and do good there is no blame for what they eat]... This is for the one who died or was killed before the prohibition of wine, and what is meant by junah is the sin which a person incurs by drinking it after the prohibition. And it has been said: فِیمَا طَعِمُوا [in what they eat]; that is, from the things which have not been forbidden to them. إِذَا مَا اتَّقَوْا [when they are careful]; that is, of what is forbidden. وَآمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ [and believe and do good deeds]; that is, they remain steadfast upon faith and righteous deeds. ثُمَّ اتَّقَوْا [then they are careful]; that is, [let them abstain from] what has been forbidden to them after this, such as wine. وَآمَنُوا [and believe]; [let them believe] in its prohibition. ثُمَّ اتَّقَوْا [then they are careful]; that is, they continue and remain firm in avoiding sins. وَأَحْسَنُوا [and do good]; that is, they choose beautiful deeds and occupy themselves with them.