Arielle Cruz
Alcohol and tobacco are two highly debated topics in Christianity and Islam. While the consumption of these substances is a personal choice, it is essential to understand how these religions view them. Both religions have followers who choose to abstain from alcohol and tobacco for religious reasons, but there are also followers who consume them. This paragraph aims to explore the teachings and interpretations of these religions regarding alcohol and tobacco use, shedding light on the guidelines and beliefs that shape the decisions of their followers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Christianity's view on alcohol | The Bible does not forbid alcohol consumption, and wine is used in common ceremonies such as Mass, symbolising the blood of Christ. The largest bodies of Christians, including Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism and Anglicanism, advocate for moderationism. However, some denominations promote abstinence. |
| Christianity's view on tobacco | The use of tobacco in any of its forms, or trafficking therein, is forbidden. |
| Islam's view on alcohol | The Quran does not ban alcohol overnight, but through gradual revelations. It acknowledges that alcohol has some benefit but also causes harm, and ultimately prohibits it to protect humans from a substance that can destroy their lives. While a minority of Muslims drink and believe it is not forbidden, many Muslim-majority countries have low rates of alcohol consumption or have completely banned it. |
| Islam's view on tobacco | The use of tobacco is forbidden. |
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What You'll Learn
Islam's punishment for alcohol consumption
Islam's teachings on alcohol consumption are clear: it is forbidden in the Qur'an and the Hadith. The consumption of intoxicants is discouraged and then prohibited entirely. The Qur'an acknowledges the potential benefits of alcohol, such as its medicinal or social uses, but ultimately concludes that its harm outweighs any good.
The punishment for drinking alcohol in Islam is a matter of debate and interpretation, with various opinions and practices throughout history and across different regions. The consensus among Islamic scholars is that the punishment for consuming alcohol is flogging, with the number of lashes varying according to different interpretations. Some sources state that the punishment is eighty lashes for a free man and forty for slaves and women, while others suggest that the number of lashes is at the discretion of the Muslim leader.
The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said that Allah has cursed not only alcoholic drinks but also those who are involved in its production, distribution, and consumption. This is further emphasised by the belief that Allah will not accept the prayers of a wine drinker for forty days, as narrated in the Hadith.
The prohibition of alcohol in Islam is based on the idea that it prevents the remembrance of God, breeds enmity and hatred, and causes harm to individuals, families, and communities. It is considered one of the Greater Sins in Islam, and its consumption is seen as a dangerous habit that can lead to other evil actions and spiritual downfall.
While Islam has successfully implemented the prohibition of alcohol for many Muslims, there are some who still consume it, believing that it is not explicitly forbidden in the Qur'an. However, the majority of Islamic teachings and scholars emphasise the negative consequences of alcohol and the importance of abstinence.
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Christianity's view on drunkenness
Christianity's views on alcohol have varied over time, with some denominations advocating for moderation and others promoting abstinence. While the Bible does not forbid alcohol consumption, drunkenness is considered a sin. Christians are called to live every part of their lives to the glory of God, and that includes both eating and drinking.
The Bible contains multiple warnings against the misuse of alcohol and the dangers of drunkenness. For example, Ephesians 5:18 and 1 Corinthians 6:12 instruct Christians to avoid drunkenness and addiction to alcohol. Proverbs 23:20-21 warns against the negative consequences of drunkenness, stating that "the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags." Similarly, Isaiah 5:11, 22 pronounces judgment on those who seek after strong drink, stating that "woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them."
The Council of Laodicea in 363 CE included rules against drinking for members of the clergy and prohibited them from entering taverns or participating in drinking clubs. By the late 4th century, condemnation of drunkenness had increased, with Basil the Great repudiating the views of dualistic heretics who rejected wine and substituted water for wine in the Eucharist.
Some Christians, such as Monica of Hippo and her bishop Ambrose, adhered to strict rules of total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. However, the majority of Christians throughout history have consumed alcoholic beverages as a common part of everyday life, believing that alcohol is a gift from God that brings joy when consumed in moderation.
Today, the position of moderationism remains the most common worldwide, with the largest bodies of Christians, including Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism, allowing moderate alcohol use. However, certain monastic communities, such as the Trappists, have brewed beer and made wine, while organizations like the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association within the Catholic Church and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union promote teetotalism.
In conclusion, while Christianity does not prohibit alcohol consumption, drunkenness is considered a sin, and Christians are called to use wisdom and caution in their consumption of alcohol, always seeking to glorify God in their actions.
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Tobacco fatwas in Islam
Over time, various Muslim-majority countries and prominent Islamic institutions have issued similar fatwas, citing health concerns and the Islamic law's general prohibition of harmful actions as reasons for declaring smoking haram. For example, in 1996, Malaysia's National Fatwa Council declared smoking haram due to its detrimental health effects, and in 2000, the Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque in Egypt, a prominent Sunni Islamic learning center, issued a fatwa stating that smoking is a major sin comparable to alcohol consumption.
The United Arab Emirates also instructed imams in its mosques to deliver sermons against smoking in 1999. Additionally, in 2009, the Indonesian Ulema Council declared smoking in public or near pregnant women as haram, while smoking in general was deemed "makruh," meaning discouraged or reprehensible. These fatwas carry significant weight among Muslims, and studies have shown that religious pressure against smoking has been more effective in encouraging Muslims to quit than social pressure.
It is important to note that the Quran and hadith, the foundational texts of Islam, do not explicitly mention tobacco or smoking. However, contemporary Islamic scholars have interpreted the texts' general guidelines and principles to conclude that tobacco use is harmful and, therefore, prohibited. The Quranic verse, "Don't throw yourself into danger by your own hands" (Al Baqarah 2:195), has been cited in support of the prohibition.
While tobacco fatwas have been issued, the Islamic world's relationship with tobacco is complex. Some Muslims continue to use tobacco, and there are varying regional attitudes towards it. Arab Muslims tend to prohibit smoking, while in South Asia, smoking is often considered lawful but discouraged. The lack of a unanimous and clear fatwa on tobacco in the past has contributed to this complexity, with some scholars holding differing views. However, in recent times, there has been a growing consensus among Islamic scholars that tobacco use is haram due to its harmful nature.
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Alcohol in the Bible
Alcohol is mentioned in the Bible, and its consumption is prescribed for religious rites and medicinal uses in some places. The Bible does not explicitly forbid alcohol consumption, and wine is the most commonly mentioned alcoholic beverage. In fact, in John 2:1-11, Jesus's first miracle is said to be turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana, and it was customary for him to drink wine with his friends. Wine is also biblically regarded as a source of joy and a blessing from God.
However, drunkenness is discouraged in the Bible and is occasionally portrayed. The Bible warns against the dangers of drunkenness, and several passages describe drunkards as dishonorable to God, destructive to oneself, and destined for poverty. For instance, in Proverbs 23:20-21, it is written, "Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags."
The Bible does not give detailed instructions about drinking, but it does provide principles that Christians should consider. While Christians are not prohibited from consuming alcohol, they are advised to do so with moderation and self-control, guarding against the progressive nature of alcoholism. For example, Ephesians 5:18 in the Bible states, "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit."
Different Christian denominations have varying attitudes towards alcohol. While some advocate for moderation, others promote abstinence. For instance, certain monastic communities like the Trappists have brewed beer and made wine, while the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, a Catholic organization, requires complete abstinence from alcoholic drinks as a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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Islamic views on smoking's harm
While the Quran does not explicitly mention smoking, Islamic scholars have interpreted its principles as prohibiting self-harm, and therefore smoking. This interpretation is supported by Quranic verses such as "Don't throw yourself into danger by your own hands..." (Al-Baqarah 2:195) and "And do not end your own lives. Indeed, God is to you ever Merciful" (Quran 4:29).
Some scholars argue that smoking is only haram if it causes harm, but it should be avoided regardless. This view has become more prominent as the harmful effects of smoking have been scientifically proven. The prominent scholar Yusuf al Qaradawi claims that smoking is no longer an issue of dispute among Islamic scholars due to the knowledge of its health risks.
The Prophet is also believed to have said, "There should be no harming or reciprocating harm," which is interpreted as prohibiting smoking as it is harmful. The money spent on smoking is also considered wasted, and the smell of smoke is believed to cause annoyance to others, which is forbidden in Islam.
Several fatwas have been issued against smoking, with notable Islamic authorities considering it haram due to its detrimental health effects. These include the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi of Iran in 1891, Malaysia's National Fatwa Council in 1996, and Al-Azhar University in Cairo. These fatwas have had some success in encouraging Muslims to quit smoking and preventing non-smokers from starting.
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Frequently asked questions
Scripture has much to say about the drinking of alcohol. While it warns against the misuse of alcohol, it does not forbid Christians from drinking beer, wine, or other alcoholic drinks. Some passages discuss alcohol in positive terms, such as Ecclesiastes 9:7, which says, "Drink your wine with a joyful heart." Drunkenness is considered a sin, but consumption of alcohol is a matter of Christian freedom.
The Quran does not prescribe a penalty for consuming alcohol, but some Quranic verses discourage it, acknowledging that it contains "great sin" and "some benefit." Some Islamic schools of thought prohibit the consumption of alcohol in all its forms. However, there is a distinction between grape-derived alcohol, which is forbidden, and non-grape alcohol, which may be allowed but not to the point of intoxication.
The Bible never mentions smoking, so there is no clear directive on whether it is a sin. However, Christians are advised not to allow themselves to become "mastered" by anything, and smoking is addictive. Some Christians argue that smoking can glorify God, while others believe that it is a sin if one believes it to be so.
While tobacco and smoking are not explicitly mentioned in the Quran or hadith, contemporary scholars have condemned smoking as harmful and prohibited it. Islamic law prohibits all actions that result in harm, and smoking falls under this category. Tobacco fatwas (Islamic legal pronouncements) have been issued due to health concerns, and some Muslim-majority countries have low rates of smoking.
Both religions approach these substances with caution, recognising the potential for misuse and harm. While Christianity allows for moderate alcohol consumption, Islam generally prohibits it due to its intoxicating effects. Regarding tobacco, both religions emphasise the importance of preserving health and well-being, with some scholars in both traditions considering smoking as harmful and, therefore, prohibited.
