Why are alcohol and gambling forbidden in Islam?

According to Quran 5:91, alcohol (Khamr) and gambling (Maysir) are forbidden because they are tools of Satan used to create enmity and hatred among people. They also serve to distract believers from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer, thus corrupting both social harmony and spiritual well-being.

What does the Quran say is the ruling on intoxicants and gambling?

Quran 5:90 describes intoxicants (Khamr), gambling (Maysir), idolatry, and divining arrows as a 'rijs'—an abomination or filth—from the handiwork of Satan. The verse commands believers to 'avoid it' ('fajtanibuhu') so that they may be successful, which classical scholars unanimously interpret as a definitive prohibition.

What does 'Maysir' mean in Islam?

Maysir is an Arabic term that refers to any game of chance or speculation where wealth is acquired easily without effort, at the expense of others. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari explain it covers all forms of gambling, from traditional games of chance to modern lotteries and betting, where one party's gain is contingent on another's loss.

Alcohol and Gambling in Islam: Quranic Prohibition of Khamr and Maysir

alcohol and gambling

Explore Verses Related to alcohol and gambling

🕌Al-Ma'idah5:90 🕌Al-Ma'idah5:91

At a Glance

According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the prohibition of alcohol (Al-Khamr) and gambling (Al-Maysir) is a foundational principle of Islamic law, definitively established in the Quran. Tafsir of Surah Al-Ma'idah, verses 5:90-91, by authorities like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, explains these practices as 'rijs'—an abomination from the handiwork of Satan. The Quran explicitly commands believers to shun them to achieve success. The wisdom behind this prohibition is a divine protection for the community; these acts are identified as Satan's primary tools for inciting 'enmity and hatred' among people and for turning them away from the remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and prayer (salah). The scholarly consensus (ijma) is that 'Khamr' includes all substances that intoxicate and veil the intellect, while 'Maysir' encompasses all games of chance where wealth is transferred without legitimate trade or effort. This prohibition protects faith, intellect, wealth, and social cohesion.

📖 Quranic Context

A cornerstone of Islamic social and ethical law, defining major sins (kaba'ir) and protecting the objectives of Shari'ah (Maqasid al-Shari'ah).

Portrayed as a direct command from Allah to believers to shun these practices as a means of achieving success (falah) and maintaining a connection with Him.

References: 5:90, 5:91. Earlier verses addressing the topic include 2:219 and 4:43.

💭 Theological Perspective

Addresses the human inclination towards ease and intoxication, framing them as tools of Satan to exploit human weakness.

Recognized as primary causes of spiritual diseases, social discord (enmity and hatred), and negligence (ghaflah) of religious duties.

The prohibition is presented as a mercy from Allah to protect the intellect, wealth, faith, and social fabric of the community.

Abstinence from alcohol and gambling is a fundamental act of obedience and a prerequisite for spiritual purity and proximity to Allah.

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) cursed ten individuals related to the production and consumption of alcohol, indicating the gravity of the sin. He also stated, 'Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden.' [Sahih Muslim, 92].

The prohibition of even small amounts of intoxicants.
Alcohol as the 'mother of all evils'.
The sin of even intending to gamble, requiring charity as expiation.

Universal agreement (ijma) among all schools of Islamic law on the absolute prohibition of both khamr (all intoxicants) and maysir (all forms of gambling).

💎 Deeper Insights

The Quran doesn't just prohibit these acts; it exposes the strategic 'goals' of Satan (verse 5:91). This provides believers with a profound psychological and spiritual insight, reframing the prohibition from a mere rule into a conscious act of thwarting a declared enemy's plan. It empowers believers by revealing the enemy's playbook.

— Ibn Kathir, Sayyid Qutb

The verse links two seemingly different harms: social decay ('enmity and hatred') and spiritual decay ('distraction from dhikr and salah'). This establishes a core Islamic principle: social justice and harmony are impossible without a collective spiritual connection to God, and vice-versa. One cannot be sacrificed for the other.

— Al-Qurtubi, Contemporary Islamic Sociologists