Major Sins by Imam Shamsu ed-Deen Dhahabi

Allah, Most High says, {O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones and (divination by) arrows, is an abomination, of Satan's handiwork: Eschew such (abomination) that ye may prosper. Satan's plan is (but)

to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from Prayer: will ye not then abstain?} (Al-Ma'idah: 90-91)

Thus, Allah the Exalted forbids wine and warns us of approaching it.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "A void wine, it is the mother of abomination. "1

Therefore, if anyone does not avoid it, he then disobeys Allah and His Messenger and thus entails punishment.

Allah the Almighty says, {But those who disobey Allah and His Messenger and transgress His limits will be admitted to a fire, to abide therein: and they shall have a humiliating punishment.} (An-Nisa'i: 14)

Ibn 'Abbas related that, "When the wine was forbidden, the companions (of the Prophet) met each other and said, The wine was forbidden and became equal to polytheism (Shirk)." 2

'Abdullah Ibn 'Amr held that, "Wine is the worst of the major sins.” 3

Undoubtedly, wine is the core of abominations. Moreover, he who drinks it was cursed in various hadiths.

"Every intoxicant is wine and every wine is unlawful. Whoever it in the world and dies addictive to it without repentance, he will not drink it in the Hereafter."4

"Whoever drinks wine in this world it shall be forbidden for them in the next.”5

"A drunkard is like a worshiper of an idol."6

"He who shows disrespect to his parents and the drunkard will not enter Paradise.” 1

"Three people, Allah will deprive them of Paradise; the drunkard, the one who shows disrespect to his parents and the pimp who admits what his family do of abomination”.2

Further, Allah does not accept the good deeds of a drunkard. Jabir Ibn ' Abdullah relates that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "There are Three people from whom Allah does not accept their Prayer nor do their good deeds rise up to heaven: the fleeing slave until he returns to his masters and surrends to them, the woman who annoys her husband until he is pleased with her, and the drunkard until he becomes conscious” 3

The Arabic word Khamr is what befogs the mind in whatever form: soft, solid, edible or beverage.

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudari related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Allah does not accept the Prayers from him who drinks wine so long as there is still something of it in his body” 4

"Whoever drinks wine Allah never accepts what he does: Whoever is intoxicated by drinking it will not have his Prayers accepted for forty morning (days). If he repents but drinks again, Allah will make him drink from the molten brass of the Hell-fire.”5

"Whoever drinks wine without being intoxicated, Allah rejects him for forty nights. If he dies during this period, he dies as an idol worshiper.”6

'Abdullah Ibn Awfa said, "Whoever dies a drunkard will die as the worshiper of AI-Lat and AI-'Uzza (two idols). It is said, Do you think that the drunkard is the one who drinks it constantly? He answered, "But he drinks it whenever he finds it even after years.”7

Whoever drinks wine is not considered a believer at the time of drinking. Abu Hurayrah related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "A thief is not a believer at the time of committing a theft. A fornicator is not a believer at the time of committing fornication, and a drunkard also is not a believer at the time of drinking as long as they have the opportunity to repent” 8

"Whoever fornicates or drinks wine, Allah takes his faith from him as a man takes a shirt off over his head.” "The scent of Paradise is smelt five hundred years away but is not sensed by whomever shows disrespect to his parents, he who reminds of his charity to them, a drunkard or an idol worshiper.” 1

Imam Ahmad reported on the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari that the Prophet said, "A drunkard, a believer in sorcery or he who severs his family ties will not enter Paradise. Whoever dies while drinking wine, Allah will make him drink from the river of Ghuta which is the water flowing from the genitals of the wenches. The odor of their genitals hurt all the people of the Hell-Fire.” 2

"Allah sent me as a mercy and guidance to the worlds. I was sent to do away with musical instruments, flutes, and the affairs of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance and idols. My Lord the Almighty swore by His Majesty that if one of my servants drinks a dosage of wine, I would make him drink the like of it in the Hell- Fire. But whoever gave up it out of fear from Me, I would give him drink from the yards of the shrine with the best fellow of drinking.” 3

As for those who are cursed because of drinking wine, Abu Dawud reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Allah has cursed wine, and whoever drinks it, pours it, buys it, presses it for another, presses it for himself, carries it or accept its delivery.” 4

Ahmad reported on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Gabriel came to me and said, "0 Muhammad, Allah has cursed wine, and whoever presses it for another, presses it for himself, drinks it, carries it, accepts its delivery, sells it buys it, pours it for another or pours it for himself.5” It is unlawful to visit a drunkard when he is ill so is greeting him.

`Abdullah Ibn 'Amr Ibn AI-As (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Do not visit the drunkard when being ill."6

AI-Bukhari and Ibn 'Umar said, "Do not greet the drunkard." The Prophet said, "Do not sit with the drunkard, visit their sick or attend their funerals. On the Day of Judgement the drunkard will be brought with a black face, and his tongue dangling on his chest, flowing with saliva.

Whoever sees him knowing that he is a drunkard will disgust him.”7

A scholar said, they are forbidden to be visited and be greeted because the drunkards are cursed and rebellious. Allah and His Messenger cursed them as mentioned before. Allah cursed wine and he who drinks it. If they buy and press it they will be cursed twice and if they pour it for another they will be cursed three times. Therefore, it is for bidden to visit or greet them unless they repent to Allah. Whoever repents to Allah. He will accept his repentance.

Wine is forbidden as a medicine. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) related, "Once, one of my daughters was ill, so I made wine in a container for her. Then, the Prophet entered while it was boiling. He asked, "What is this, Umm Salamah?" She replied, "It is just a medicine for my daughter." The Prophet, then, said, "Allah has not made a cure for you in what He has prohibited to you."1

Miscellaneous hadiths narrated about wine:

Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "A cask of wine was brought to the Prophet (pbuh) who said, Throw it against the wall, it is the drink of those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day.”2

"Whoever memorizes a verse (Ayah) from Allah's Book and pours wine on it every letter of this Ayah will drag him from his forehead, make him stand before Allah Most Blessed and Exalted. Then, it argues with him, and whoever is argued with by the Qur'an will be treated as an opponent. Woe to whomever is argued by the Qur'an on the Day of Judgement.” 3

"If a group of people gather together to have an intoxicant in this world, Allah will gather them together in the Hell-Fire. They will turn to and blame one another by saying, 0 such and such may Allah not bless you. You brought me here." 4

"Whoever drinks wine in this world, Allah will make him drink from the poison of Asawid. One sip of this poison will make the flesh of his face fall in the goblet before he drinks it. Having drunk it, his flesh and skin will fall off, and it will bring pain to the people of the Hell-Fire. Behold, whoever drinks it, presses it for another, presses it for himself; carries it, accepts its delivery or eats its price are alike in entailing its sin. Allah does not accept their Prayer, Fasting or Pilgrimage until they repent. But if they die before doing repentance, Allah will make them drink pus of the Hell-Fire for every dosage they drank in this world.

Beware, every intoxicant is wine, and every win is unlawful.” 5

The Prophet's statement "Every intoxicant is wine" included also hashish (marijuana) as will be shown later.

It is narrated that "When the drunkards are brought to the bridge on the Fire (Sirat) they will be kidnapped by the angels of punishment to the river of Khabal. There they will drink for every glass of wine they have drunk a sip from the river of Khabal. Such a sip is so hot that if poured on to heaven, it will be burnt."

"Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "Whenever a drunkard dies let him be buried crucified. Then disinter his grave to find out whether he is directed to Qiblah or not. If not, let him be crucified." It is narrated that once Al-FudailIbn Eyad visited one of his disciples when dying. He started to instruct the deceased the testification of Faith, 'there is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." but the disciple could not repeat after him. When Al-Fudail repeated it again the disciple said, "I could never pronounce it. I am free of it.’ Then, Al-Fudail left weeping. Afterwards, he saw in a dream the disciple while being dragged to Fire. He asked him, "0 poor disciple, why did you turn to ignorance?" He replied, "0 master, when I was ill, I went to a physician who advised me to drink a glass of wine every year. It not, you would remain sick. Therefore, I used to drink it annually for treatment." If that is the abode of those who drink it for treatment. How about the others?

When a penitent was asked, Why he repented he answered, 'I was used to entering graves. Once, I saw a dead person not directed to Qiblah. I, then, asked his kinsmen about him and they said, "He used to drink wine in the world and died without doing repentance.

One of the righteous men said, "Having buried one of my kids, I saw him in a dream with a white hairy head. I asked, 0 my kid, I had buried you as a child, what happened to you?" A drunkard was buried beside me, father. Then Hell-Fire received him by just a puff. It was so violent that all children grew white hairy.

Hence, we should repent to Allah the Almighty before dying disobedient and then cast into the Fire. We seek Allah's refuge from it.

Hashish which is made from marijuana is like wine. It is unlawful and whoever smokes it should suffer the same penalty of a drunkard. Actually it is worst than wine. As it affects one's mind and perception to the extent that he may turn into effeminate or a pimp etc. Wine is also most abominated as it often leads to disagreement and fighting and they in turn take the Muslim away of Prayer and remembrance of Allah.

Some earliest scholars held that who eats or smokes hashish should be disciplined but such disciplinary action may not reach the amount of the least prescribed legal penalty. This is because they considered it as something that befogs mind but not desired like narcotics Nevertheless, hashish is something which is desired and it is hard for the addict to renounce it. Therefore, he who eats or smoke it should be penalized like the one who drinks wine.

Because hashish is solid the scholars are not unanimous as to whether it is filthy or not. There are three points of views as shown in the Hanbali school of jurisprudence and others: It is as filthy as wine and this is the correct point of view.

It is not filthy due to its solidity. Solid hashish is pure but liquid hashish is filthy.

Once, Abu Musa asked, "0 Messenger of Allah what is the ruling of Bit' and Mizr (two intoxicants beverages made in Yemen). The former is made of honey and the lather is made of barely. He added, the Prophet is so eloquent. The Prophet answered, “Every intoxicant that causes the negligence of Prayer is forbidden.” 1

"Of that which intoxicates in a large amount, a small amount is unlawful.” 2

In the hadith above, there is no reference to the dichotomy of intoxicants into solid or liquid.

Whatever the kind or form of an intoxicant, it is unlawful. Hashish is not mentioned by the early Muslims because it was used only after the coming of Tatars to the Islamic world.

Abdul-Malik Ibn Marawan recounted a story about a young man who came to him weeping because of a sin he committed. The young man asked: Is repentance available to me? Abdul-Malik said, “What did you commit of sins? I committed a grievous sin, the man declared. Abu Malik said, "You would better repent to Allah Who accepts the repentance of His servants and forgives all sins." Then, the young man said, "O leader of the believers, I was used to robbing graves. There I have seen many wondrous scenes. He asked him: "What did you see?" He said, "One night I robbed a grave where I noticed the corpse not directed to Qiblah. I was scared and started to leave but I heard someone saying, "Would not you ask why he was turned away from Qiblah? Why, I asked. He said, “Because he was not serious in Prayer.” When I stole from another grave I noticed that the corpse was turned into a pig and his neck tied by chains. I was scared and attempted to leave, but I heard someone saying, "would not you ask about his deeds, and why he was tortured?" I asked why?" He said, "He drank wine in the world and died without doing repentance.

In the third grave I saw that the corpse was spinned into the earth by wedges of fire and that the tongue was pierced to the back of his head. I became scared and tried to go back but someone called me by saying,’ “Would you like to know why he was tortured?” I asked. “Why”? He said, "He did not free himself of traces of urine and was a talebearer.” In the fourth grave, I saw that the corpse blazing in fire. I was scared and attempted to leave but I was called would you like to know why he was tormented. I asked, “Why?” He replied he neglected prayers.

Eventually, I stole from a fifth grave which was so wide as far as one's sight and shiny. The corpse was lying on a bed illuminated and well dressed. I honored him and tried to leave but someone called me saying, "would you like to know why he was honored?" "Why? I asked ." He said, "He was a devout young man who was brought obeying and worshipping Allah." Then Abdul-Malik commented, "This is a lesson to the sinful men and a good tiding to the devout people. May Allah count you and us among the devout and obedient people and let us be protected from the wrongdoing. He is the Most Generous, the Most Bounteous.