Wine in the Quran

[Quratulaine]

:salam2:
I have a question about surat 47 verse 15...which is a verse that non-muslims tend to use against muslims, claiming that it is a contradiction in the quran. :astag:

The description of Paradise which the Muttaqun have been promised is that in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure) therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are these) like those who shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels? Sura 47:15

I know that in the Quran, it also explains that paradise is something that no one can imagine...so the images of "milk" "water" "wine" and "honey" are metaphors...but how would we answer the question: why would wine be used as a metaphor if it is haram?


another note: i do not speak arabic, so unfortunately i cannot understand the only true version of the quran...so this can also cause problems i guess if someone simply isolates a translation and tries to interpret the translation literally. (since when you translate any text....some of the meaning is always lost!)

what do you guys think about this issue?

 

[NewMuslim]

Assalaamu Alaykum
From answering-christianity:

Allah described paradise in a Qudsi hadith…

Saheeh Bukhari

Volumn 009, Book 093, Hadith Number 589.

Narated By Abu Huraira : The Prophet said, "Allah said, "I have prepared for My righteous slaves (such excellent things) as no eye has ever seen, nor an ear has ever heard nor a human heart can ever think of.'"



So as we can see paradise is something that is not of this world. So when the Quran talks about rivers of honey that does not mean that it is the same kind of honey that we have in this world. Similarly, when the Quran talks about rivers of wine in paradise that does not mean that it is the same kind of wine that we have here on earth that makes you get drunk and do stupid things and gives you a hangover the next morning. No, not at all. God is just using these terms in order for us to try to imagine what this paradise is kind of like. So the wine of paradise is nothing like the wine of this world.

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I have an answer myself. Paradise is going to be enjoyable both spiritually and physically. Just because something is forbidden on Earth doesn't mean it will be in Heaven. The things that you wish you had on Earth, physically pleasing things, will be made available in Heaven.

 

[BrotherZak]

Volumn 009, Book 093, Hadith Number 589.

Narated By Abu Huraira : The Prophet said, "Allah said, "I have prepared for My righteous slaves (such excellent things) as no eye has ever seen, nor an ear has ever heard nor a human heart can ever think of.'"



So as we can see paradise is something that is not of this world. So when the Quran talks about rivers of honey that does not mean that it is the same kind of honey that we have in this world. Similarly, when the Quran talks about rivers of wine in paradise that does not mean that it is the same kind of wine that we have here on earth that makes you get drunk and do stupid things and gives you a hangover the next morning. No, not at all. God is just using these terms in order for us to try to imagine what this paradise is kind of like. So the wine of paradise is nothing like the wine of this world.

I suggets you read this article on paradise in Islam by harun yahya:
http://www.harunyahya.com/paradise01.php

 

[ripefig]

:salam2:

I have seen some of these lame "so called" contradictions. First of all what is prohibited on earth may be lawful in the hereafter, eg. Men should not wear gold or silk because it is the attire of the hereafter. Although we can use the above argument, here is a more basic and simple answer. We are prohibited from alchohol (intoxicant) which changes a persons state of mind causing him/her to engage in acts they would not normally do (shameful or otherwise). Right here on earth we can find non-alcholic wines. As long as there is no alchohol it is not haraam. There is much danger in visiting non Islamic websites without sufficient Ilm (knowledge). Even debates without Ilm is not recommended. We should seek knowledge in our deen and develop trust in our creator.

 

[Basicofislam]

:salam2: . The wine they talk about in heaven is not like the wine on earth. It does not have impurities and also it does not intoxicate.

 

[Proud2BeHumble]

:salam2:

The Qur'an has been sent as a book that can be easily understood by everyone.

God says in one of His verses "Mankind! Admonition has come to you from your Lord and also healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers." (Surah Yunus: 57). As illustrated in this verse, those who believe in God and obey their consciences can benefit from the Qur'an and easily understand and follow its commands.

However those people who heed their baser selves, do not fully accept the power of God, and have doubts about the Hereafter, will use their twisted logic to misinterpret the Qur'anic verses. God informs us of the nature of such people who do not seek guidance from the Qur'an in the following verse:

We have made things clear in this Qur'an so that they might pay heed, but it only makes them run away the more! (Surat al-Isra': 41)

What we have said so far makes it clear that only those who are sincere in their faith will understand the Qur'an correctly. The Qur'an was revealed as a clear book from God that those of His servants who believe and who use their reason can easily understand and seek guidance from.

As faith increases, so do wisdom, sincerity, and fear of God at the same rate. As a result, the finer points of the Qur'an can be understood much better.

When a person who is not a believer still reads the Qur'an sincerely and without ulterior motives, he readily recognizes that it is a holy book and thus become a believer. As God's verses are clear, they can be acted upon immediately. After an individual becomes a believer, the depth of his faith, prayer and the level of his knowledge will be the factors that will grant him access to the intricacies and mysteries of the Qur'an.

On the other hand, those without faith or fear of God cannot comprehend the Qur'an correctly. In fact, they misinterpret even the most obvious matters which they claim to know. Explicit expressions appear contradictory to them. No matter how clever, knowledgeable, cultured or well-informed about the Qur'an these people may be, they are incapable of comprehending its contents due to their lack of faith in God.

When one studies the allegations made by people who oppose the Qur'an, the misunderstandings and gaps of logic they are based on are obvious. Self-seeking people claim to see the verses, which are so clear as contradictory and confusing. The Qur'an mentions the confusion that those who deny it display in the face of the examples in various parts of the Qur'an as they ask, "What does God mean by this example?" Indeed, just as the Qur'an has informed us, in every era deniers have admitted, directly or otherwise, how they have not been able to understand these examples. This is a miracle of the Qur'an; a verse that is very easy for a believer to understand becomes equally perplexing for a non-believer. This shows us that understanding the Qur'an depends on the sincerity of one's intentions, and that it is God who decides whether or not a person should receive this understanding. This is clarified in a verse in these words:

Who could do greater wrong than someone who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord and then turns away from them, forgetting all that he has done before? We have placed covers on their hearts, preventing them from understanding it, and heaviness in their ears. Though you call them to guidance, they will nonetheless never be guided. (Surat al-Kahf: 57)

A sincere, conscientious believer can understand and apply the basic spiritual subjects and commandments in the Qur'an with ease. However, a non-believer who is insincere and prejudiced, even if he has a knowledge of Arabic along with immense technical knowledge and is considered an expert in his field, will be unable to comprehend the Qur'an correctly since he follows his baser self. That is why he lacks the ability to reason. Since he cannot reason, he will be unable to any more than make twisted and mindless assumptions in interpreting Qur'anic verses.


Wine-drinking in Heaven

One of the topics unwise people portray as a contradiction is how wine is served in Heaven when it is forbidden in this world. The verse that they use to make their claim reads:

An image of the Garden which is promised to those who have fear for God: in it there are rivers of water which will never spoil and rivers of milk whose taste will never change and rivers of wine, delightful to all who drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity; in it they will have fruit of every kind and forgiveness from their Lord. Is that like those who will be in the Fire timelessly, for ever, with boiling water to drink which lacerates their bowels? (Surah Muhammad: 15)

As previously explained, this type of error of perception occurs when one is prejudiced, deliberately perverse, unable to reason, and has not grasped the Qur'an as a whole. Now, let us examine why such a thoughtless claim is illogical and baseless from several angles:

First of all, we are able to see that there is a difference between the drink served in Heaven and the one of this world from the following verse:

With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled) out of clear-flowing fountains: No after-ache will they receive therefrom, nor will they suffer intoxication. (Surat al-Waqi'ah: 18-19)

As can be seen, the drinks served in Heaven do not have any of the negative effects and attributes that alcoholic drinks in this world do. As mentioned in the verse, they do not cause headaches or confuse the mind. This means that even though they give pleasure, they do not in any way cause drunkenness or illness. So there is not the least inconsistency in such a drink being offered in Heaven.

Alcoholic drinks in this world, on the other hand, have always been portrayed in the Qur'an together with their many damaging and harmful attributes. Some of the verses that describe the destructive and negative nature of alcoholic drinks in this world are:

You who have faith! Wine and gambling, stone altars and divining arrows are filth from the handiwork of Satan. Avoid them completely so that hopefully you will be successful. Satan wants to stir up enmity and hatred between you by means of wine and gambling, and to debar you from remembrance of God and from prayer. Will you not then give them up? (Surat al-Ma'idah: 90-91)

They will ask you about wine and gambling. Say, 'There is great sin in both of them and also certain benefits for mankind. But the sin in them is greater than the benefit.' (Surat al-Baqarah: 219)

Obviously, it cannot be expected that characteristics of drinks that are forbidden in this world could exist in Heavenly ones. As God describes the Heavenly drinks, He emphasizes once more that they do not contain the harmful attributes of those in this world:

... a cup from a flowing spring passing round among them, as white as driven snow, delicious to those who drink, which has no headache in it and does not leave them stupefied. (Surat as-Saffat: 45-47)

The logic of anyone who sees this topic as a contradiction when God has made it all so clear must be seriously doubted. It is one of the Qur'an's miracles that when a person approaches it with ignorance and ulterior motives, he will be incapable of understanding even the most obvious of topics. God describes the case of such a person in one of His verses:

No self can have faith except with God's permission. He places a blight on those who do not use their intellect. (Surah Yunus: 100)

Secondly, in the Arabic text of the Qur'an the word "hamr", which stands for the word wine and all alcoholic drinks as we know them, is only mentioned in the above verse number 15 from Surah Muhammad as a drink served in Heaven. In all the other verses of the Qur'an the word "sharab" is used for heavenly drinks, and means any type of drink in Arabic. In some English translations, the word sharab is translated as wine, whereas in Arabic it originates from the word "sherebe" and can be used to mean any non-alcoholic drink as well. One of the Qur'anic verses in which this word is mentioned where it means any drink is:

Where they will recline, calling for plentiful fruit and drink (sharab) ... (Surah Sad: 51)

They will wear green garments of fine silk and rich brocade. They will be adorned with silver bracelets. And their Lord will give them to drink of a pure draught (sharab) to drink. (Surat al-Insan: 21)


Another Incorrect Interpretation on the Subject of Wine

It is stated in verse 67 of Surat an-Nahl
"And from the fruit of the date-palm and the grape-vine you derive both intoxicants and wholesome provision."
Some people of limited understanding assume that this verse praises wine and say that it is contradictory for a forbidden drink to be praised. First of all, if you take a good look, you can see that there is no such praise in the verse. The praise is rather of "the fruit of the date-palm and the grape-vine" which provide people with wholesome nourishment. The intoxicants mentioned in the first part of the verse are what people distill from these components and cause drunkenness, which have already been mentioned in many parts of the Qur'an as harmful and wrong. If anyone manages to reach the conclusion that this verse is praising or encouraging drunkenness, then either that person has an ulterior motive or else he is simply displaying an immense error in understanding and opinion.

This verse draws attention to one very significant fact; any food given as sustenance by God, can, if so desired, be used in a positive and beneficial way or can be abused to serve harmful ends. In the same way, depending on the intent, a given blessing can be used for good or ill, and can be used for lawful (halal) or unlawful (haram) ends. Here, this basic fact of this world, which is a testing ground, is made clear in the controversy over grapes and wine. The grape, a sustenance filled with healthy, nurturing and delicious qualities can be distilled into a truly harmful substance with permanent and negative effects. The same principle is true of other offerings from God such as property, money, beauty, intelligence, office, position, power and dominion. It is possible to use these in a manner that will please God or for harmful and destructive purposes to displease Him.

As seen, God can transform any offering, for various reasons, into different creations. He can make this clear in a single verse with the same superior Wisdom. Those who are able to reason will see the logic in God's verses and understand them.

Moreover, the continuation of the verse"There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reason."(Surat an-Nahl: 67) sheds further light on this subject.

In short, when the verse is read with consciousness and attention, it can be seen that it is not contradictory at all. The deniers' attempt to find contradiction in such obvious subjects clearly shows their desperate situation in the face of the Qur'an.

 

[harryguy]

:salam2:
I have a question about surat 47 verse 15...which is a verse that non-muslims tend to use against muslims, claiming that it is a contradiction in the quran. :astag:

The description of Paradise which the Muttaqun have been promised is that in it are rivers of water the taste and smell of which are not changed; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes; rivers of wine delicious to those who drink; and rivers of clarified honey (clear and pure) therein for them is every kind of fruit; and forgiveness from their Lord. (Are these) like those who shall dwell for ever in the Fire, and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels? Sura 47:15

I know that in the Quran, it also explains that paradise is something that no one can imagine...so the images of "milk" "water" "wine" and "honey" are metaphors...but how would we answer the question: why would wine be used as a metaphor if it is haram?


another note: i do not speak arabic, so unfortunately i cannot understand the only true version of the quran...so this can also cause problems i guess if someone simply isolates a translation and tries to interpret the translation literally. (since when you translate any text....some of the meaning is always lost!)

what do you guys think about this issue?

Allah know that wine is something a son of Adam like ,So he use it to make feel how paradise is.
And let me tell you one thing ,When you enter paradise there is nothing haram or sin .okay so when you enter paradise every thing you want you will.
Why don't you asked of the huurun een.Are they yours ?Have you marry them?But you can sleep with them.
so Wine is the greatest drink in paradise that will flowing like a river pure and clean only for you and when you drink you fly on your 75wives and they will finsing you..............

 

[happy 2 b muslim]

in jannah nothing is haram everything is halal

 

[dna1987]

Why is wine used as a metaphor?

Wine was not forbidden at the start of Islam. After the Prophet (pbuh) started preaching for a few years, the order was given for wine to be forbidden for the Muslim.

And so Muslims at that time gave drinking alcohol and emptied out their containers. They were giving up alcohol for the sake of Allah. And so "wine" is something they (and everyone else) will get to have in Jannah, but something we have to avoid in this life.