Sunan Abi Dawud 3670
حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْخُتَّلِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ - عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَ تَحْرِيمُ الْخَمْرِ قَالَ عُمَرُاللَّهُمَّ بَيِّنْ لَنَا فِي الْخَمْرِ بَيَانًا شِفَاءً فَنَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِي الْبَقَرَةِ ‏‏{‏ يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ ‏}‏ الآيَةَ قَالَ فَدُعِيَ عُمَرُ فَقُرِئَتْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ بَيِّنْ لَنَا فِي الْخَمْرِ بَيَانًا شِفَاءً فَنَزَلَتِ الآيَةُ الَّتِي فِي النِّسَاءِ ‏‏{‏ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَقْرَبُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنْتُمْ سُكَارَى ‏}‏ فَكَانَ مُنَادِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا أُقِيمَتِ الصَّلاَةُ يُنَادِي أَلاَ لاَ يَقْرَبَنَّ الصَّلاَةَ سَكْرَانُ فَدُعِيَ عُمَرُ فَقُرِئَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ بَيِّنْ لَنَا فِي الْخَمْرِ بَيَانًا شِفَاءً فَنَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ ‏‏{‏ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُنْتَهُونَ ‏}‏ قَالَ عُمَرُ انْتَهَيْنَا ‏.‏
Translation
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab

When the prohibition of wine was revealed, Umar said, "O Allah, give us a clear and decisive explanation regarding wine." So the verse in Surah al-Baqarah was revealed:

They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin..."

He said, "So Umar was called and it was recited to him." He said, "O Allah, give us a clear and decisive explanation regarding wine." Then the verse in Surah an-Nisa was revealed:

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated...

Then the herald of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would call out when the prayer was established, proclaiming, "Beware, no intoxicated person should approach the prayer." Then Umar was called and it was recited to him, and he said, "O Allah, give us a clear and decisive explanation regarding wine." Then this verse was revealed:

So will you not desist?

Umar said, "We have desisted."
Comment

Hadith Commentary: The Gradual Prohibition of Wine

This narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 3670 in the Book of Drinks (Kitab Al-Ashribah) demonstrates divine wisdom in legislation, showing how Allah gradually prohibited intoxicants to facilitate the community's spiritual development.

First Stage: Recognition of Sin

The initial revelation in Surah al-Baqarah (2:219) identifies wine and gambling as containing "great sin" while acknowledging some worldly benefits. This allowed Muslims to recognize the spiritual danger while preparing them for eventual prohibition.

Second Stage: Prayer Prohibition

The revelation in Surah an-Nisa (4:43) forbade approaching prayer while intoxicated, creating a practical barrier that limited consumption by connecting it to the fundamental pillar of prayer.

Final Prohibition: Complete Abstention

The conclusive verse from Surah al-Ma'idah (5:90-91) declared intoxicants as "abominations of Satan's handiwork" and commanded complete abstention, to which Umar responded with immediate compliance: "We abstained."

Scholarly Insights

Classical scholars note that this gradual approach reflects divine mercy, considering the deep-rooted nature of alcohol in pre-Islamic society. The wisdom lies in nurturing spiritual maturity rather than imposing immediate change.

Umar's repeated supplication demonstrates the Companions' earnest desire for clear guidance and their complete submission to divine command once it was fully revealed.