Every intoxicant is forbidden. He who drinks wine in this world, and dies when he is addiction to it, will not drink it in the next.
The Prohibition of Intoxicants
The hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud 3679 establishes the fundamental Islamic ruling that all intoxicating substances are categorically forbidden (haram). This comprehensive prohibition includes not only fermented grape wine (khamr) but extends to any substance that clouds the intellect, whether derived from dates, wheat, barley, honey, or other sources.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars like Imam Nawawi explain that the term "khamr" in the prophetic tradition refers to any substance that causes intoxication when consumed in large quantities. The prohibition is based on the principle of blocking the means to evil (sadd al-dhara'i), as intoxication leads to neglect of prayer, immoral behavior, and loss of rational judgment.
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya elaborates that the prohibition serves to protect five essential matters: religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property. The preservation of intellect ('aql) is particularly relevant here, as intoxicants directly impair this God-given faculty.
Spiritual Consequences
The warning about the Hereafter carries profound spiritual significance. Scholars interpret this to mean that one who dies persisting in this major sin without repentance will be deprived of the pure delights of Paradise. Al-Qurtubi notes that this deprivation serves as both a punishment and a reflection of one's spiritual state - those who preferred intoxication in this world will find no pleasure in the pure drinks of the Next World.
Legal Implications
According to the Hanafi school, the punishment for drinking wine is forty lashes, while other schools prescribe eighty. The difference stems from various interpretations of prophetic traditions, but all agree on the gravity of the offense. The prohibition extends to all aspects of the wine trade - its production, sale, transportation, and consumption.