Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Datuk Mufti WP. I want to ask your opinion regarding the ruling of attending an event where alcohol is served. What is the Islamic perspective regarding this issue and the right steps to be taken?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The Position of Alcoholic Beverages in Islam
The author of al-Fiqh al-Manhaji (3/75-81) explains the position of alcoholic beverages in Islam.
It is prohibited to drink anything that is intoxicating, whether it is wine (خمر), made from grapes or other alcoholic beverages (other than wine), which are made from something else. This is in accordance to a statement by Allah SWT:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.”
Surah al-Maidah (90)
The commandment of avoiding wine is stronger than the prohibition of drinking it. This is due to the fact that the prohibition is just for drinking intoxicants.
While the commandment to avoid it includes the warning against everything related to intoxicating drinks, which also includes drinking, buying and selling, attending an event where it is served and others.
The Ruling of Sitting in an Event Where Alcoholic Beverages is Served
In this issue, there are several Quranic and prophetic evidences that clearly prohibits this act. This is in accordance to a statement by Allah SWT:
وَقَدْ نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الْكِتَابِ أَنْ إِذَا سَمِعْتُمْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ يُكْفَرُ بِهَا وَيُسْتَهْزَأُ بِهَا فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ
“And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so, do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation.”
Surah al-Nisa’ (140)
According to this verse, sitting in an event where there are transgressions and insults to the verses of Allah SWT is prohibited. This is clear in the phrase ( فَلَا تَقْعُدُوا مَعَهُمْ )that comes with ‘La al-Naahiyah’ which results in its prohibition.
Imam Abu Ja’far Rahimahullah in his commentaries of this verse said:
وفي هذه الآية، الدلالة الواضحة على النهي عن مجالسة أهل الباطل من كل نوع من المبتدعة والفسَقة، عند خوضهم في باطلهم
“In this verse, the dalalah is clear for the prohibition of attending events that consists of the people of falsehood. This may be from the people of bid’ah, fasiq and those who commits falsehood.” See Al-Jaami’ al-Bayan, al-Tobari (9/320).
There is also another narration by the Prophet PBUH that clearly prohibits sitting in an event where wine is served in it. From Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma, the Prophet PBUH said:
من كان يؤمنُ باللهِ واليومِ الآخرِ فلا يشربِ الخمرَ من كان يؤمنُ باللهِ واليومِ الآخرِ فلا يجلسْ على مائدةٍ يشربُ عليها الخمرَ
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, don’t drink wine. And whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not sit at a table over which wine is being served.”
Sunan al-Haithami (1/283)
Siyaq or the context of this hadith, clearly states the prohibition of sitting in an event where wine is served. The restriction on drinking wine does not refer to it being undesirable but as a prohibition to the act. Thus, the next restriction of sitting in an event where wine is served follows the same ruling of drinking wine, which is, it is prohibited.
Fatwa by Authorized Bodies
First: Dar al-Ifta’ al-Misriyyah
In a fatwa issued by Syeikh al-Allamah Jaad al-Haq Ali Jaad al-Haq in 1979 M, he said, regarding events where there is giving or receiving of drugs, his words are: Allah SWT praises His servants that avoids any events that are frivolous or unbeneficial. Allah SWT states:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنِ اللَّغْوِ مُعْرِضُونَ
“And they who turn away from ill speech”
Surah al-Mu’minin (3)
Abu Daud narrated from Umar R.Anhu, he said:
نَهَى رسُولُ الله صلَّى الله عليه وسَلَّم عَنِ الجُلُوسِ عَلَى مَائِدَةٍ يُشربُ عَلَيهَا الخَمْرُ
“The Prophet PBUH prohibits sitting where wine is being served,”
The lesson that could be taken from both the Quranic and prophetic evidences is that they both prohibit attending or sitting in the same event with those that transgressed the Islamic rulings in any form. And whoever that sits in such events would act with the same attitude of those that commits the transgressions. They would follow what is normally done by the transgressors such as drinking alcoholic beverages.
Second: Dar al-Ifta’ Jordan
Dar al-Ifta’ through its mufti, Samahah al-Mufti al-‘Am Dr. Nuh Ali Salman Rahimahullah when answering the issue of visiting the non-Muslims, when he knows that there are alcoholic beverages served in the event. He said: “It is prohibited for someone to sit in an event where alcoholic beverages are served in it, according to the statement of Allah SWT in Surah al-Nisa’ verse 140.”
Then he quoted the words of Imam al-Sarakhsi Rahimahullah: “It is commanded for a Muslim to not sit in events such as this. However, he must prevent others from drinking wine in an effort to prevent sins as much as he is capable to. And he must not go past these places, for these people are cursed.” Refer Syarh al-Siyar, al-Sarakhsi (1/57).
Conclusion
To conclude, after we have examined this issue properly, we hold the opinion that a Muslim is prohibited from sitting in an event where there is wine served. Its aims are to show the grandeur and eminence of Islam, guard the dignity and self-esteem of Muslims, avoid fitnah against oneself, and avoid any act that could corrupt the character and personality of a person. Hopefully, this explanation will benefit all of us.
Ameen.