Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 67

(Ayah67) ➊ {وَ مِنْ ثَمَرٰتِ النَّخِيْلِ وَ الْاَعْنَابِ … : ’’ النَّخِيْلِ ‘‘} and {’’اَلنَّخْلُ‘‘} are generic terms, meaning date palm tree. If a single tree is to be specified, a “taa” is added, {’’نَخِيْلَةٌ‘‘} and {’’نَخْلَةٌ ‘‘}. The meaning of {’’نَخَلَ يَنْخُلُ‘‘} is to sift and separate the best part, to sift. Therefore, some scholars say that since the date is the most select fruit among fruits, it is called {’’نَخِيْلٌ‘‘}. Its fruit has different names according to its stages: {’’اَلْبَلَحُ‘‘}, then {’’اَلْبُسْرُ‘‘}, then {’’اَلرُّطَبُ‘‘}, then {’’اَلتَّمْرُ‘‘}. That is why the name of its tree is mentioned, and the name of the grape’s fruit is mentioned in the plural as {’’ الْاَعْنَابِ ‘‘}, because grapes have countless varieties, although its vine is called {’’اَلْكَرْمُ‘‘} in Arabic. {’’ سَكَرًا ‘‘} means intoxicating thing; it is read both as {’’سَكَرٌ‘‘} and {’’سُكْرٌ‘‘}, just like {’’رَشَدٌ‘‘} and {’’رُشْدٌ‘‘}.

➋ After the milk-producing animals, the blessing of fruits is mentioned. In Arabia, these two fruits were more common; they are eaten fresh and can also be stored. Countless products are also made from them. Allah Almighty has classified the things made from them into two types: one intoxicating and one good provision. This indicates that although intoxicants are not devoid of benefit, they are not good provision. This is a prelude to the prohibition of wine in the future, and it is mentioned as a blessing because wine was lawful in Mecca and this surah is Makki.

➌ {لِقَوْمٍ يَّعْقِلُوْنَ :} In good provision, there is taste and strength, but unlike intoxication, there is no loss of reason; only people of understanding comprehend this.

67. 1. This verse was revealed at a time when alcohol was not forbidden, which is why it is mentioned along with lawful things. However, after سَكَرًا comes رِزْقًا حَسَنًا, which indicates that alcohol is not a good provision. Also, this surah is Makki, in which there is an expression of dislike regarding alcohol. Then, in the Madani surahs, its prohibition was gradually revealed.

And from the fruits of date-palms and grapes, you derive intoxicants as well as good provision [64]. Surely in this is a sign for people who use reason.

[64]
Indication of the Dislike of Alcohol in the Makkan Period:

There are four types of drinks which are among Allah’s great blessings, and these drinks have been granted by Allah to mankind in this world, and He will grant them in abundance to the people of Paradise as well. The first is water, the second is milk, the third is wine, and the fourth is honey [47: 15]. Two of these have already been mentioned in the preceding two verses. In this verse, wine is mentioned, and in the following verse, honey. The mention of dates and grapes in this verse is because these fruits were most commonly found in Arabia, otherwise, wine is also distilled from many other types of fruits and grains. And whatever things are used to make this wine, whether fruits or grains, all are pure types of sustenance, and by “good sustenance” is meant the juice of fruits, or juice, or sugar, or syrup, or nabidh, or milkshake and vinegar, raisins, currants, and dried dates from which wine is made, and all these things are extremely beneficial for human nourishment and health, and in addition, they are pleasant and delicious as well. But when this juice becomes spoiled and takes the form of alcohol, it develops intoxication, and by drinking it, a person becomes drunk. Therefore, it is no longer good sustenance. It should be kept in mind that this surah is Makkan, and wine was declared haram in the Madinan period. In the Makkan period, although wine was not yet forbidden, it was excluded from good sustenance, in which there was an indication that it would be declared haram at some point. And the wine that will be provided to the people of Paradise, its harmful aspect will be removed, meaning that when the people of Paradise drink wine, neither will their heads spin, nor will they become intoxicated, nor will they utter vain words, nor will their intellect be clouded, and these are the very harms for which wine has been declared haram in this world. And among these things is a sign that in one and the same thing, there is a substance that can become life-giving food for humans, and there is also a substance that, when spoiled, turns into intoxicating wine or alcohol. Now it is up to man’s own choice whether he obtains pure sustenance from these sources or the wine that destroys the intellect.