سُوْرَةُ المَآئِدَةِ
Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 90
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿90﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al-Ansâb, and Al-Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O you
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
who
ءَامَنُوٓا۟
āmanū
believe
إِنَّمَا
innamā
Verily
ٱلْخَمْرُ
l-khamru
the intoxicants
وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ
wal-maysiru
and [the] games of chance
وَٱلْأَنصَابُ
wal-anṣābu
and (sacrifices at) altars
وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ
wal-azlāmu
and divining arrows
رِجْسٌۭ
rij'sun
(are an) abomination
مِّنْ
min
from
عَمَلِ
ʿamali
(the) work
ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ
l-shayṭāni
(of) the Shaitaan
فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ
fa-ij'tanibūhu
so avoid it
لَعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تُفْلِحُونَ
tuf'liḥūna
(be) successful
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 90) ➊ {اِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَ الْمَيْسِرُ … :} This is the third and final ruling regarding wine, after which it was declared absolutely forbidden. Two rulings had already been revealed before this: the first in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:219) and the second in Surah An-Nisa (4:43), but neither of these two verses mentioned absolute prohibition. Therefore, Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said after the revelation of the verses in Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah An-Nisa: "O Allah! Give us a clear ruling regarding wine." Finally, this verse of explicit prohibition was revealed along with the prohibition of three more things. [ نسائی، الأشربۃ، باب تحریم الخمر : ۵۵۴۲ ]
➋ The explanation of {’’ الْخَمْرُ ‘‘} was given by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. Thus, in Sahih Muslim, Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ] "Every intoxicant is khamr (wine), and every intoxicant is forbidden (regardless of what it is made from)." [ مسلم، الأشربۃ، باب بیان أن کل مسکر خمر… : ۲۰۰۳ ] Among the major reasons for the destruction of the Islamic Caliphate is that some scholars only prescribed the hadd punishment for drinking wine made from grapes and dates, but abolished the hadd for drinking any other intoxicant, regardless of what it was made from even if it caused intoxication. Now, in those Islamic caliphates where the hadd is waived for drinking various types of the mother of evils, what will be the state of the subjects, the army, and the caliphs?
➌ From this verse and the next, the prohibition of wine and gambling is established for seven reasons, which is why it is called "the mother of evils": (1) {’’ رِجْسٌ ‘‘} It is an impure thing. (2) It is the work of Satan. (3) The imperative form {’’ فَاجْتَنِبُوْهُ ‘‘} is for obligation, so abstaining from it is obligatory, therefore drinking it is forbidden. (4) {’’ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ ‘‘} There is hope for success in abandoning it, otherwise not. (5) Satan wants to sow enmity and hatred among you through it, and every act that creates enmity and hatred is forbidden. (6) And he wants to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. This is also a reason for its prohibition. (7) "So will you not desist?" This is a command in the form of a question, and a command is for obligation. Therefore, when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) heard it, they said {’’اِنْتَهَيْنَا اِنْتَهَيْنَا‘‘} meaning, "We have desisted, we have desisted." Thus, the Companions broke their wine containers and wine began to flow in the streets. Despite such clarity, many representatives of the disbelievers say, "Where is wine forbidden in the Qur'an?"
➍ {’’ الْمَيْسِرُ ‘‘} The scholars have written that anything in which a bet is placed on winning or losing is gambling. Lottery, lucky draws, prize bonds, prize puzzles, and prize schemes are all forms of gambling. Many oppressors trap people by offering Umrah or Hajj as a prize in gambling schemes. Remember, Allah does not accept unlawful wealth, nor is worship performed with unlawful wealth accepted. Insurance is the worst combination of usury and gambling, bidding committees are pure usury, and in chess and similar games, even if no bet is placed, they are still forbidden because they cause neglect of prayer.
➋ The explanation of {’’ الْخَمْرُ ‘‘} was given by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) himself. Thus, in Sahih Muslim, Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ] "Every intoxicant is khamr (wine), and every intoxicant is forbidden (regardless of what it is made from)." [ مسلم، الأشربۃ، باب بیان أن کل مسکر خمر… : ۲۰۰۳ ] Among the major reasons for the destruction of the Islamic Caliphate is that some scholars only prescribed the hadd punishment for drinking wine made from grapes and dates, but abolished the hadd for drinking any other intoxicant, regardless of what it was made from even if it caused intoxication. Now, in those Islamic caliphates where the hadd is waived for drinking various types of the mother of evils, what will be the state of the subjects, the army, and the caliphs?
➌ From this verse and the next, the prohibition of wine and gambling is established for seven reasons, which is why it is called "the mother of evils": (1) {’’ رِجْسٌ ‘‘} It is an impure thing. (2) It is the work of Satan. (3) The imperative form {’’ فَاجْتَنِبُوْهُ ‘‘} is for obligation, so abstaining from it is obligatory, therefore drinking it is forbidden. (4) {’’ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ ‘‘} There is hope for success in abandoning it, otherwise not. (5) Satan wants to sow enmity and hatred among you through it, and every act that creates enmity and hatred is forbidden. (6) And he wants to prevent you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. This is also a reason for its prohibition. (7) "So will you not desist?" This is a command in the form of a question, and a command is for obligation. Therefore, when the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) heard it, they said {’’اِنْتَهَيْنَا اِنْتَهَيْنَا‘‘} meaning, "We have desisted, we have desisted." Thus, the Companions broke their wine containers and wine began to flow in the streets. Despite such clarity, many representatives of the disbelievers say, "Where is wine forbidden in the Qur'an?"
➍ {’’ الْمَيْسِرُ ‘‘} The scholars have written that anything in which a bet is placed on winning or losing is gambling. Lottery, lucky draws, prize bonds, prize puzzles, and prize schemes are all forms of gambling. Many oppressors trap people by offering Umrah or Hajj as a prize in gambling schemes. Remember, Allah does not accept unlawful wealth, nor is worship performed with unlawful wealth accepted. Insurance is the worst combination of usury and gambling, bidding committees are pure usury, and in chess and similar games, even if no bet is placed, they are still forbidden because they cause neglect of prayer.
