Trade of Alcohol:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not only declare drinking even a small or large amount of alcohol as forbidden, but he also declared its trade forbidden, even if this trade is conducted with non-Muslims. Therefore, it is not permissible for any Muslim to engage in the business of importing or exporting alcohol, or to open a tavern and sit there, or to work in it. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed ten people involved with alcohol:
لعن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فى الخمر عشرة : عاصرها، ومعتصرها، وشاربها، وحاملها، والمحمولة إليه، وساقيها، وبائعها، وآكل ثمنها، والمشتري لها، والمشتراة له
“The one who squeezes (grapes) for wine, the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one for whom it is carried, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who eats its price, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought—all of them have been cursed by the Prophet (peace be upon him).”
When the verse of Surah Al-Ma’idah was revealed, which states the prohibition of alcohol, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
إن الله حرم الخمر فمن أدركته هذه الآية وعنده منها شيء فلا يشرب ولا يبع
“Allah has forbidden alcohol. So whoever receives this command and has alcohol in his possession should neither drink it nor sell it.”
The narrator says that those who had alcohol poured it out on the roads of Medina. Islam, as a means of blocking the means, also forbade a Muslim from selling grapes to a person known to squeeze them into wine. The hadith states:
من حبس العنب أيام القطاف حتى يبيعه من يهودي أو نصراني أو ممن يتخذه خمرا فقد تقحم النار على بصيرة
“Whoever withholds grapes at harvest time so that he may sell them to a Jew, a Christian, or someone who makes wine from them, knowingly enters the fire.”
It is not only forbidden to sell alcohol and consume its price, but it is also forbidden to give alcohol as a gift to any Muslim or non-Muslim. A Muslim is pure and prefers to give and receive only pure things as gifts.
In one narration, a person wanted to present alcohol as a gift to the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
Allah has forbidden alcohol.
The stranger said: Then should I sell it?
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The One who forbade drinking it also forbade selling it.
The stranger said: Then should I present it as a gift to the Jews?
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: The One who forbade it also forbade presenting it as a gift to the Jews.
The stranger said: Then what should I do with it?
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Pour it out on the roads of Battaḥa.
Boycott of Drinking Parties:
Similarly, a Muslim is commanded to boycott drinking parties and not to associate with those who drink alcohol. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say:
من كان يؤمن بالله واليوم الآخر فلا يقعد على مائدة تدار عليها الخمر
“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not sit at a table where alcohol is being served.”
Because a Muslim is commanded that when he sees a wrong, he should change it, and if he cannot remove it, then he should keep away from it. The Rightly Guided Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) used to order lashes not only for those who drank alcohol but also for anyone who participated in their gatherings, even if he did not drink.
