Question:
A person is so addicted to alcohol that he continues to drink even during the nights of Ramadan. What is the ruling on his fasting during the day?
Answer:
Consuming alcohol is a major sin (Kabirah) in Islam. Allah Almighty has stated in the Qur’an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ٭ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُنْتَهُونَ
[Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:90-91]
"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. Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?"
Thus, consuming alcohol is forbidden (Haram) at all times, whether in Ramadan or outside of it. However, drinking alcohol in Ramadan is even more sinful due to the sacredness of the month.
A person who drinks alcohol must repent sincerely (Tawbah), which includes:
① Immediately ceasing alcohol consumption.
② Feeling regret and remorse over past disobedience.
③ Resolving firmly never to return to it, whether in Ramadan or outside of it.
As for the fast of a person who drinks alcohol at night but refrains from all nullifiers of fasting from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib) with the intention of fasting for Allah, his fast is considered valid. However, he must repent for the sin of drinking alcohol and strive to purify his life from such disobedience.
— Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Ifta (اللجنة الدائمة)
