Intermediate
Madani Rulings
Surah: Al-Baqarah (219)
They Ask About Wine and Gambling — The Gradual Prohibition
يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِ ۖ قُلۡ فِيهِمَآ إِثۡمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ
— البقرة الآية 219
Occasion of Revelation (Hasan — Ahmad & Tirmidhi):
When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Medina, he found people drinking wine and gambling. His companions — including Umar and Abu Musa — asked about their ruling. The first verse revealed was: "They ask you about wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin and some benefit for people" (2:219).
The Gradual Prohibition:
When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Medina, he found people drinking wine and gambling. His companions — including Umar and Abu Musa — asked about their ruling. The first verse revealed was: "They ask you about wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin and some benefit for people" (2:219).
The Gradual Prohibition:
- Al-Baqarah 219: "great sin" — discouragement without explicit prohibition
- An-Nisa 43: "do not approach prayer while intoxicated" — prohibited at specific times
- Al-Maidah 90-91: "avoid it" — complete and final prohibition
Source: Ahmad (1/53) and Ibn Abi Hatim — Hasan by corroborating chains; Al-Suyuti, Lubab Al-Nuqul
Test Yourself
How many stages did the Quranic prohibition of wine go through? List them in order.
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