Verse 219 of Surah Al-Baqarah, focusing on the inquiry about khamr (intoxicants) and maisir (gambling), opens a window toward the analysis of social and ethical phenomena in human history. This verse, while referring to the great sin and limited benefits of intoxicants and gambling, emphasises the importance of reflection and inquiry. The present exegesis, adopting theological, jurisprudential, and sociological perspectives, examines the status of khamr, maisir, dance, music, and addiction as the Five Abominations (Khabith Khums) within the history of humanity and religious culture. Moreover, through constructive critique of the religious educational system and emphasis on innate inquiry, it underscores the necessity of awareness of global developments and the independence of religious institutions. The forthcoming text, employing an elevated style and systematic structure, presents the entire content of the lecture with complementary explanations and semantic connections to provide expert audiences with both scholarly depth and literary appeal.
Khamr and maisir have long been recognised as two fundamental phenomena in human history, encompassing broad social, economic, and cultural dimensions. They have functioned not merely as recreational instruments but also as resources for trade and income generation within diverse societies. From a historical anthropological standpoint, the prevalence of these phenomena across various culturesfrom ancient civilisations to modern societiesindicates their profound impact on social structures. Khamr, as an intoxicating substance, and maisir, as an activity based on chance and risk, have consistently attracted the attention of religions and cultures alike.
In Islamic narrations, khamr is attributed to Iblis (Satan), signifying the satanic temptation promoting social sins. This perspective aligns with verses such as verse 90 of Surah Al-Maidah, which regards intoxicants and gambling as works of Satan. From a theological viewpoint, this narration underscores the deterrent forces that divert humans from the divine path and introduces khamr as a means of misguidance.
Khamr, maisir, dance, music, and addiction, collectively termed here as the Five Abominations, have been regarded as ethical and social challenges across all religions. Due to their profound effects on individual and collective behaviours, these five phenomena have been scrutinised in both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic faiths. Comparative religious studies view them as obstacles to spiritual and moral growth, and religious texts contain injunctions and recommendations for their control.
Khamr and maisir, as two pillars of the Five Abominations, have held a central place in human history. These phenomena, with their dual recreational and commercial roles, can be analysed anthropologically, theologically, and sociologically. Islamic traditions, by attributing khamr to Iblis, emphasise its misleading nature, while the universality of the Five Abominations across religions points to shared ethical challenges in human societies.
They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say: In them is great sin, and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.
In the Quran, the terms aqlm and azlm are cited as examples of gambling in the pre-Islamic (Jahiliyyah) culture. These words refer to specific instruments used for gambling in the Arab society prior to Islam. Nevertheless, the diversity of gambling throughout human history far exceeds these instances. From a Quranic linguistic perspective, these terms are confined to the particular cultural and social milieu of the Jahiliyyah society and cannot encompass all forms of gambling.
With technological progress, gambling has evolved from its traditional forms, based on simple tools and local games, into computerised and digital gambling. This transformation has led to a decline in traditional gambling and a rise in its modern variants. From a sociological and technological perspective, this shift has expanded access to gambling and diversified its forms in modern societies, creating new ethical and legislative challenges.
Reduction of unemployment in societies has led to diminished tendencies towards traditional gambling. As a social factor, unemployment propels individuals towards undesirable behaviours such as gambling. From a social-economic perspective, this relationship highlights the influence of economic conditions on social conduct, wherein sustainable employment can mitigate inclinations to such activities.
Modern gambling, particularly in casinos and online platforms, has expanded significantly with large-scale, multi-billion-dollar investments worldwide. Due to its high profitability, this industry has become a key sector of the global economy. From the viewpoint of global economics, the growth of this industry illustrates the profound impacts of modernity and globalisation on social behaviours.
More than a thousand types of khamr are produced and consumed in the modern world, indicating the widespread and complex nature of this phenomenon. From a cultural anthropology standpoint, this diversity reflects the influences of globalisation on production and consumption of intoxicants, revealing cultural transformations within modern societies.
Modern developments have transformed khamr and maisir from traditional forms into complex, global phenomena. Computerised gambling, major investments, and the variety of intoxicants have introduced new ethical and social challenges. These transformations underscore the necessity for reconsideration of religious and scientific approaches to these phenomena.
Religious scholarship suffers from a lack of scientific and analytical criteria in confronting modern khamr and maisir. This inefficiency results in an inadequate comprehension of the developments of these phenomena in contemporary contexts. Educationally, this
