The Holy Qur'an, like a pristine and boundless spring, guides humanity towards salvation. Verses 90 and 91 of Surah Al-Midah, with a clear and profound language, warn the believers against satanic traps such as khamr (intoxicants), maysir (gambling), ansb (idols), and azlm (divinatory arrows), opening a path to righteousness and success. This treatise, through contemplations on these two noble verses, endeavours to elucidate their meanings and messages within a scientific and coherent framework. In this endeavour, while preserving all the details of the original lectures, it strives to present the concepts in an eloquent and fluent style, so that, like a shining gem, they illuminate the mind and heart of the reader.
O you who have believed! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling, idols, and divinatory arrows are abominations from the work of Satan; so avoid them that you may succeed.
Indeed, 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 desist?
These verses, like a perfect mirror, portray the vile nature of satanic deeds and, by inviting abstention, show the path of salvation to the believers.
Khamr, meaning wine and intoxicating beverages, and maysir, referring to gambling and games of chance, were instruments in the Jahiliyyah culture for illicit and easy earnings. These acts, leading to parasitism and moral corruption, are introduced in the Holy Qur'an as abominations stemming from the work of Satan. Jahili maysir, akin to petty gambling, lacked expertise and scientific value and relied solely on profiteering and exploitation of others. This characteristic, like a deadly poison, destabilised the moral and economic foundations of society.
Ansb, meaning idols and symbols of polytheistic worship, and azlm, referring to divinatory arrows used in Jahiliyyah culture for decision-making and fortune-telling, are two other acts prohibited by the Qur'an. Ansb represented the epitome of polytheism and doctrinal deviation, while azlm, a combination of gambling and improper divination, led to irrational and sometimes polytheistic decisions. These acts, like chains, diverted humans from the path of monotheism and rationality.
Verses 90 and 91 of Surah Al-Midah, by clarifying the nature of khamr, maysir, ansb, and azlm, call believers to abstain from these satanic deeds. These verses, with clear and decisive language, depict the vileness of these acts and their destructive effects on morality and spirituality, showing the path to salvation through avoidance. The emphasis on their abominable nature serves as a warning to prevent falling into Satans traps.
In the present era, khamr is no longer confined solely to intoxicating wines. If a substance lacks inebriating and mind-impairing effects, it may fall outside the sphere of prohibition. This transformation, like a flower blossoming from the soil of ignorance towards the light of knowledge, indicates jurisprudential flexibility in confronting social changes. The claim is that, with advances in science and technology, substances can be produced free from the harmful effects of Jahili khamr and hence are not subject to religious prohibition.
Jahili maysir, accompanied by secrecy, corruption, and parasitism, fundamentally differs from modern specialised and scientific activities such as competitive sports. Modern sports, like arrows released from the bow of intellect and expertise, differ from Jahili maysir due to their scientific, social, and cultural nature. Sports such as shooting, swimming, and others, which Islam has also approved, are not only legitimate but, as divine blessings, channel the energy of youth and prevent violence and war.
Betting in these sports, based on expertise and effort, is distinct from Jahili gambling rooted in chance and luck. These activities, results of years of practice and skill, like fruitful trees, are the product of endeavour and effort, not parasitism. This distinction highlights the necessity of jurisprudential re-evaluation in light of social developments.
Sports, like a stream quenching the earths thirst, channel the energy of youth and prevent the emergence of violence, suicide, and war. If billions of humans were deprived of sports, their restless energy would turn towards destruction and conflict. This role of sports, leading to social tranquillity and crime reduction, has transformed it into a divine blessing that, like a light in darkness, preserves society from chaos.
The transformation of khamr and maysir in the contemporary era demonstrates jurisprudential flexibility in response to new needs. Modern sports, with their specialised and social nature, not only differ from Jahili maysir but also hold a high position in Islamic culture as instruments of peace and tranquillity. These transformations, like a breeze clearing away dust, reveal the necessity of re-evaluating rulings and accurate understanding of issues.
