Mother of evils

Wine is considered mother of all evils. Besides affecting the physiology of a person it wreaks havoc with his psychology as well. A person under the influence of wine cannot distinguish between good and bad. A person, who drinks willfully, surrenders his mental faculties to Satan who, according to the Quran, happens to be an open and the worst enemy of the believers.
When the intake of wine was forbidden, the people of Madinah opened their containers (containing wine) into drains. However, some people would take it occasionally and when caught, the most revered Prophet (SAW) would punish them. The Holy Prophet (SAW) did not  punish them. He would direct His pious companions (RA) to beat the offender. “Uqba bin Haris (RA) said a person under the influence of wine was brought to the Holy Prophet (SAW). The beloved Prophet (SAW) ordered His companions to beat him. They beat him with sticks and shoes. Some beat him with cloth”…..(Al Bukhari).
On another occasion Ali (RA) Ibn Abi Talib said: “ I do not like to cross the limits prescribed by Allah and His beloved Messenger while awarding punishment for if the person dies I would repent afterwards. But for a person who takes wine, the most revered Prophet (SAW) did not prescribe any limits.”….. (Al Bukhari).
Ali (RA) Ibn Abi Talib’s words reflect the seriousness of the act. Even the Rehmatun lil Aalameen (SAW) did not prescribe any limits. This means, people can go on beating such a person endlessly.  However, the most revered Prophet (SAW) forbade His pious companions (RA) from cursing a drinker. “Abu Huraira (RA) says a person who had consumed wine was brought to the Messenger of Allah (SAW). He ordered His companions (RA) to beat him. He was beaten. One of the companions (RA) cursed him. The Holy Prophet (SAW) forbade him saying do not help the Satan against your brother”…(Al Bukhari).
Another hadith narrated on the authority of Umer bin Khataab (RA) also forbids the believers from cursing a drinker. The most revered Prophet (SAW) on this occasion said, “ I have seen him (the person who had taken wine and was brought to the Prophet (SAW) loving Allah and His Messenger (SAW)”…..(Al Bukhari). Therefore, it is quite safe to presume that a person does not become a non-believer by taking wine although it is strictly forbidden and considered mother of all evils.
It was the second Caliph, Umer bin Khataab (RA) who fixed forty lashes for a person found guilty of taking wine.
In the contemporary times, wine is taken in the garb of curing disease as a medicine. But according to Yusuf Al Qaradavi, “Alcohol is itself a disease and cannot be a medicine.” However, according to him, if taking alcohol becomes necessary for medical reasons, it can be prescribed but the doctor prescribing it must be God fearing, he must know what Allah and His Messenger (SAW) have said about alcohol.  Some people in Kashmir and elsewhere believe that Beer cures renal ailments. This is not true. Alcohol is injurious to health and if taken in large quantities can prove fatal. The believers must bear in mind that Allah the most exalted has prohibited intake of alcohol. They must, therefore, refrain from looking for excuses.