Episode 8 - They Obeyed God While Intoxicated
Obedience to Allah in the Most Difficult Circumstances
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah, my brothers, lovers of the Quran. In the previous episode, we mentioned that we are obligated to obey Allah when we are angry, and we mentioned the story of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, with Awina bin Hisn.
The strength of faith made the companions respond to the command of Allah the Almighty even when they were in a state that might be harder than anger, in a state of intoxication.
Prohibition of Intoxicants and the Response of the Companions
Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, describes the scene of the prohibition of intoxicants, saying: "While I was passing the cup to Abu Talhah, Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah, Muadh bin Jabal, Suhail bin Bayda, and Abu Dujana, until their heads were tilted"; meaning the intoxicant had done its work and affected them. He said: "Then we heard a caller calling out: 'Verily, intoxicants have been prohibited.'"
Look now at the divine command when it is mixed with faith, even when it is submerged under layers of the effect of intoxicants. Anas said: "So we poured out the drink." Imagine the scene of them immediately turning over the cups to get rid of what was in them. He said: "And we broke the jars"; they broke the jars of intoxicants, as if it were a loud declaration that we will break our attachment to intoxicants forever.
He said: "And some of us performed ablution, some of us took a bath, and we applied some of the perfume of Umm Sulaim, then we went out to the mosque." They found the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, reciting His words, the Almighty: {O you who believe! Indeed, intoxicants, gambling, al-Ansab, and al-Azlam are an impurity from the work of Satan, so avoid them that you may be successful.} [Quran 5:90]
Comparison Between the Response of the Companions and Human Attempts
In 1920, revolts broke out and half a million people were imprisoned for not complying with the decision, and two hundred people were killed from those opposing the decision during the suppression of their revolts. Then, the U.S. Congress was forced to repeal the decision and allow intoxicants again in 1933.
My brother, the smoker, which is easier: the companions leaving intoxicants or you leaving smoking? The answer depends on faith.
Faith and the Power of Response
Scientifically speaking, intoxicants and smoking are addictive substances, and quitting them leads to what is known as the "Withdrawal Syndrome," i.e., a set of disturbing symptoms resulting from quitting the substance. We teach students that the "Withdrawal Syndrome" for alcohol is more severe than that for nicotine, and sudden quitting of alcohol can sometimes be fatal.
You will say to me: Intoxicants were prohibited gradually. True, but even so, their bodies were still used to them, and it is likely that the companions suffered when they left intoxicants. But look, my brother, how Allah compensated them with good in their minds and souls. The hadith we mentioned contains the names of great companions: Abu Ubaidah, Muadh bin Jabal, Abu Dujana, all of them left intoxicants immediately for the sake of Allah, so Allah chose them for knowledge, jihad, and martyrdom. And whoever leaves something for the sake of Allah, Allah will compensate him with something better than it.
O one who has become accustomed to a habit that Allah does not love, remember the call of Allah: {Then will you desist?} [Quran 56:94], and respond as the companions responded, so that Allah may choose you to support His religion as He chose them.
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.