Date: Thu, 07 Nov 1996 15:20:05 -0500 From: Shaahin Amiri-Sharifi amirishs@QUAGMIRE.CIMS.NYU.EDU This is to answer "wine good or bad" in your page! ------------- --Is wine good or bad? --Is us forbidden on earth something that is truly good? --Or is in Paradise not only allowed but provided in overflowing measures (rivers of...) something that is so bad that it is even called "Satan's handiwork"? --Why should we see every thing in black and white?! It is not that it is "bad" or "good" the issue is which one, goodness or badness, is dominant. Prohibition of drinking alcoholic beverages came in three steps, -do not come to worship while you are drunk -...there is "good" in it and bad in it, but the the later in more.. -do not drink it, it is an act of satan... As you can see it is mentioned that "there is good in it", exact quote of Quran. For example, there is alcohol in some medicine, and there is no prohibition in taking those syrops if prescribed by a doctor. Islam encounters with issues realistically. --Answered in the above paragraph! --What does it mean to compare paradise with earth?! Do you really think standards (yes even standards!) are the same?! And how can we (both me, a Muslim and you, a Christian, who both believe in hereafter and paradise) "analyze" what happens or is allowed or forbidden in paradise?! We lack empirical evidence! Don't we?! Point is, about paradise, all I have is my believe, nothing more, stories in Quran and said by Prophet,.... Absolutely no empirical evidence. If I want to see something is O.K (!) there or else, I'll need to know the conditions, circumstances, ..., I rather wait till I see it (insha`allah=God willing). But, all that matters, for now, is this world, and the ruling is clear : DO NOT DRINK (unless for some reason it is necessary, as mentioned in the case of medicine) One more point, the world is translated differently in different translation of Quran, For example Shakir translate it as "drink" and not wine! And Please always remember that Quran is written in a "symbolic" manner (very reasonable, after all it is for everybody everywhere and at any time), and one should consider that words are used mainly in a metaphoric way. To clear this up, if you study about Islamic mystisicm, you realize that "wine" along with so many words that mean : pretty girl, mistress, lover, ... are used frequently, specially in poetry. One should admit that it would be so simplistic to take them as what they mean according to a dictionary!! Note: Generally, describing paradise in Quran, shows the wealth and richness of its residence. All signs (verses) in this regard should be interpreted in this relation. People of paradise have no economical problems! They are free to do what a human is meant to do... In this regard, the word "hour" specially when is translated with this kind of interpretation (yours) of "wine", means nothing more than a prostitute! But if we consider the root of this word, it means nothing but a "companion" ! Notice that "Companions of Jesus (Peace be Upon Him)" are translated to Arabic as "havarion"(plural for "havari" of Jesus. Where "havary" is from the same root as "hour"! --------------------- Shaahin *************************************************************************** * E-mail --> amirishs@quagmire.nyu.edu * Shaahin * * WWW --> http://www.math.nyu.edu/phd_students/amirishs* Amiri-Sharifi * ***************************************************************************
Muslim Response by
Randy Desmond
Date: Thursday, 27 Feb 1997
Just read the Qur'an... Surah 37:43-47
[43] In gardens of felicity [44] facing each other on thrones, [45] round will be passed a cup from a clear flowing fountain, [46] crystal white, of a taste delicious to those who drink thereof, [47] Free from headiness; Nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom.
Last edited: February 27, 1997