Tiny History of Intoxicants in Islam According to What I Have Learned Thus Far

Many Muslims know the prohibition on drinking alcohol (whether they abide by it or not), but some people might know the history of it.

So at first, "khamr" (most commonly now translated as "alcoholic drink") most likely just started as wine (as laypeople commonly thought) made from dates or grapes and so then the early Muslims would come to the Prophet (SAW) mentioning new drinks they were coming up with that were not technically "khamr" as they understood it.

The early communities were kind of like "Okay, what about barley? Wheat? What about this or that method with dates or honey? What about various other fruits?" This is how the understanding of alcoholic drinks expanded over the centuries to include things like Nabidh and Bit'ee (ancient alcoholic drinks) and now includes drinks today (vodka from potatoes and etc).

Over time, it was understood by the common people that khamr was not just in reference to wine specifically, but any sort of intoxicating substance, thanks to the Prophet's guidance on this.

As Ramadan comes close, I just wanted to give a gentle reminder on this. May Allah (SWT) bring our communities to what is better.

Examples against drinking alcohol based on our main text resources:

"They ask you (O Prophet) about intoxicants and gambling. Say, “There is great evil in both, as well as some benefit for people—but the evil outweighs the benefit.”1 They (also) ask you (O Prophet) what they should donate. Say, “Whatever you can spare.” This is how Allah makes His revelations clear to you ˹believers˺, so perhaps you may reflect. (Surah Baqarah 2:219)

Source: https://quran.com/en/al-baqarah/219

"Abu Musa reported: Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) sent me and Mu'adh b. Jabal to Yemen. I said: Allah's Messenger, there is prepared in our land a wine out of barley which is known as Mizr (beer of our times) and a wine from honey which is known as Bit, (are these also forbidden? ), whereupon he said: Every intoxicant is forbidden." (Sahih Muslim)

Source: https://sunnah.com/muslim:1733e

"A'isha reported: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about Bit'i, whereupon he said: Every drink that causes intoxication is forbidden." (Sahih Muslim)

Source: https://sunnah.com/muslim:2001a

And if I shared anything incorrectly, it is from myself. Anything positive is from the Almighty.