Rabat – Tunisian philosopher and author Mohammed Talbi recently made a controversial statement, claiming that there is no verse in the holy Qur’an that says drinking alcohol is haram (forbidden under Islam).
During a television interview with a Tunisian channel, Mohammed Talbi claimed that neither the Qur’an nor the Sunna says that drinking alcohol is Haram, reported daily Al Quds Al Arabi newspaper.
To defend his claims, the Tunisian author used an alleged Hadith (saying) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in which the prophet reportedly told his wife Aisha, “Bring me the alcohol from the mosque.”
Mohammed Talbi’s claims sparked controversy in Tunisia. Multiple reports said that many Tunisians accused the philosopher of distorting the Prophet’s saying. On the other hand, others called on local outlets to respect Talbi’s his old age (93 years) and abstain from reporting on him to bring viewers.
Tunisia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Hamda Said, found himself obligated to react to Talbi’s claims in order to put an end to the controversy and to protect the philosopher from any recklessness that may threaten his life.
Sheikh Hamda Said issued a press release in which he dismissed Talbi’s opinion, saying that “there is no doubt that alcohol and all kinds of drugs are forbidden in Islam.”
At the same time, Sheikh Hamda urged all Tunisians to respect the thinker’s opinion. He also warned them from using Talbi’s controversial statement as an excuse to to threaten his life, or attack him.
Since the beginning of Islam, Muslim scholars have unanimously agreed that alcohol is prohibited. Muslims base their judgment on some verses of the Quran in which God urges Muslims to avoid drinking alcohol.
“O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful. 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 not desist?” (Verses 90 and 91 of Surat Al-Ma’idah).
The prohibition of alcohol in Islam is also based on a saying (Hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in which he said “Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a small quantity of it is forbidden.”
