Quran against alcoholism .

== “They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit for men; but the sin is greater than the profit." They ask thee how much they are to spend; say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider.” (2: 219).

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Alcoholic drink and game of chance : The term 'al-khamr' as used in the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the holy Prophet means any material which causes intoxication. It comes from the Arabic word Yakhmur which means to cover or to curtail. Al-khamr is so called because it covers or curtails the proper functioning of the brain. It is commonly used as a synonym of wine or alcoholic drinks because these were the only intoxicating material used by the Arabs at the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sm.).

However, the Prophet has explicitly brought out this general meaning of 'khamr' in his famous Hadith quoted by Salim ibn Abdullah ibn Umar, "All intoxicants are khamr and all types of khamr are forbidden." However in the present discussion I shall limit myself to the evils of alcoholic drinks only.In this verse, it is stated that when the followers of the Holy Prophet at Madina asked him about the attitude of Islam to alcoholic drinks and gambling, he was directed by Allah Subhanahu Taala to say that in both of them there is great sin. Sin means disobedience to Allah and all disobedience is harmful to mankind. Besides, in the same verse sin has been contrasted with utility. That alcoholic drinks and gambling are closely associated with much of the crime and social ills is well-known to all, but few are aware of the actual harm caused by alcoholic drinks as proved by scientific research.

The usefulness of alcoholic drink is negligible, but Allah has also mentioned this aspect of the matter.Among the utility of alcohol we find that it is readily absorbed and provides some energy in the form of calories, stimulates respiration and dilates blood vessels. The energy supplied by alcohol is of insignificant nutritional value and the other changes are of no true benefit to our health. But alcohol (ethyl alcohol) has many uses though not as a drink. The benefits or uses are:

(i) Seventy per cent alcohol in distilled water is a good antiseptic and is widely used to sterilize the skin before injection, drawing of blood, surgical operations and also moistening the washed hands of surgeons, which helps to dry the hands quickly.

(ii) Alcohol as tinctures (solutions of substances in alcohol-)like tincture iodine is useful as antiseptic and commonly used to clean the skin before surgery.

(iii) Alcohol is used to extract many chemicals which are easily dissolved in it, and it is widely used as a solvent of certain scents.

(iv) Alcohol is widely used as a reagent and in the preparation of certain reagents used in chemistry and biochemistry.

(v) Alcohol is also a good preservative.

BUT Severe bad effects: ********

The effects of alcohol on our health show that it is always harmful as a drink. The harmful effects of alcohol based on research are given below:l. The most important drug effects of alcohol are those on the brain. The higher functions of the brain are inhibited first. The pharmacologists agree that the effect of alcohol on the brain is always a deterioration of functions and never an improvement. It is generally agreed that alcohol is a narcotic and not a stimulant. The narcotic and depressive action starts from the very beginning of its direct action on the central nervous system (CNS).

"The deceptive early appearance of stimulation and the euphoria, which misleads the subject into a too favourable view of his performance after he has taken alcohol, arise from the release of the lower nervous centres from control by the higher, by depression of the latter.In a dose such as the higher, by depression of the latter. In a dose such as is contained in 2 to 3 ounces of whisky (alcohol 40% of volume), alcohol causes a disorder of attention, concentration, memory and power of reasoning ; sensory acquity in all fields and the sense of time are impaired and sensory motor coordination is disturbed. His inhibitions being lowered , his self criticism blurred, his sense of well-being and confidence unusually enhanced , the individual is obviously less able to assess risks and to deal with any situation calling for judgement and discriminating response...If blood alcohol level rises to a concentration of 0.15% (150 mg) or over the individual cannot drive a car without risk to the public." ( Hebbelinck. M. The Effects of a Moderate Dose of Alcohol on a series of Functions of Physical Performance in Man. Arch. Intem. Pharmacodyn.

Therapy. Vol.120, p.402.)2. Newman and Fletcher studied the effect of alcohol on vision of 50 subjects. At a concentration of 0.115% and above all showed some impairment of vision. Goldberg2 observed that impaired vision is the chief cause of increased traffic accidents by the alcoholics. He wrote, "Alcohol ha the same effect on vision as the setting of a grey glass in front of the eye or driving with sun glass in twilight or darkness; a stronger illumination needed for distinguishing objects and, dimly lit objects will not ! distinguished at all. When a person is dazzled by a sharp light he needs some time to see again clearly. Under the influence of alcohol such a person takes a longer time before he can see clearly again." ( Newman and Fletcher , E, Effects of Alcohol on Vision, Am, J.M. Sc. 202 723).3. Though 7% alcohol in water causes temporary increase of hydrochloric acid in gastric secretion, due to liberation of a histamine like substance or gastrin, higher concentration (15 to 20%) inhibits gastric secretion an d may cause marked inflammation of gastric mucosa (gastritis) due to its irritating effect. ( Beazell.J.M. and Ivy,A.C.

Influence of Alcohol on Digestive Tract , Quart. J. Stud. Alcohol; 1:45)Vomiting frequently occurs after rapid drinking. ( Newman, H.W, Emetic Action of Ethyl Alcohol.Am.Med. Assoc. Arch Int. Med. 94:417.)Besides repeated smaller dose of alcohol in smaller concentration may lead to hyperchlorhydria, which is an important factor in the development of peptic ulcer- a disease more common in countries where alcohol is a permissible social drinks. ( Cleave . T.L. Peptic Ulcer. John Wright and Sons. Ltd.).. Gronmany observed an increase of 5 to 10% in pulse rate, blood pressure and total blood flow (not coronary) following ingestion of 2.3 oz. of whisky.5. Ninety to ninety five per cent of ethyl alcohol ingested is oxidised in the liver10 . Alcohol causes impairment of normal liver function. ( Josephson, B. and Asplund, A.G. Effects of Acute Alcohol poisoning on Liver Functions, Sevenska Lak, 45:1564.).

Duncan observed a marked drop in the liver glycogen level in rats receiving 3 gms of alcohol per kg body weight, which corresponds to 18 fluid ounces of 100-proof whisk or a 60 kg person. It has now been experimentally established13’ 4 that alcoholic fatty liver or hepati steatosis is due to ingestion of alcohol and not due to the lack of carbohydrate or nutrition in the alcoholics. This direct effect of alcohol on the liver has been demonstrated in rats.15 This fatty liver may lead to cirrhosis of the liver and rarely sudden collapse and death due to fat embolism. ( Commermeyer, J.and Gjessing, R, Acta Med. Scand 139:358. Durlacher, S.H. Meier, J.R, Fishers R.S. and Levith, W.V. Am.J.Path).6. The efficient transmission of nerve impulse from brain to muscles is impaired by the presence of alcohol in the brain a erratic muscular response. The impairment varies from thick speech and staggering gait to complete paralysis of voluntary muscles. Lengthened reaction time is one criterion of deficiency of muscular response in the brain causes a longer time lag before the voluntary muscle can obey the brain..

The main risk of drinking alcohol is that it is such a habit—producing narcotic that it is very difficult to restrict oneself to a smaller dose due to the intense urge it produces for drink. There is really no safe dose of alcohol as a drink, the end result of chronic alcoholics is a disease called alcoholism.It is defined as "a chronic illness, psychic, somatic or psychosomatic, which manifests itself as a disorder of behviour characterised by the repeated drinking of alcoholic beverages to an extent that it exceeds the customary dietary use and compliance with the social customs of the community and that interferes with the drinker's health or his social or economic functioning".19 Thus an alcoholic is any individual who has lost control of his drinking habit or who cannot abstain and clinically he is a person in whom a pattern of excessive drinking has resulted in identifiable undesirable effects. ( Keller, M.and Efron, V. Quart.J.Stud. Alcohols 16:619)..

Alcoholism and Insanity: Alcoholism is one of the important causes of insanity. Acute delirious insanity commonly known as delirium tremens results from either prolonged over-drinking or sudden stoppage of drink.

The latter can be cured under prolonged medical care. it is characterised by hallucination of sight usually taking the form of terrifying animals, and alcoholic mania in which the patient is very noisy. Repeated attacks may result in mental deterioration, dulling and gradual loss of memory.There are many problems attached with alcoholism I am feeling tired to write. But in a nutshell alcoholism is very noxious toxic phenomenon.