2. [ al-Baqarah, Medina 87 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ ...

2: 219. They ask thee concerning wine

C240. Wine: Khamr: literally understood to mean the fermented juice of the grape; applied by analogy to all fermented liquor, and by further analogy to any intoxicating liquor or drug.

There may possible be some benefit in it, but the harm is greater than the benefit, especially if we look at it from a social as well as an individual point of view.

... وَالْمَيْسِرِ...

and gambling.

C241. Gambling: maisir: literally, a means of getting something too easily, getting a profit without working for it; hence gambling. That is the principle on which gambling is prohibited.

The form must familiar to the Arabs was gambling by casting lots by means of arrows, on the principle of a lottery: the arrows were marked, and served the same purpose as a modern lottery ticket.

Something e.g., the carcass of a slaughtered animal, was divided into unequal parts. The marked arrows were drawn from a bag. Some were blank and those who drew them got nothing. Others indicated prizes, which were big or small. Whether you got a big share or a small share, or nothing, depended on pure luck, unless that was fraud also on the part of some persons concerned.

The principle on which the objection is based is:

- that, even if there is no fraud, you gain what you have not earned, or lose on a mere chance.

Dice and wagering are rightly held to be within the definition of gambling. (R).

... قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا...

Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit."

... وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ...

They ask thee how much they are to spend;

... قُلِ الْعَفْوَ ...

say: "What is beyond your needs."

C242. Hoarding is no use either to ourselves, or to any one else. We should use the wealth we need; any superfluities we must spend in good works or in charity.

... كَذَلِكَ يُبيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢١٩﴾

Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider.

Other Versions:

2: 219

Asad …but the evil which they cause is greater than the benefit which they bring [note 205]” And they ask thee as to what they should spend [in God’s cause]. Say: “Whatever you can spare.”

Pickthall They question thee about strong drink and games of chance. Say: In both is great sin, and (some) utility for men; but the sin of them is greater than their usefulness. And they ask thee what they ought to spend. Say: That which is superfluous. Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect--

as'alu_naka 'anil khamri wal maisir(i), qul fihima_ ismun kabiruw wa mana_fi'u linna_s(i), wa ismuhuma_ akbaru min naf'ihima_, wa yas'alu_naka ma_za_ yunfiqu_n(a), qulil 'afw(a), kaza_lika yubayyinulla_hu lakumul a_ya_ti la'allakum tatafakkaru_ n(a).

[ Asad’s note 205 - ……….For a clear-cut prohibition of intoxicants and games of chance, see 5:90-91 and the corresponding notes.]

[Ali’s notes: 240 Wine: Khamr: literally understood to mean the fermented juice of the grape; applied by analogy to all fermented liquor, and by further analogy to any intoxicating liquor or drug. There may possible be some benefit in it, but the harm is greater than the benefit, especially if we look at it from a social as well as an individual point of view. (2.219)

241 Gambling: maisir: literally, a means of getting something too easily, getting a profit without working for it; hence gambling. That is the principle on which gambling is prohibited. The form must familiar to the Arabs was gambling by casting lots by means of arrows, on the principle of a lottery: the arrows were marked, and served the same purpose as a modern lottery ticket. Something e.g., the carcase of a slaughtered animal, was divided into unequal parts. The marked arrows were drawn from a bag. Some were blank and those who drew them got nothing. Others indicated prizes, which were big or small. Whether you got a big share or a small share, or nothing, depended on pure luck, unless that was fraud also on the part of some persons concerned. The principle on which the objection is based is: that, even if there is no fraud, you gain what you have not earned, or lose on a mere chance. Dice and wagering are rightly held to be within the definition of gambling. But insurance is not gambling, when conducted on business principles. Here the basis for calculation is statistics on a large scale, from which mere chance is eliminated. The insurers themselves pay premia in proportion to risks, exactly and statistically calculated. (2.219)

242 Hoarding is no use either to ourselves, or to any one else. We should use the wealth we need; any superfluities we must spend in good works or in charity. (2.219) ]