Tafsir of Surah Al-Baqarah Verse 219: The Prohibition of Khamar and Gambling

Surah al-Baqarah Verse 219 :

يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِۗ قُلْ فِيْهِمَآ اِثْمٌ كَبِيْرٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِۖ وَاِثْمُهُمَآ اَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَّفْعِهِمَاۗ وَيَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ مَاذَا يُنْفِقُوْنَ ەۗ قُلِ الْعَفْوَۗ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَكُمُ الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُوْنَۙ

Meaning : “They ask you (O Muhammad) about khamar (intoxicants) and gambling. Say: 'In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.' And they ask you what they should spend. Say: 'The excess [beyond needs].' Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought.” (QS. al-Baqarah: 219)

Vocabulary of QS. Al-Baqarah Verse 219

(يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ): They ask you concerning the ruling on drinking khamar and playing gambling. The inquirers were the Mu'minin (believers).

The word al-khamr originates from khamarash-shay'a, meaning "to cover something." Khamar is so named because it "covers" or clouds the intellect (aql).

According to the Hanafi madzhab, khamar is grape juice that has been boiled until it bubbles and is then mixed with butter.

However, according to the Jumhur (majority of scholars), khamar includes the juice of grapes, dates, corn, and anything that is intoxicating.

Al-Maisir means gambling. This word comes from al-yusr (ease); it is called so because gambling provides income obtained without effort or difficulty.

Mujahid said: "All forms of gambling fall under the category of maisir, even children playing with beads is considered maisir."

Gambling among the Arabs during the era of Jahiliyah (the Age of Ignorance) involved ten arrows: seven had specific shares written on them, while three were blank.

They used to buy camels or goats on credit, slaughter them before having the money, and divide the meat into 28 or 10 parts. They would shake the arrows in a bag, and those who drew a marked arrow received meat, while those who drew a blank arrow had to pay the full price of the animal for the others. This was done for pride, and they mocked those who did not participate.

(فِيْهِمَآ اِثْمٌ كَبِيْرٌ): In drinking khamar and gambling, there is a great sin (ithm). There is no sin except in something (speech or action) that brings mudarat (harm), whether to the body, soul, intellect, or wealth.

(وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ): Some benefits for mankind, such as the temporary pleasure of drinking or the profit from selling khamar, as well as wealth gained easily through gambling.

(وَاِثْمُهُمَآ اَكْبَرُ مِنْ نَّفْعِهِمَا): The negative impacts and the punishment for the drinker and the gambler are greater than the benefits.

(الْعَفْوَ): That which is beyond the needs of a person and their family. One should not spend (infak) what they need so that they themselves end up neglected.

Asbabun Nuzul of QS. Al-Baqarah Verse 219

The verse "They ask you about khamar and gambling..." was revealed concerning Umar ibnul Khaththab, Muadz bin Jabal, and several members of the Anshar. They came to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) and said, "Tell us the ruling on khamar and gambling, for khamar vanishes the intellect and gambling consumes wealth." Then Allah Ta'ala revealed this verse.

Relationship Between Verses

In previous verses, Allah explained the laws of war (external relations). Next, Allah moves to improve internal conditions based on dignity, social solidarity, and the purity of Aqidah and the body. Every mission must be accompanied by internal and external reform to build an Ummah on a solid foundation.

Tafsir and Explanation of QS. Al-Baqarah Verse 219

Your companions, O Muhammad, ask if drinking khamar and gambling are halal or haram. (Other matters similar to "drinking" include selling, buying, and any means that lead to consumption). Tell them: Both contain a great sin because they bring significant mudarat.

The sin of khamar is disturbing others and causing enmity. The sin of gambling is withholding the rights of others and being zalim (unjust). If the mudarat is greater than the benefit, both must be avoided, because:

Dar’ul mafaasid muqaddam ‘alaa jalbil-manaafi’, (Warding off harm takes precedence over attaining benefits).

Conclusion:

Khamar is the "mother of all evils" (ummul khaba'ith) and a bridge to munkar (forbidden) and reprehensible acts. Imam Nasa’i narrated that Uthman (R.A.) said: "Avoid khamar because it is the mother of all foul deeds." He told a story of a pious man of old who was tricked by a woman into either committing adultery, killing a child, or drinking khamar. Thinking it the "least" sin, he chose the khamar, but once drunk, he committed both the adultery and the murder.

Therefore, avoid khamar, for Iman (faith) and addiction to khamar cannot coexist in a person's heart; eventually, one will drive out the other.

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