Wine in Islam

[syn4k]

Surah 5:90-91 says that intoxicants are the devil's work causing problems for believers.
2:219 says that the sin of intoxicants are greater than the benefit but it does also acknowledge the benefit.
Nowhere do I implicitly see wine forbidden though. As a matter of fact, in regard to forbidden things, we have: Surah 16:115 and others which essentially say the same thing.
What do Muslims do with the modern science which proves one glass of wine is actually good for the heart?
The reason I ask is because I myself have a weak heart and I wish to live a long life.

[lumumba_s]

The Qur'an says the good in things like gambling and wine are far outweighed by the bad, so it does not deny that there is benefit. However, that being said, the modern science of nutrionism is guess work and there are many people like Michael Polland (In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma) who have demonstrated that the sort of nutritionists who are promoted by socity do not know what they are talking about. Just look at the health advice given to the public over the past 10 years and that more than bears out his point. In terms of wine, they are not sure if the benefit lies in the substance contained in the grapes, which some studies suggest, which would make the promotion of wine over grape juice absurd or a substance that is the result of the alcohol, which are thought to help prevent blockage. But drinking a glass of red wine while inhaling a steak is not the point. You would be much better off giving the steak a miss and drinking some apple juice instead. And 5:91 is an explicit prohibition. Not every command comes in the form of "Do this" and "Don't do this."

[syn4k]

Although excessive alcohol consumption has adverse health effects, epidemiological studies have consistently demonstrated that moderate consumption of alcohol and wine is statistically associated with a decrease in death due to cardiovascular events such as heart failure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine
It seems foolish to ignore proof that I "could" get better simply by drinking a glass of something I don't even like. I do agree that I should have taken better care of my heart early on but I am only 31 years old and already on blood pressure meds.

[lumumba_s]

As I said, the Qur'an does not deny the benefits of alcohol consumption, but the harms far outweigh them and there are not benefits found in it that are not found in other substances without the harm. If you actually read the article you linked, it will tell you that there are three substances that scientist believe are the source of the benefit: resveratrol, antioxidants, and polyphenols, all three are the result of the seeds, skin or stems of the grape, they have very little to do with the actual alcoholic content. Also, in the very same article, it points out that scientific studies sometimes fail to consider contributing factors, and people who consume wine in the moderate amounts that are believed to be beneficial also tend to be people who exercise regularly, eat better and be more health conscious in general. If you want your daily glass of wine, no one is going to stop you, but please do not fooled into believing a scientific suspicion somehow makes a case against the Qur'anic prohibition.

[syn4k]

I think you make an excellent point. Because I want to do what God says, I am going to find out what I can regarding alternatives to getting this health into my body. Thanks!
Here is another article which I think will help others who may be interested: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/foo...rition/AN00576

[lumumba_s]

Grapes and fresh fruit and vegetables in general, with minimal meat consumption. Proper nutrition isn't that hard. The video link from Michael Polland that I gave in my first reply will set you off in the right direction.

[Yahya Sulaiman]

Calling something the Devil's work is not a prohibition?

And yes, there are any number of things that can help someone with a bad heart which do not carry the inherent dangers of alcohol. I'll ask my father about them if you like: he's in surgery for his heart today and is planning on many things like dietary changes to help him in the future.

[ihsan]

The Quran, when it says, the good far outweighs the bad, the 'bad' it refers to is 'ithm', which is not a statement regarding the 'physical' aspect of the product, but the moral aspect. The Quran does not forbid things based upon whether they can harm practical health, because those things are determined by common sense and reason. The Quran doesn't have to tell you to not throw yourself off a bridge, because you will die.

[Sadiq_b]

The important argument against alcohol is that, if you talk to people who even say that we drink "in moderation", even they will tell you that at some point in their life at least once they have had too much to drink when they are not fully in control of their actions. This is a very very important point because God forbid we may commit an act for which we may repent for our whole life. In my college days I have seen otherwise very nice guys behaving disgustingly after some of those Wild nights. This is the singlemost important point in my mind which convinces me that no matter what "supposed" benefits there might exist, the evils far far outweigh them.