Auwal Mustapha Imam
Since the revelation that the president is billed to commission breweries company in Ogun state, media outrage surfaces from some sections of Nigeria, especially from those Muslims in constant opposition of everything Buhari or APC. The debate took some to expressing the religious legality or otherwise of one associating himself with anything ‘alcohol’. I find it significant to dig deep into what the two major Nigerian religions believe in ruling to legality of alcohol.
Since Nigeria is a secular state, and the issue came up to target some political affiliations, the write-up will address religious beliefs of the two major religions, social, health and political implications of the president’s intention to commission a brewery being a Muslim.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Some writers and interpreters claimed that “Khamr” (all intoxicants; alcohol, drugs, weeds, etc.) has not been prohibited completely in the Qur’an, but only discouraged. They rely on the ruling on the Qur’anic Verse ‘O you who believe, do not approach the Salat while intoxicated, until you know what you are saying.” [Qur’an 4:43]. They claim that drinking alcohol is only prohibited at the time of Salat, which means drinking it is allowed outside the time of Salat. However, this is a wrong interpretation of the verse.
Other scholars, especially those that follows strictly the teachings in the Hadiths claimed otherwise, that alcohol has been prohibited in stages. The prohibition of intoxicants in the Quran is given through what is called syllogism. Syllogism is a form of reasoning where we have two given propositions, called the premises; together they lead to a valid conclusion. Example;
‘Nigerians are Blacks’ – (Premise)
‘Auwal is a Nigerian’ – (Premise)
‘Auwal is black’ – (Conclusion)
Now, with regards to the prohibition of intoxicants in the Holy Qur’an, refer to the following two premises:
“God prohibited all ‘ithm’ (sin).” [Qur’an 7:33] (premise)
They ask you (O Muhammad) about intoxicants and gambling, say, “In them are gross sins and benefits for the people, and their sinfulness is greater than their benefits.” 2:219 (premise)
Conclusion: Intoxicants, when used in any way which induces sin, as in getting drunk or taking drugs to get high, is prohibited by God since all sins are prohibited by God (7:33).
In contrast, when intoxicants are used in any of the ways which provide benefits to mankind, without leading to sin, they are not prohibited. Examples of this type of use are the intoxicants used in medicine, sterilizing, surgery, anesthetics, etc. The words in 2:219 which say that in intoxicants are “some benefits for the people” allow the use of intoxicants in such types of beneficial uses.
But conclusively, Allah says; “O you who believe, intoxicants, gambling, altars and arrows of chance are afflictions that are the work of the devil; you shall ‘ijtanibuhu’ (stay away from him) so that you may succeed.” [Qur’an 5:90].
Alcohol is also prohibited in the previous scriptures. In the Holy Bible, God says;
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” [Proverbs 20:1].
“Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.” [Proverbs 23:30,31].
“If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died.” [Romans 14: 15].
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” [Romans 14: 16].
“Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.” [Romans 14: 20].
“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.” [Romans 14:21].
Despite those few Biblical verses, alcohol consumption has been a topic of discussion among Christians for thousands of years. Some Christian Scholars claimed that the Bible never in any verse says clear that ‘alcohol is wrong’, but God warns Christians not to be drunk. So, since the Bible doesn’t absolutely forbid alcohol, drinking it remains a personal decision to Christians. Some make reference to the following verses;
“Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.” [Timothy 5:23].
“Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.” [Ecclesiastes 9:7].
For these reasons, they believed it is entirely a choice of a Christian to decide whether to drink or not. Whatever it is, alcohol has health and social implications.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL VICES OF ALCOHOL
Alcohol damages liver
Alcohol causes breast cancer
Alcohol intoxicates many organs in the body
Alcohol boosts esophageal cancer risks
Those taking alcohol have higher risks of heart attacks and strokes
Alcohol causes road accidents
Alcohol causes impotency and low sperm motility
Alcohol leads to psychiatric problems
Alcohol leads to domestic violence
Recent studies published by BBC reveals that ‘no alcohol is safe to drink’.
POLITICAL & ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF PRESIDENT’S COMMISSIONING OF BREWERY
As I have mentioned earlier, that the rantings came from some sections, mostly those opposing everything APC or Buhari. It is clear, the target of government to attract foreign and local investments into Nigeria. By so doing, many people will get employed and the country stands a better chance to generate more revenues. We have seen how in the recent times the President commissioned Olam Seeds and Sunti Sugar Companies in Kaduna and Niger states respectively. Both the companies are private owned, but the ruling party sees that as an achievement by providing an enabling environment for investors.
Undoubtedly, the two companies employed thousands of workers, thereby reducing Nigeria’s unemployment rate. The same view should be casted on the commissioning of the breweries. Whether it is commissioned or not, some people (Muslims and Christians) must still drink alcohols despite prohibitions by their religions. However, those that drink are Nigerians, and they have right to be served right by the authorities the same way other people that doesn’t drink are being served.
As to whether the President offends God or not, he cannot be wrong by serving a section of the people he governs by what they want. He is operating under a constitution, and the constitution doesn’t in any way forbids him from doing that. But the religious rulings on alcohol cannot be altered, it remains forbidden under the two holy books.
Auwal Mustapha Imam is a PhD student of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.
He can be reached on miauwal2@graduate.utm.my
07020426863
