Tafheem ul Quran
Surah 2 Al-Baqarah, Ayat 219-219
يَسۡـئَلُوۡنَكَ عَنِ الۡخَمۡرِ وَالۡمَيۡسِرِؕ قُلۡ فِيۡهِمَآ اِثۡمٌ کَبِيۡرٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَاِثۡمُهُمَآ اَکۡبَرُ مِنۡ نَّفۡعِهِمَا ؕ وَيَسۡـئَلُوۡنَكَ مَاذَا يُنۡفِقُوۡنَؕ قُلِ الۡعَفۡوَؕ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَـكُمُ الۡاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُوۡنَۙ
﴿2:219﴾
(2:219) They ask you about wine and games of chance. Say: “In both these
there is great evil, even though there is some benefit for people, but their
evil is greater than their benefit.”235
They ask: “What should we spend in the Way of Allah?” Say: “Whatever you can
spare.” In this way Allah clearly expounds His injunctions to you that you may
reflect upon them,
Notes
235. This is the first injunction concerning intoxicating drinks and gambling,
and here the matter has been left merely as an expression of disapproval. This
was a preliminary step designed to prepare the minds of people for the acceptance
of their prohibition. The injunction prohibiting the performance of Prayer when
in a state of intoxication came later, and ultimately alcohol, gambling and
the like were categorically prohibited see( 4: 43)and
(5: 90).