يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَـٰمُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ 90
Translations
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allāh], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
Transliteration
Ya ayyuha alladhina amanu inna al-khamra wa-al-maysira wa-al-ansabu wa-al-azlamu rijsun min amali al-shaytani fa-jtanibuh la'allakum tuflihun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah explicitly prohibits four things identified as spiritual filth (rijس) originating from Satan's work: khamr (intoxicants), maysir (gambling), ansab (idolatrous stone altars), and azlam (divination arrows used in pre-Islamic Arabia). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the comprehensive term 'khamr' includes all intoxicating substances that cloud the intellect, while the other three represent forms of idolatry and superstition that distance believers from God. The ayah commands believers to completely avoid these practices as a means of attaining success (falah) in both worlds.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'idah is the final surah revealed in its entirety, making this among the last divine guidance on legal matters. This verse represents the final and most explicit Quranic prohibition of alcohol, following a gradual process of legislating against intoxicants throughout the Quran. It was revealed in Medina as the Muslim community had matured sufficiently to implement such comprehensive prohibitions.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Every intoxicant is haram' (kull mushkirin haram). Sahih Bukhari: Narrated by Anas ibn Malik describing the Prophet's prohibition of khamr and all intoxicating drinks as haram.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that substances and practices corrupting intellect and moral judgment—whether through intoxication, gambling, or false worship—are tools of Satan designed to distance us from God and spiritual success. Modern application extends beyond the literal items mentioned to all habits and activities that compromise our mental clarity, financial responsibility, and spiritual devotion.
Related Ayahs
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
[Be warned of] the Day when Allāh will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen" -
وَإِذَا جَآءُوكُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَقَد دَّخَلُوا۟ بِٱلْكُفْرِ وَهُمْ قَدْ خَرَجُوا۟ بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْتُمُونَ
And when they come to you, they say, "We believe." But they have entered with disbelief [in their hearts], and they have certainly left with it. And Allāh is most knowing of what they were concealing.
قُلْ يَـٰٓأَهْلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوا۟ فِى دِينِكُمْ غَيْرَ ٱلْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَ قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ وَأَضَلُّوا۟ كَثِيرًا وَضَلُّوا۟ عَن سَوَآءِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
Say, "O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion beyond the truth and do not follow the inclinations of a people who had gone astray before and misled many and have strayed from the soundness of the way."
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَى ٱلرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰٓ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱكْتُبْنَا مَعَ ٱلشَّـٰهِدِينَ
And when they hear what has been revealed to the Messenger, you see their eyes overflowing with tears because of what they have recognized of the truth. They say, "Our Lord, we have believed, so register us among the witnesses.