From: ahmed@dsg.cs.tcd.ie
Subject: Re: drinking and dancing
Originator: zeeshan@occs.cs.oberlin.edu (Zeeshan Hasan -Moderator)
Organization: Oberlin College Computer Science
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 15:56:18 GMT
X-Posted-From: occs.cs.oberlin.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu

In <1hikt9INNmks@life.ai.mit.edu> an1600@anon.penet.fi (president) writes:

>Dear folks,

>At first, let me introduce my self. I am a non moslem student,
>and I do know a little bit about muslem.

>A few days ago I have discussed with some friends of mine
>about things as :
>	-  Does a moslem allow to drink, even free alcohol
>	   bir ?
>	-  Does a moslem allow to go to a discotheek ?

>Please send me the answers directly to my anno.adress, becouse
>I want to organise a party for my friends, but I don't relly
>know what the programma should be.

>Thanking You all for your answers,

>Best regards,

>the president

In facty the answer is very simple, and straight-forward from the Quran.

1- Intoxicants:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is not the consumption which is forbidden, but being in contact
with intoxicants is also prohebited. That is why the prohebition came
in the form: shun (avoid) it.   Alcohol free beer is not an intoxicant, I
suppose, however, the intention behind drinking alcohol free beer must be
considered. If Someone drinks it to show others that he is drinking like
them, then it is not allowed; because it does not go with the spirit of the
command "shun it". It is forbidden for a muslim to be in a company 
of (sitting with) other people while they are drinking intoxicants, even
if he is drinking only pure water.     It is also forbidden for a muslim to 
take any role of handling intoxicants; selling, manufacturing, carrying, 
providing raw materials, ..etc.

It is an impurity, and the work of Satan that should be avoided. This is
clear in the following verses, in chapter 005.

{The Quran, 005}

90. O you who believe! intoxicants and games of chance and
(sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows are only an
uncleanness, the Shaitan's work; shun it therefore that you may
be successful.

91. The Shaitan only desires to cause enmity and hatred to
spring in your midst by means of intoxicants and games of
chance, and to keep you off from the remembrance of Allah and
from prayer. Will you then desist?

92. And obey Allah and obey the apostle and be cautious; but
if you turn back, then know that only a clear deliverance of the
message is (incumbent) on Our apostle.

2- Dancing:
~~~~~~~~~~~
Dancing, I mean mixed dancing, male and female, is a step towards
adultary, through sexual stimulation. The environment of dancing, in
general, is a mixture of: consumption of intoxicants, sexual stimulation
through music and body movement and direct contact between male and
female. This environment makes the distance towards adultery very short,
and thus should not be the place for a muslim to go, but a situation to
avoid.

Like the case of intoxicants, it is not only adultary which is forbidden, 
but also approaching adultery or comming near to adultery is forbidden.


{The Quran: 017}

 32. And go not nigh to fornication; surely it is an 
 indecency and an evil way. 

Of course when these things are forbidden to muslims by Allah, it does
not mean it is allowed for others because they are not muslim. Islam was
sent to all beings.

However, you will encounter people who do not care. They would committ
such sins, and they would say that they are muslim, any how they don't
care.

A real muslim should not go to such situations, and he should be clear
so as to explain exactly why he doesn't want to be in such situations and 
he shouldn't feel shy and he should not lie by giving false execuses.


Best regards,

Ahmed I. El-Habbash,
Department of Computer Science, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam