I saw someone post that 'al misyar' refers to distilled alcohol / liquor. I am not convinced. What do people here think of that?
Root of
ٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ is ي س ر that conveys meaning of "ease" so Maysar could be anything obtained by ease without input of effort i.e proceeds of gambling etc. As per 2:219 benefit of these things is small as compared to their damage.
يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِۖ قُلۡ فِيهِمَآ إِثۡمٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثۡمُهُمَآ أَڪۡبَرُ مِن نَّفۡعِهِمَاۗ..... 2:219
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great إِثۡمٌ۬ "damage" and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their
sin "إِثۡمٌ۬" is greater than their benefit."
In 7:33
قُلۡ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّىَ ٱلۡفَوَٲحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنۡہَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَٱلۡإِثۡمَ وَٱلۡبَغۡىَ بِغَيۡرِ ٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَن تُشۡرِكُواْ بِٱللَّهِ مَا لَمۡ يُنَزِّلۡ بِهِۦ سُلۡطَـٰنً۬ا وَأَن تَقُولُواْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ
Say, "My Lord has only
forbidden Al-fawahisha - what is apparent of them and what is concealed - and
sin إِثۡمٌ۬ , and oppression without right, and that you associate with Allah that for which He has not sent down authority, and that you say about Allah that which you do not know."
So AL-Kumar and Al-Maysar as "Ithm" are haram as per 7:33
Also, in case anyone still thinks alcohol is prohibited, I will post my take below on why this is not true:
1. Not mentioned as 'haram' nor does it say 'do not drink...'
2. Notice that al khamr and al maysir are the only two things mentioned in 5:91 that are also mentioned in 5:90. They are given as things that humans use or do. The rest of the things from 5:90 are not mentioned and are actually forbidden in 5:3. Al khamr and al misyar are not forbidden anywhere including 5:3.
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِنَّمَا ٱلۡخَمۡرُ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرُ وَٱلۡأَنصَابُ وَٱلۡأَزۡلَـٰمُ رِجۡسٌ۬ مِّنۡ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ فَٱجۡتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ (٩٠
The pronoun "HU" in red is singular and hense not referring to four things mentioned. It may refer to "RIJS form action of shaitan" and we are told to stay away from it.
3. 4:43
Sukran is a barrier between you and your mind which hinders you from clear thinking. Toxicants are also called sukran because they effect your thinking.
4. 16:67 (if sakaran is taken as something alcoholic)
16:67 And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant (Sakaran) and good provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason.
It is telling us that you take sakaran and good provision from fruits. So it is our doing with our choice and not that it is recommended or approved.
5. History of Joseph
Again in the story of Joseph we are informed that people at that time were engaged in taking sukran by their choice. Which to me is not a permission to do it but a piece of information about those times.
Salaam
