The difference between the wine of this world and the Hereafter

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Q. We all know that wine is forbidden in this world and that it causes intoxication and fogs the mind; hence it is rijs (an abomination) and the handiwork of the Shaytaan, and it is the mother of all evils as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him). My question is: why is wine haraam in this world and halaal in the Hereafter?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Allaah, may He be exalted, describes the wine of the Hereafter as being different from the wine of this world. He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Round them will be passed a cup of pure wine —

46. White, delicious to the drinkers.

47. Neither will they have Ghoul (any kind of hurt, abdominal pain, headache, a sin) from that nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom”

[al-Saaffaat 37:45-47] 

So Allaah describes the wine of the Hereafter as: 

1.     white

2.     delicious to the drinkers, unlike the wine of this world which is distasteful when drunk

3.     having no “ghoul” (hurt, abdominal pain, headache, a sin) in it, which is what affects one who drinks it in this world, of headache, pain in the stomach and loss of reason. In Soorat al-Waaq’iah it says: “Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head” [56:19], i.e., they will not get a headache from it.

4.     “nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom”, unlike the wine of this world which causes them to lose their minds. 

See: Tafseer Soorat al-Saaffaat by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, p. 107-109. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 

The wine of the Hereafter is good, and does not cause any intoxication or harm. As for the wine of this world, it is harmful and causes intoxication. In other words, in the wine of the Hereafter there is no ghawl (intoxication) and the one who drinks it will not become intoxicated; it does not cause him to lose his mind and it does not cause physical harm. As for the wine of this world, it is harmful to mind and body alike. None of the harmful effects in the wine of this world will be found in the wine of the Hereafter. And Allaah is the source of strength. End quote. 

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 23/62.

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