1 The Virtues of Surah Al-Ma'idah; When It was Revealed Surah to ...

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یَأَی ُّهَا ال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُواْ‏ ......
أَنتُم م ُّنتَهُونَ‏
O you who believe! Khamr, Maysir, Ansab, and Azlam
are an abomination of Shaytan's handiwork. So avoid
that in order that you may be successful.
Shaytan wants only to excite enmity and hatred
between you with Khamr (intoxicants) and Maysir
(gambling), and hinder you from the remembrance of
Allah and from the Salah (the prayer). So, will you not
then abstain! (5:90-91)
So they said, `We abstained, O Lord!' Later, some
people said, `O Allah's Messenger! Some people died in
the cause of Allah, while some others died in their beds,
but they used to drink alcohol and indulge in gambling,
which Allah has made a Rijs of the work of Shaytan.' So
Allah sent down,
لَيْسَ‏ عَلَى ال َّذِینَ‏ آمَنُواْ‏ وَعَمِلُواْ‏ الص َّالِحَاتِ‏ جُنَاحٌ‏ فِيمَا طَعِمُواْ‏ ...
Those who believe and do righteous good deeds, there is
no sin on them for what they ate... (5:93) until the end
of the Ayah.
The Prophet said,
لَوْ‏ حُر ِّمَ‏ عَلَيْهِمْ‏ لَتَرَآُوهُ‏ آَمَا تَرَآْتُم
Had they been made impermissible for them, they would
have abandoned them as you have abandoned them.
Ahmad recorded this Hadith.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Umar bin Al-Khattab said,
"O Allah! Explain the verdict about Khamr to us clearly.''
The Ayah in Surah Al-Baqarah was revealed,
یَسَْلُونَكَ‏ عَنِ‏ الْخَمْرِ‏ وَالْمَيْسِرِ‏ قُلْ‏ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ‏ آَبِيرٌ‏
They ask you about alcoholic drink and gambling.
Say: "In them is a great sin.'' (2:219)