Commentary of the Holy Qur'an
Some year, Mahdi Abbasi (one of the Abbasid Caliphs) entered Madinah and after visiting the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) shrine conducted a meeting with Imam Kadhim (A.S.). To examine Imam Kadhim (A.S.) scientifically, he posed the debate about the taboo against wine in the holy Quran and asked:
“Is wine forbidden in the holy Quran?” He then continued, “Most people know about the negative view the Quran holds about drinking wine, but they do not know whether this view calls for the fact that drinking wine is truly prohibited or not.”
Imam Kadhim (A.S.) said, “Yes, the taboo against wine has been declared explicitly in the holy Quran.”
Mahdi asked, “Where in Quran exactly?”
Imam answered, “Where Allah (SWT) addressed His Prophet, “Say: My Lord has only prohibited indecencies, those of them that are apparent as well as those that are concealed, and sin (‘Ithm) and rebellion without justice…”1
After explaining some other subjects that are prohibited in this verse, Imam Kadhim (A.S.) said, “The meaning of the word “Ithm” in this verse, which is prohibited by Allah, is wine. For, Allah has said in another verse that, “They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say: "In them is great sin (Ithm), and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit.".”2
The Imam (A.S.) concluded, “And Ithm, which is prohibited explicitly in Surah A’raf (Seventh chapter of the holy Quran), is used for wine and gambling in Surah Baqarah (Second chapter); thus, wine is explicitly prohibited in the holy Quran.
Mahdi, who was affected by the reasoning of Imam Kadhim (A.S.), turned to one of the attendants present and said: “By Allah, this Fatwa (Islamic ruling), is a Hashimi Fatwa!”
The man replied, “I praise Allah who has given this knowledge to you, the household of Prophet Muhammad.”3
Mahdi got angry. And though trying very hard to hide his anger, he said: “You are right, O Rafidi!”4
(Narrated from “al-Foru’ Min al-Kafi” by Kuleini, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islami, vol.6, p. 406)
1 The holy Quran, 7:33
2 The holy Quran, 1:219
3 It seems that he meant the Abbasid Caliph is lucky to be related to a man from the tribe of Bani Hashim, with such knowledge of Imam Kadhim (A.S.).
4 Since the Umayyad dynasty, the enemies of Ahl al-Bayt call the Shiites of Ahl al-Bayt “Rafidi”.
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