Why is Alcohol OK in Christianity but not in Islam?

As Salaam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,

Alhamdulillah, I was recently asked this very interesting question. I hope to answer it accurately and concisely. Of course, nothing happens except by the Will of Allah. Any good in my answer is from Allah and any mistake is my own.

Alcohol in Christianity

The question proposes that it is okay in Christianity to drink alcohol. It should be noted that this is not a universal Christian opinion. There are a number of Christian groups that advocate abstentionism or prohibitionism. A quick YouTube search for “alcohol Christianity” will uncover many videos arguing against alcohol. However, it seems that the most common and historical view is that alcohol in moderation is acceptable and drunkenness a sin.

The problem with the Christian approach towards alcohol is that it does not take into consideration the addictiveness of alcohol and the destructive force of that addiction. Nor does it consider the physical or spiritual health of individuals. Nor does it take into consideration those lacking in faith. The pleasures of a few supersede the health of the whole community.

Alcohol in Islam

Where there is doubt in Christianity, the Islamic view is uncompromising.

Allah says in His Quran (5:90-91):

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْخَمْرُ وَٱلْمَيْسِرُ وَٱلْأَنصَابُ وَٱلْأَزْلَٰمُ رِجْسٌۭ مِّنْ عَمَلِ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ فَٱجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, Al-Ansab, and Al-Azlam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitan’s handiwork. So avoid that in order that you may be successful.

إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنُ أَن يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ ٱلْعَدَٰوَةَ وَٱلْبَغْضَآءَ فِى ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَعَنِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ۖ فَهَلْ أَنتُم مُّنتَهُونَ

Shaitan wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As-Salat. So, will you not then abstain?

The truthfulness of these ayat should be obvious, in my opinion. Alcohol gives birth to lewdness, violence, carelessness, stupidity and all types of evil.

The prerequisite of the Islamic approach of abstentionism is faith. Forcing people to abstain from alcohol without faith in Allah produces the kind of nightmare that was seen in 1920s America. It is for this reason that the prohibition of alcohol in Islam came in stages as the faith of the new community grew. Finally, to the point that when it was completely forbidden there was no need to force adherence to the new rule.

May Allah make us among those who abstain from all types of intoxicants.