Note to Malaysian Judge Datuk Yunos: Whipping Muslims for Alcohol Related Offences is Un-Islamic

Pakistan's Federal Shariah Court (FSC) has declared whipping as a punishment for drinking alcohol by Muslims to be un-Islamic.

The FSC is Pakistan's highest Islamic court. The court's remit is to examine laws promulgated within the Pakistani federation to ensure they are consistent with Islamic law.

In May 2009, a full bench of the FSC decreed that whipping for Muslims drinking alcohol is contradictory to the laws of Islam.

The FSC ruled that the Koran has not prescribed any specific punishment for drinking. The judgement went on to state that drinking alcohol is not a heinous crime, i.e. Hadd.

Heinous crimes include murder, rape, etc. and drinking alcohol does not fall into that category. (You think?)

Alcohol is mentioned in several verses in the Koran (see below). One verse states that drinking alcohol has both benefits and harm for humans but the harm outweighs the benefits. Therefore alcohol should be avoided.

Perhaps Judge Datok Yunos will review the Pakistani court judgement and reassess his personal fondness for whipping.

Passages from the Koran dealing with alcohol – please feel free to share your own personal interpretation of the language.

The Cow. Surah 2, Verse 219:

Concerning wine and gambling, Say: "In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; But the sin is greater than the profit."

Women. Surah 4, Verse 43:

Approach not prayers with a mind befogged [intoxicated].

The Table. Surah 5, Verse 90:

Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination –of Satan's handiwork; eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.

The Table. Surah 5, Verse 91:

Satan's plan is (but) to excite enmity and hatred between you, with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not then abstain?

The Bee. Surah 16, Verse 67:

And from the fruit of the date palm and the vine, ye get out wholesome drink, and food: behold in this also is a sign for those who are wise.

All passages quoted from the Holy Koran as translated by Abdullah Yusuf Ali.