Sanctity of Human Life & The Sin in Intoxicants

During a discussion on another topic, someone stated: In Islam Drinking is NOT a SIN it simply says that "Its benefits are outweighed by its ill effects"... Its not recommended but is NOT really a Sin... There are bigger sins in Islam like killing innocent people which is the biggest sin.. But that doesn't seem to bother the Fundos?????

My Comments: It is forbidden to take human life and only the State is granted two exceptions. Intoxicants are discouraged as the sin is greater than the benefit, and it is termed as the work of Satan. Quoted below are some relevant verses for some perspective on the issue. 

Sanctity of Human Life: 

Human life is sacred and taking a human life is only permissible in the following conditions, and each of them are to be sanctioned and executed by the State: 

1) combatants during battle 

2) a murderer  

Quran narrates the history of humans from Adam onwards. Quran 5:27-31 relates the murder of a son of Adam by his brother. Quran 5:28 informs us that the son who was murdered did not defend himself out of fear of God. Quran 5:32 thus informs us: 

[Quran 5:32] From time that, We ordained on (the) Children (of) Israel that he who kills a soul other than (for) a soul or (for) spreading corruption in the earth then (it) is as if he has killed all [the] mankind, and whoever saves it then (it) is as if he has saved all [the] mankind. And surely came to them Our Messengers with clear Signs yet, indeed, many of them after that in the earth (are) surely those who commit excesses. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/5/32/] 

[Quran 2:190,193] And fight in (the) way (of) Allah those who fight you and (do) not transgress. Indeed, Allah (does) not like the transgressors. And kill them wherever you find them, and drive them out from wherever they drove you out, and [the] oppression (is) worse than [the] killing. And (do) not fight them near Al-Masjid Al-Haraam until they fight you in it. Then if they fight you, then kill them. Such (is the) reward (of) the disbelievers. Then if they cease, then indeed, Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. 

And fight (against) them until not (there) is oppression, and becomes the religion for Allah Then if they cease then (let there be) no hostility except against the oppressors. 

[http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/190/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/191/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/192/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/193/] 

As per the verses of Chapter 9, the State of Medina (believers) declared war on the State of Makkah. The following verses of Chapter 2 command the Muslims to prepare for battle:   

[Quran 2:216,217] Is prescribed upon you [the] fighting while it (is) hateful to you. But perhaps [that] you dislike a thing and it (is) good for you; and perhaps [that] you love a thing and it (is) bad for you. And Allah knows while you (do) not know. They ask you about the month [the] sacred - (concerning) fighting in it. Say, "Fighting therein (is) a great (sin); but hindering (people) from (the) way (of) Allah, and disbelief in Him and (preventing access to) Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, and driving out its people from it, (is) greater (sin) near Allah. And [the] oppression (is) greater than [the] killing." And not they will cease (to) fight with you until they turn you away from your religion, if they are able. And whoever turns away among you from his religion, then dies while he (is) a disbeliever for those became worthless their deeds in the world and the Hereafter. And those (are) companions (of) the Fire, they in it (will) abide forever. 

[http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/216/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/217/] 

Chapter 17 further confirms the role of the State in the matter of murder:   

[Quran 17:33] And (do) not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever (is) killed wrongfully, verily We have made for his heir an authority, but not he should exceed in the killing. Indeed, he is helped. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/17/33/]  

This link explains it in much detail: http://www.islamnewsroom.com/news-we-need/329-yusuf-estes-correcting-quran-misquotes 

Intoxicants: 

The Quran states that there is great sin in intoxicants. The Arabic term used is ith'm: 

... قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ...

[Quran 2:219] They ask you about [the] intoxicants and [the] games of chance Say, "In both of them (is) a sin great, and (some) benefits for [the] people. But sin of both of them (is) greater than (the) benefit of (the) two." And they ask you what they (should) spend. Say, "The surplus." Thus makes clear Allah to you [the] Verses so that you may ponder, [http://islamawakened.com/quran/2/219/]

The term ith'm is generally translated as sin: http://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=Avm#(2:219:7) 

[Quran 5:90] O you who believe! Verily the intoxicants and [the] games of chance and (sacrifices at) altars and divining arrows (are an) abomination from (the) work (of) the Shaitaan, so avoid it so that you may (be) successful. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/5/90/] 

Literal Interpretation of Quran 9:5 [kill them wherever you find them]

The verse which states [kill them wherever you find them Quran 9:5] is abused by both terrorists as well as Islam-bashers. Yet, if one were to study the context, as well as the directives for taking human life, one would learn that this particular directive was issued to the Messenger and his companions, after announcing the annulment of a particular treaty [Quran 9:1], and giving a four month notice period to them. 

Moreover, studying the stories of the Messengers [messengers are a special class of prophets with whom divine decision comes], one learns from the Quran that each nation to whom a messenger was sent were clearly warned of an imminent punishment if they did not believe and mend their ways, and the punishment did indeed befell all nations thus warned, except the nation of Messenger Jonah as they did believe and mend their ways. 

Further, from other verses regarding taking human life, we come to learn that no one can take human life except as capital punishment executed by the state in two cases: [1] after a person has been convicted of murder, through proper recourse to law and justice; [2] to curtail those who are creating 'fitnah' [corruption/terrorism in the land, disrupting law and order and causing harm]: this could be through courts of justice or through a declared war by the head of the state. 

You might argue that literal translation is the cause. However, in various threads, some members have discussed at length war and abuse, past and present, by various nations and by people belonging to various religions. Those who want an excuse to harm others will always find a way to abuse anything which suits their purpose.   

Thou shalt do no murder

Question: .....but, i am not sure what "god" i am longing for............is it the "god" who told Samuel to tell King Saul to go and slaughter Amalek, including the women and children, because "he" was angry at Amalek for something they had done? in other words, the hebrew soldiers were supposed to stab to death a 6 month old child being held by its Amalek mother............
.....the 10 commands say thou shalt do no murder.................yet, the above is surely murder, conceived in the "mind" of an angry and wrathful "god"................. so, this "god" says "do what i say" and not what i do...............in other words, "god" can do as he pleases, including anger, wrath, violence and murder and genocide and vengeance, but I cannot............yet, i was "created in his image"?????perhaps my problem is that i do not know which "god" i want intimacy and harmony with............i certainly do not long for the god mentioned above............

Answer: Firstly, except for the arabic text of the Quran, all holy scriptures have been corrupted with human writings purported to being from God, referred out of context, and misinterpreted. The commandment that thou shalt not murder is for all times…….. life is sacred, a gift of God, and no human may take the life of another human being. In fact, even when killing animals for food, we are ordered to pronounce the name of God over it, reminding ourselves of the sacredness of life, and that this action of slaughtering, of being blessed with sustenance, is also a gift of God, and part of the great Circle of Life.Yet, we humans are indeed divided and hostile, and when one group gets bent upon defaming, conspiring against, attacking and destroying another, it is the right of every group to defend themselves. The God I know only prescribes killing in self-defence…….. He does not prescribe attacking peace-loving humans, no matter which religion they ascribe to or which deity they worship.

Apostates

Q: The killing of apostates
Most Muslims and non-Muslims think this is an anomaly. They are wrong. This practice is not only in the collective memory of the population in Muslim countries, but all shariah handbooks tell the same story. Everyone who has studied Islam seriously knows that Shariah prescribes the death penalty for apostates. This is based on the authentic traditions of Muhammad who said:"If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him." (Bukhari, Book 52, Number 260)and"The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims." (Bukhari, Book 83 Number 17)In most Islamic countries the death penalty for apostasy is not applied because this is an inhumane law. In these countries however apostates are harassed administratively by all possible means or are punished in one way or another. In the so-called moderate Muslim country Malaysia they have sent a woman to a psychiatric institution and her child has been taken away from her because she had turned away from Islam and became a Hindu. Fortunately she lives in "moderate" Malaysia. If she were living in Saudi-Arabia, she would be beheaded.

A: Capital punishment to the murderer: right
Adultery: Quran only prescribes flogging with a 100 stripes(24:2); and that the adulterer/adulteress cannot marry anybody except another adulteress/adulterer(24:3). How can they be capable of marrying after being killed?
Apostate: There is no compulsion in religion(2:256 )Those who believe, then reject faith, then believe (again) and (again) reject faith, and go on increasing in unbelief,- Allah will not forgive them nor guide them nor guide them on the way.(4:137) How can one believe, reject, and then believe again if one has already been killed?

Capital punishment for mistreating the Quran

Q: ... as a book coming from Allah and the top of communication between Allah and mankind—the perfect book. In the meantime this book became so holy that mistreating it can be a legitimate reason for murder.

A: Allah has not ordained any such punishment. Zealous muslims have themselves created this law. Allah declares that human life is sacred, and the murder of one human being is like the murder of entire mankind, and saving one life is like saving all of mankind. All those who murder will be answerable for their deeds.