PROBLEM: INTERPRETATION OF THE PUNISHMENT IN THE QURAN

A part time model (Kartika) was fined Rm5000 and got lashed six times on account of drinking
beer. Malaysian Syariah authorities should reconsider the law on consuming alcohol which is
described in the Quran in the mildest language of prohibition.

Discussion: Why did the model got the harsh penalty when she did not harm anyone? Neither
Quran nor Hadith invokes a penalty for alcohol consumption. A Muslim consuming a glass of
wine with a pork chop commits a more serious offence in eating pork; yet as there is no Quran or
Hadith invokes penalty for consuming pork, there is also none for alcohol consumption.

The penalty for alcohol consumption came into being during the time of the second Caliph Umar
b. al – Khattab. A heavy drinker used to walk on the streets of Madina at night and shout out
loud offensive things about people. The residence of Madina complained and Hazrat Umar
formed a committee to decide what to do. Hazrat Imam Ali suggested the penalty for slander that
was eighty (80) lashes. There are arguments we can marshal from Quran and Hadith. The Quran
repeatedly urges Muslims to forgive those who wrong them ever for slander and manslaughter.

Solution: The above mentioned discussion shows that the writer is criticizing on Syariah law.
Giving penalty for consuming alcohol was a good decision because a man could do wrongly
deeds while he’s drunk. You can’t just wait and watch to see that if the drinker tries to commit a
crime or do bad thing then only you will stop and punish him.

Question: Whether the punishment is adequate or not? And what was the closest
punishment?

During the Caliph Umar time they weren’t many cases like Kartikas case, because people at that
time were practicing Islam the way it has been told. How to live a Muslims life is mentioned in
the holy Quran. “That is the Book, without any doubt. It contains guidance for those who
guard against evil. (Surat al-Baqara: 2)”, “We have sent down the Book to you making all
things clear, and as guidance and mercy and good news for the Muslims. (Surat an-Nahl:
89)”. It is been asked to the parents to spank their children if they do not offer prayers, but only
after they had been asked to pray and they did not listened. How can you actually expect a
drinker to listen to you when he is drunk? The closest punishment was eighty (80) lashes in that
era. Think about this era when we have technology, guns, ammunitions etc. You cannot stop
people committing a crime just by telling them not to do it.

Question: How the punishment is justified?

The language in Quran is in the form that people like us tends to get the message wrongly. We
are unable to understand the language and hence we require scholars to tell us the real meaning
behind the Quran verses. That is why I believe that the punishment for Kartika was justified
because Syariah law is not the same law that we follow in court rooms for common crimes.
Syariah law is the law which our Prophets and Caliphs followed according to the teaching of
Quran and Sunnah.