Al-Mahdi – the Abbasid ruler once asked Imam al-Kadhim (as),  “Has consumption of Alcohol been forbidden in the Holy Quran? I am asking this because people know that they have been stopped from its consumption but they are unaware of its forbiddance”.

Imam (as) replied, “Ofcourse Alcohol has been made Haraam (forbidden) in the Holy Quran”.

Al-Mahdi asked,  “Where in Quran Allah has explicitly forbidden it?”

Imam (as) recited the following verse:

“Say: My Lord has only forbidden indecencies, the outward among them and the inward ones, and sin and undue aggression…” (7:33)

Then the Imam (as) went on to explain:

“The outward indecency refers to Zinaa (Adultery & Fornication). In the days of paganism (pre-Islamic era), the perverts used to raise flags outside places, which served as brothels.

The inward indecency refers to marriage with stepmothers. In the days of paganism, when a woman lost her husband, the stepson would marry her.

And Sin is in reference to consumption of Alcohol”.

Explaining how the word Ithm that means ‘sin’ denotes ‘Alcohol’, Imam (as) pointed out another verse of the Holy Quran in which the stated term refers to Alcohol. He (as) recited this verse: “They ask you concerning wine and gambling. Say: There is a great sin in both of them…” (2:219)

When Al-Mahdi heard such a detailed reply given from the Holy Quran, he said, “This ruling is a ruling of a Hashimite”. (Al-Kaafi)