Page 129 - The Nightmare of Disbelief

When things do not go their way, when they become an-
gry, feel bored or sorry for themselves, and even when they re-
joice, they immediately resort to alcohol and, in their own way,
"find relief." However, in this they do nothing but harm them-
selves as well as others. As they drink more, they lose their con-
sciousness, a pretext which supposedly exonerates them from

all blame. They offend people and act improperly in society
without any embarrassment. People do not feel astonished
when they see someone who conducts his business seriously in
daily life crying himself to sleep when drunk at other times.
Losing consciousness because of drink, with all the ill ef-
fects that follow from it, is clear evidence of the unrest it brings
to society. It is not uncommon, for instance, for a man to lose
everything he possesses in just one night of gambling, or after
drinking, to commit murder, violence, suicide, etc. These evils

are referred to in the following verse:
You who believe! Wine and gambling, stone altars and di-
vining arrows are abominations devised by satan. Avoid
them completely so that hopefully you will be successful.
Satan wants to stir up enmity and hatred between you by
means of wine and gambling, and to debar you from re- 127
membrance of Allah and from prayer. Will you not then
give them up? (Surat al-Ma'ida: 90-91)

Because the religion of truth prohibits gambling, believers
stay well away from it. The fear of Allah in their hearts guar-
antees this avoidance. Whatever the circumstances are, howev-
er compelling or alluring they might seem, they never give in.
From the standpoint of religion, there are no pretexts or legiti-
mate excuses which may be put forth. Nobody commits the im-
morality of finding pretexts, since an unlawful act in religion
prohibits any concessions or leniency.

HARUN YAHYA (ADNAN OKTAR)