Islam came to bring and increase good things, and to ward off and reduce harmful things. Whatever is beneficial or mostly beneficial is permissible (halal) and whatever is harmful or mostly harmful is forbidden (haram). Alcohol undoubtedly falls into the second category. Allah says:

They ask you (O Muhammad) concerning alcoholic drink and gambling. Say: In them is a great sin, and (some) benefits for men, but the sin of them is greater than their benefit.

Quran - 2:219

(interpretation of the meaning)

The harmful and evil effects of alcohol are well known to all people. Among the harmful effects of alcohol is that which was mentioned by Allah:

O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), and gambling, and Al‑Ansaab (stone altars for sacrifices to idols, jinn, etc), and Al‑Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaytaan’s (Satan’s) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful. Shaytaan (Satan) wants only to excite enmity and hatred between you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks) and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and from As‑Salah (the prayer). So, will you not then abstain?

Quran - 5:90-91

(interpretation of the meaning)

Alcohol leads to many harmful things, and deserves to be called “the key to all evils” – as it was described by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him), who said:

Do not drink wine, for it is the key to all evils.

Sunan Ibn Majah, 3371

It creates enmity and hatred between people, prevents them from remembering Allah and praying, calls them to zina [unlawful sexual relationships], and may even call them to commit incest with their daughters, sisters or other female relatives. It takes away pride and protective jealousy, generates shame, regret and disgrace. It leads to the disclosure of secrets and exposure of faults. It encourages people to commit sins and evil actions.

Furthermore, Ibn ‘Umar narrated that the Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) said:

Any intoxicating drink is alcohol (wine) and any intoxicant is forbidden, and whoever drinks alcohol in this worldly life while being addicted to it and does not repent from it, it will be forbidden for him in the Hereafter).

Sahih Muslim, 2003a

The Prophet ﷺ (peace be upon him) also said:

Allah has cursed wine, its presser, the one who demands it to be pressed, its drinker, its carrier, the one to whom it is conveyed, its server, its seller, its buyer, the one who consumes its price, its purchaser and the one for whom it is purchased.

Sunan Ibn Majah, 3381

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