If alcohol is prohibited because of its results, that is, we are led into a state of consciousness, wouldn’t it be permissible to consume as much as does not affect our sanity?
Answer
The general principle that holds good in all such matters is that what is prohibited because of the bad influence of its consumption in large volume is also prohibited in smaller volumes. The rationale behind this general understanding is that one doesn’t know what is the maximum extent of the volume which can be described as safe. Only Allah Almighty can tell if a certain volume of consumption is safe or not. Since he hasn’t done so, nor has the prophet, Allah’s mercy be on him, nobody else is competent to give that verdict.
Moreover, we find in the Quran in surah al-Baqarah, verse 249 this mention:
“When Talut set forth with the armies he said: ‘Allah will test you at the stream; if any drinks of its water he goes not with my army; only those who taste not of it go with me; a mere sip out of the hand is excused.’
The verse is telling us that in certain cases of prohibition a maximum allowable limit has been prescribed by the messenger’s of Allah. Obviously, had there been a need for such a limit to be mentioned in the case of alcohol, it could have been done in the Book. Moreover, we also find that when describing the prohibition of pork and some other items, the Quran has allowed consumption of a small volume of these items in exceptional circumstances of extreme hunger to enable the individual to survive. (See al-Baqarah, verse 173, for instance). If that exception could find its way in the Quran, why couldn’t a minimum allowable volume be likewise mentioned in it, had it been the intent of Allah Almighty?