The Prophet foresaw the universal ravages of alcoholism, as deadly in its effects as the worship of idols, and he forbade the use of fermented liquors. He had first received this Revelation: "_They will ask thee concerning vinous liquors ... Say: In them is great sin, and advantage also, to men; but their sin is greater than their advantage._" (THE QUR'AN, II, 216.)
Many among the Faithful gave up these beverages, whilst others could not bring it over their hearts to do so. A second Revelation brought this caution: "_Come not to prayer when drunken, bid wait till ye can understand what ye utter._" (THE QUR'AN, IV, 46.)
Ali caused this announcement. Having drunk to excess just at the hour of prayer, he recited: 'O ye Unbelievers ... we worship what ye worship. Ye have no religion and I have no religion,' instead of saying: "_O ye Unbelievers * I worship not what ye worship! * To you your religion; and to me my religion._" (THE QUR'AN, CIX, 1, 2, 6.)
Formal prohibition was finally decreed in these imperative verses: "_O Believers! Wine and games of chance, and statues and the divining arrows, are only an abomination of Satan's work! Avoid them, that ye may prosper. * Only would Satan sow hatred and strife among you, by wine and games of chance, and turn you aside from the remembrance of Allah, and from prayer: will ye not, therefore, desist from them? Obey Allah and obey the Apostle!_" (THE QUR'AN, V, 92, 93.)
[Sidenote: AYISHAH IN THE HOUSE OF THE PROPHET]
Ayishah, so kind, witty, and learned, was only the Prophet's wife in name. About this time, she became a member of his household.
Quoth Ayishah: "One day, surrounded by my companions, I was playing on a swing. Umm-i-Rumman, my mother, called me.
"I ran to her without knowing what she wanted of me. She took my hand, and made me stop on the threshold until I had got my breath. She then washed my face and forehead and led me into the house. Many women of the Ansars were there and they said to me: 'Happiness do we wish thee, and blessings, and the best of luck!'
"My mother left me to the care of these women. They decked me out and had scarcely finished when Allah's Apostle suddenly came in...."
[Sidenote: HOSTILITY OF THE JEWS AND THE MUNAFIQIN]