Surah Al-Ma'idah
Hello. I am reading Surah Al-Ma'idah today. In ayah 90, it says: "O believers! Intoxicants, gambling, idols, and drawing lots for decisions are all Satan's handiwork. So shun them so you may be successful."
The impact of hard drugs is very clear, and we see how they contribute to incoherence and violence. However, we also see people consuming coffee daily, as well as nicotine. From a scientific standpoint, caffeine works by blocking adenosine (the neurotransmitter responsible for tiredness) and inducing a small release of adrenaline, while nicotine mimics acetylcholine to speed up the heart and triggers a significant dopamine release. Both substances alter brain chemistry and create an unnatural dopamine rush.
Given this, would you consider coffee and nicotine to be intoxicants? And if they are, how can they contribute to the hatred and hostility mentioned in the verse, given that they primarily act as stimulants or relaxants?
Posted Feb 23, 2026, 6:02 AM UTC