بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡخَمۡرِ وَٱلۡمَيۡسِرِ‌ۖ قُلۡ فِيهِمَآ إِثۡمٌ۬ ڪَبِيرٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثۡمُهُمَآ أَڪۡبَرُ مِن نَّفۡعِهِمَا‌ۗ وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلۡعَفۡوَ‌ۗ كَذَٲلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ (٢١٩) فِى ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَٱلۡأَخِرَةِ‌ۗ

“They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, “In both there is great sin, and some benefits for people. And their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you as to what they should spend. Say, “The surplus”. This is how Allah makes His verses clear to you, so that you may ponder (219) On this world and the Hereafter.”

Ruling:  Drinking was something common in Arab society. The Quran took gradual steps in the prohibition of wine and gambling. This is one of the first verses addressing the issue. This verse mentions the negative effects of drinking and gambling, but they were not forbidden till a later date by a verse in Sarah Maida. This verse takes the form of a good advice in pointing out the inherent evil in these things in hope that by learning of them, man will stop doing them. Drinking wine causes the mind, which safeguards one from all repugnant things, to dissipate. This results in fighting, killing and numerus other evils. Furthermore, various spiritual and physical sicknesses come to the fore. At times, these sicknesses cause death. Gambling causes the devouring of prohibited wealth, stealing, wastage of wealth, family destruction, mutual enmity and various other external and internal evils. Without a doubt, there is temporary benefit in them as well, e.g. by drinking wine one experiences (temporary) pleasure and happiness. By gambling one acquires wealth without any exertion. However, their evils far outweigh these temporary benefits. So, one should refrain from them. (Tafseer Uthmani V1 pg228)