Q: My friend is addicted to alcohol. How many days does alcohol remains in the blood according to Islam? I have heard thet if you drink beer or alcohol your prayer or any good deeds are not accepted but you will not get any reward for that. Is this true?
A.
A Hadeeth in Tirmidhi narrated by Sayyidina Abdullah ibni Umar (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) states that if a person drinks alcohol, his Salaah will not be accepted for forty days. (Tirmidhi V4 P290). It can be gauged from this Hadeeth that the effect (spiritual harm) of alcohol remains in the body for forty days.Salaah is the most important form of Ibaadat. If the Salaah is not accepted, then all other Ibaadat is also affected. The meaning of 'not accepted' in the Hadeeth means that there is no reward for the Salaah for a forty day period. The person still has to compulsorily perform his Salaah, etc. daily, but he will not receive reward for it. He should not leave out Salaah, etc. Omitting the Salaah will be sinful upon him.
Allah Ta'aala knows best.
Allah Ta'aala knows best.
Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai