Social Drinking

There were times in my life when it used to be norm to have few drinks with friends. Whether, it was parties on campus, going to pubs to watch sports, or just chilling out at home. Sometimes, there was a lingering guilt factor somewhere at the back of my mind, but at the time it seemed perfectly alright thing to do and having fun was always the deciding factor. As emancipation grew, slowly I began to listen to myself. The gatherings and activities pretty much stayed the same, but I changed. I think much has to do due to the blessings of my Creator who showed me the guidance. I can’t remember the exact time when I last drank, but it has been many years and never missed it.

The reason why I am saying all this because many Pakistani friends I knew from college, who are abroad solely on their own, went through almost the same set of circumstances. Some quit and some still drink. It was ironic in a sense that you never thought of doing something like this while you were growing up, but when you are here all alone at an early age, then rules of the game change. At least it did for me. Not that there is any guilt- it was fun back then- but something more like a gratis feeling…

I know of a lot of friends who went through the same...it's amazing what people can say and do to justify themselves...

The mind is a powerful thing...one can even convince oneself to the extent of blindness.

I'm happy you quit!


Is it progress when a cannibal uses a knife and fork?

Well .. I was strictly against drinking ... but then started drinking myself ... & eventually I stopped ... now no drinking what so ever.

I think 90% people go throught this phase ... & some dont stop ... & that is only 5% of the whole ... who eventually stop.

Dont worry ... if u stopped drinking is OK .. if u haven't then u can always try to stop.

Abdullah, it's courageous of you to be so open about this matter, I also think it's better to come in terms with your social drinking past during your young days as to feel guilty now.

Nobody is perfect, we all do things which we feel sorry afterwards, I dont know how to express this correctly but if you think you have done some things in your past, that u believe went against your faith,morals, religion the best is to ask God for forgiveness and don't repeat that again.

In my firm there are so many occasions (birthdays, dinners, meetings, gatherings ect... )where you are presented alcholic drinks, most of the time I politly decline, saying that "I don't drink thanks"...once or twice I have been placed a sect/wine glas on my hand and with all the people around, had no other choice as to take a sip or two, afterwards I felt guilty so that now I try my best not to attend those gatherings, only if it's very important and even if I stand somewhere in the back so that I can place the glas away or exchange with some unalcoholic drinks.

I believe its good of you to have stopped drinking and I pray, may the Creator allways show you, me, everyone his guidance, ameen!

been to parties..and many other places where it is v v unsocial not to drink..but so far i never had a drop of alcohol in my whole life…

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wel there is a exception though…we were out tracking and on last day reaching our dest. our Chinese guide put a few drops of rice wine in our pepsi..i just felt dizzy and we all threw away that stuff and warned that old man not to do it again…

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Your Faith gives me strength
Your smiles wash away my sorrows
your touch heals my wounds
You are in my blood and my soul…
There is nothing more I want from this world but you my Messiah

Oh God! He's grown old and he's grown un-sottish, and now have started using words like 'Creator' and 'emancipation' (What the heck??). You need to be rescued from the boring, dull mirror lives of men and women who drink Aab-ay Zum Zum instead.

Roman drinking is extremly bad for your mind & health, if you think that drinking makes you "cool" and "un-boring" then my friend you are fooling only yourself.

Saadia dear, your glibness is cute and endearing on times. This is, however, not one of those times.

Isn't there a "thing" that you can drink as long as you don't loose your "hosh" and get entoxicated. Btw, I don't drink... just curious... Muslic people???


You can only paint with the colors you're given...
...so get what you like and like what you have.

[quote]
Originally posted by Roman:
Oh God! He's grown old and he's grown un-sottish, and now have started using words like 'Creator' and 'emancipation' (What the heck??). You need to be rescued from the boring, dull mirror lives of men and women who drink Aab-ay Zum Zum instead.
[/quote]

roman
to stop drinking is not only seen as a strength from a muslim perspective but to refrain from it is also a strong point from a non-muslims view
why you are opposing this? i dont know maybe you want to drink yourself into a hangover for the next day, splitting head aches and all


Sugar, spice 'n all things nice

Best way to prevent being victim of alcohol is to avoid it ABSOLUTELY!!!

AND there atre various wasys & means alcohol damages you (visit AA to learn that)

Dont touch, see or even think about it .

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If you rationalize that whats wrong with touching …haram & halal is difficult to observe ,I can quit like Abdullah ,its like saying I WILL PLAY WITH FIRE OR FIRE ARMS…

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You have public service announcements against doing (firearms & FIRES)that but in case of Alcohol JUST b/c IT IS ISLAMIC PROHIBITION &NOT CHRISTIAN TETOOTELLER ,THERE IS BLATANT INCONSISTENCY& DISPERITY IN WARNINGS

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“One of the characteristics of healthy cultures is that they can poke fun at themselves.”

There are few things in life as satisfying as a good drink after a long hard day. Some of those things usually follow the drink.

I used to frown upon Muslims that consume alcohol. In some ways I still am prejudiced against them. Not because I don't drink..but because I will never understand getting into a practice that may cause me to lose control of my actions/thoughts or will cause me to become addicted.

Life has much more to offer than just a 'drink'.

There is something about a doubleshot of JW Blue. or a glass of Chateau Leffite (sp) with a good steak. People, let's not confuse moderation with overindulgence.

muzna, used to frown but not anymore? just curious cuz ive found myself in the same situation.

back in karachi where alcohol is not that readily available, i refrained from having to do anything with people who consumed alcohol. it was easy back then because it was rare to come across a person my age that consumed alcohol.

then at around 16 i discovered that some of my friends started consuming alcohol. that was a bit of a shock for me, and left me in a very confused state of mind. to some extent i even felt betrayed because the people i held so near and dear were actually doing things that contradicted my beliefs.

that ofcourse has worn off now since i've fully realized that among the people in my life, including my brothers and sisters, i'm actually of the few who dont drink.

so it doesnt bother me anymore. as long as i stay away from it, its all good.

Yeah....I used to. I would avoid them like the plague.

Now I try not to move in social circles where people believe that its necessary to drink to "fit in"...but I also don't judge against those that drink because I figure it's between them and their Creator. As long as their drinking does not affect me.

I was being very frank when I said that I am still prejudiced against them because I feel like their imaan is diluted. This is not a mindset that I am proud of. I believe it's a defense mechanism that surfaces to protect me from certain elements that I have been taught can do me harm.

Yeah i’ve just reached that age where you’re allowed to drink alcohol, all my other friends have been trying it out and they like it. They know i can’t drink and they’re cool with it and i don’t mind being around them when they do drink. it was actually quite amusing last friday, a bunch of us went round a friends house to watch the footie (eng v arg) a couple of them were pretty much out of it, we went out after - it was hillarious.

Even though i do hang around with friends who do drink quite a lot, i’m proud say i, myself have never touched the stuff (well while it’s in the bottle yeah

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)

[This message has been edited by Ums (edited June 10, 2002).]

So Muzna, would you now, say, sit on a same dinner table to have dinner with somebody who is drinking or you still avoid them like plague?

I needed NO excuses at all to drink; just till last year I use to drink, once or twice a year especially with few of my friends who are everybody’s favorite here. But one day at my house, during a prayer with a fellow guppy I was stumbled at this ayat 1:4, I was surprised at my self that I have gone through this ayat a million times in my life, but failed to understand it.

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So since that day, whenever I pray I need no excuses to raise my head from Sajda.

I wish, I could emphasize on this ayat even more.

[This message has been edited by MiniMe (edited June 10, 2002).]