Step-by-step prohibition

Chapter 16, Verse 67 (Al-Qur'an) "And from the fruits of datepalm and the vine, ye get out STRONG DRINK and WHOLESOME FOOD; behold in this there is a sign for those who are wise." Ch. II, Verse 219, "They ask thee concerning wine and gambling, say, "in them there is sin and some profit but the sin is greater than profit" Ch.IV, Verse 43 "O ye who believe, approach not prayers in a state of intoxication, until ye understand what ye say......" Ch. V, Verse 90: "O ye who believe, intoxicants and gambling, sacrificing to stones and divination by arrows are an abomination of satan's handiwork, eschew such abomination that ye may prosper." Leaving the gambling and sacrifice etc. and talking only of "intoxicants" (any drug including alcohol that alters mind in such a way that there is delirium and confusion) here is prohibition of alcohol step by step by the Almighty, the Wise First placing two types of preparations from dates and grapes: one "intoxicant" and other called wholesome food (healthy and nonhealthy). Allama Asad has given the translation better "...........intixcants as well as wholesome sustenance"......" Next two ayat (given in the above order) may have been sent down later but the last one was final, the command, stay away from it and the Muslims of Madina immediately followed the Hukm.. There was time interval of 10 years between the first(in the order given above) and the last (given above) The Almighty knew that it is not easy to give up drinking suddenly and also one can get deathly sick (may even die) on sudden withdrawal from alcohol (Physicians know that)

 EACH BREATH THAT ONE TAKES IS A STEP TOWARD ONE"S DESTINY (Ali IBn-Abi Taalib RA)