and bring down the mountain, and transform others into monkeys and pigs until the Day of Resurrection.”

The punishments inflicted upon earlier nations—pelting with stones, transformation, and being swallowed up by the earth—befall only those who follow their example by deeming lawful what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. As the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “There will certainly be people among my community who deem these things lawful.”

Some may deem certain kinds of wine lawful on the basis of an interpretation, as the people of Kūfah did. As related in the hadith: “There will certainly be people among my community who deem wine lawful, calling it by another name.”