and great harm would be averted, while people’s consumption of wine—which has begun to spread, Allah protect us—would markedly decline. In some Muslim countries wine is now as commonplace as permitted drinks such as lemonade or orange juice. Without doubt this is a spectacle unbefitting Muslims; in reality it amounts to declaring the drink lawful, for it has become so widespread that a person simply opens the refrigerator and helps himself to wine—Allah forbid—as though it were perfectly permissible.

This exactly matches the Prophet’s statement: “There will certainly be people from my community who will deem lawful fornication, silk, wine, and musical instruments.” Today people have divided these four matters among themselves. In some societies fornication and sodomy—Allah protect us—have become rampant and are treated as permissible. We are told that in certain countries, when a plane lands, young women and men meet the arriving passengers in the airport asking, “What do you want—beautiful or plain, young or not?”—the word ḥir here meaning fornication or sodomy.

In other lands wine is ubiquitous: it is sold openly in the markets and drunk day and night as if it were a lawful beverage. Elsewhere—especially among those who have lost any sense of duty toward their subjects—you will find men dressing like women, wearing silk and soft fabrics, and even adorning themselves with gold jewelry such as necklaces, rings, and the like.

As for musical instruments, the situation needs no elaboration: they are now widespread in most Muslim countries—indeed, one could say in all of them—Allah protect us, for every type of instrument has become common.

We therefore ask Allah for safety and guidance, and that He reform the rulers and their subjects. Truly, He is powerful over all things.