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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Moral Stories (part 2) Evaluation of Haroon By chance once Haroon and Bahlool both were going to Hammam (a public bath). Haroon asked him: "What would my value be if I were a slave?" Bahlool replied: "Fifty dinars" Haroon in an enranged voice remarked: "Oh mad man! How could that be.

My own valuable clothes are worth that much or more" Bahlool reacted to this saying: "The value I had suggested was for your clothes, otherwise you yourself are of no value at all!" Perhaps what Bahlool meant to taunt Haroon was that if he were a slave, he would not be able to provide any service to his master because of his easy and lusty life-style. As such he would be of no value on the slave market. THE DRUNKARD CALIPH Bahlool once arrived at Haroon's palace to find him drinking wine.

Haroon wanted to cover up his vice hence he put this question to him: "Is it haram if one were to eat grapes?" "Certainly not." Replied Bahlool. "How is it if one were to drink water after eating grapes?" asked Haroon. "Nothing wrong in it" replied Bahlool. "Is there anything wrong if after eating grapes and drinking water, one were to sit in the sun?" further question by Haroon. "Not at all" replied Bahlobl. Bahlool understood what the drinking Caliph was driving at.

After pausing for a while, Bahlool put forward to Haroon the following questions: "If a little earth were to be put over someone's head, what harm would it cause to him." "No harm" replied Haroon. "If then a little water were to be added to that earth?" asked Bahlool. "No harm also" replied Haroon. "If bricks were to be made by mixing earth and water and thence strike his head with it, what would happen?" Bahlool asked this question. "His head would burst open and blood come out" replied Haroon.

Bahlool thereafter argued that just as earth and water mixed together could cause severe harm to one's head, similarly water and grapes (grape juice) when converted into the form of wine would cause much harm and misery to man. Hence the prohibition of drinking wine in the Islamic Sharia.

The following hadtth of the Prophet of Islam on the harm of wine drinking is worth noting: "Alcohol is a collection of sins" Obviously one is likely to commit any sort of sin when in senseless condition under the influence of drinks. The ghastly crimes committed today under the intoxication of alcohol need no enumeration.