"They ask you about intoxicants and gambling. Say, 'In them is great sin and benefits for the people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.'" Al-Maysir (gambling) refers to all forms of betting. Regarding His saying: "In them is great sin," when they would drink intoxicants and become intoxicated, some would commit aggression against others, and they used to gamble until one of them was left with nothing, which would sow enmity between them.

As for His saying: "and benefits for the people," this refers to what they used to benefit from by drinking and selling it, and from gambling before Allah prohibited both. Qatadah said: Allah condemned them in this verse but did not prohibit them, for He intended to reach a specific duration, and they were, at that time, permissible for them. Then, Allah revealed after that a verse which was more severe: "O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying." They would drink it, but when the time for prayer arrived, they would abstain. Intoxication during prayer was prohibited for them, while it was permitted for them outside of that. It was narrated to us that the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said—when this verse was revealed—: "Allah has drawn closer to the prohibition of this intoxicant." Then Allah revealed its prohibition in Surat al-Ma'idah, saying: "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows..." up to His saying: "...so will you not desist?" Thus, its prohibition came in this verse, both for its small and large quantities.