What does « Intoxication / Fermentation » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Intoxication / Fermentation (سكر) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

سكر

Intoxication / Fermentation

Root: س - ك - ر

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Intoxication / Fermentation

As-sukr: a state that interposes between a person and their reason.

It is mostly used for the effect of alcohol.

The Almighty says: 'Do not approach prayer while intoxicated' (An-Nisa 43).

As-sakar: wine or vinegar. 'intoxicating drink and good provision' (An-Nahl 67).

Intoxication can also be metaphorical: 'in their intoxication, they wander blindly' (Al-Hijr 72).

Intoxication / Fermentation in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 4 Medinan: 2

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Hijr 2

An-Nisa 1

An-Nahl 1

Al-Hajj 1

Qaf 1

Surah An-Nisa : 43 Medinan

﴿يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنتُمْ سُكَٰرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ تَعْلَمُوا۟ مَا تَقُولُونَ وَلَا جُنُبًا إِلَّا عَابِرِى سَبِيلٍ حَتَّىٰ تَغْتَسِلُوا۟ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُمْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَفُوًّا غَفُورًا﴾

O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying or in a state of janabah, except those passing through [a place of prayer], until you have washed [your whole body]. And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women and find no water, then seek clean earth and wipe over your faces and your hands [with it]. Indeed, Allah is ever Pardoning and Forgiving.

Surah Al-Hijr : 15 Meccan

﴿لَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَٰرُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ﴾

They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic."

Surah Al-Hijr : 72 Meccan

﴿لَعَمْرُكَ إِنَّهُمْ لَفِى سَكْرَتِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ﴾

By your life, [O Muhammad], indeed they were, in their intoxication, wandering blindly.

Surah An-Nahl : 67 Meccan

﴿وَمِن ثَمَرَٰتِ ٱلنَّخِيلِ وَٱلْأَعْنَٰبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾

And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good provision. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason.

Surah Al-Hajj : 2 Medinan

﴿يَوْمَ تَرَوْنَهَا تَذْهَلُ كُلُّ مُرْضِعَةٍ عَمَّآ أَرْضَعَتْ وَتَضَعُ كُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمْلٍ حَمْلَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلنَّاسَ سُكَٰرَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَٰرَىٰ وَلَٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ ٱللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ﴾

On the Day you see it every nursing mother will be distracted from that [child] she was nursing, and every pregnant woman will abort her pregnancy, and you will see the people [appearing] intoxicated while they are not intoxicated; but the punishment of Allah is severe.

Surah Qaf : 19 Meccan

﴿وَجَآءَتْ سَكْرَةُ ٱلْمَوْتِ بِٱلْحَقِّ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنتَ مِنْهُ تَحِيدُ﴾

And the intoxication of death will bring the truth; that is what you were trying to avoid.