News

On the 21st of November 2014, various media exposed and demanded Malaysian Airline System (MAS) regarding the wine charges which was charged upon each ticket bought by passengers. Deputy Minister of Transportation, Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi in a parliament session stated that the price of each ticket bought by passengers included the beverage cost on board including wine. "When we buy a flight ticket, it includes the cost of the beverage provided on the aeroplane," he said. This shocking truth gained response from conscious Muslims who were worried if they also played a part in paying the wine charges. (Malaysia Digest, 21st November 2014). The Minister in the Prime Minster Sector, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, stated in Sinar Harian, the charge for wine which is included in the MAS flight ticket must be stopped because beer should not be served on board. "I pledge that no one will be charged with wine payment because wine should not be served. Put an end to it" he said in the Parliament lobby. (Sinar Harian, 21st November 2014).

Comment

Charging all Malaysia Airlines passengers including Muslims and those who do not consume alcoholic drink is a fraud. The most important thing in this issue is on the prohibition of alcohol as described by the word of Allah on its consumption as mentioned in Surah Al Ma'eda in verse 90:

((يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ))

"O ye who believe! Wine and gambling and idols and divining arrows are only an infamy of Satan's handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed." [Al Ma'eda: 90]

This has also been emphasized in the hadith of the Messenger (pbuh):

«لا تشرب الخمر فإنها مفتاح كل شر»

"Alcohol is the mother of vice and it is the shameful vices" [Narrated by Ibn Majah].

«كل مسكر خمر وكل خمر حرم»

"Any intoxicating drink is wine and any intoxicating is haaram (forbidden)" [Narrated by Muslim]
Beside the prohibition of wine, Islam also forbids all transactions pertaining to wine including those who carry and sell it. From Anas bin Malik:

عن أَنَسِ بن مَالِكٍ قال «لَعَنَ رسول اللَّهِ في الْخَمْرِ عَشْرَةً عَاصِرَهَا وَمُعْتَصِرَهَا وَشَارِبَهَا وَحَامِلَهَا وَالْمَحْمُولَةُ إليه وَسَاقِيَهَا وَبَائِعَهَا وَآكِلَ ثَمَنِهَا وَالْمُشْتَرِي لها وَالْمُشْتَرَاةُ له»

"The Messenger (pbuh) cursed ten parties in the production of khamr (wine): those who squeeze the grapes, those who employ others to squeeze it, those who drink it, those who carry it, those who pour it for others, those who sell it, those who benefits from selling of the wine, those who purchase and those who consume it free of charge." [narrated by Tirmizi and Ibnu Majah]

Based on the above, it is also forbidden to charge alcoholic drink to the passengers. The fact that Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) is the official airlines of the country whereby Muslims constitute the majority of population means MAS should not include the cost of alcoholic drink as part of flight charges.

The sad part is that, despite the fact that it is within the knowledge of those in the authority, they did nothing, let alone make effort to stop MAS from serving alcoholic drink in its flights. As a for-profit organization, MAS serves alcoholic drink although it is forbidden in Islam. This is the basis of the capitalist economic system that has oppressed the Muslims. This economy is flourished in the secular countries. What is permitted (halal) and forbidden (haaram) are ignored as long as it generates maximum profits. Finally, the people have to suffer due to greed of those in power.

To the Muslims! It has been many times that Islam has been challenged with unbelief (Kufr) and disobedience. We must know that the widespread of symbols of disbelief (Kufr) and disobedience are derived from these two sources: corrupt leaders and corrupt system. This is the outcome when people are led by secular leaders who separates religion from life and adopted the man-made democratic system which is corrupted and damaging. Under the corrupt leader and ruling system, what is permitted (halal) and what is forbidden (haaram) does not act as a standard or benchmark, but lusts and benefits become the driving forces to do or refrain people from doing something. The corrupt democratic system would eventually produce strings of damage and drift us in disbelief.

There is no way out of this problem but for us to put effort to eliminate this Kufr system and strive to elevate the Deen of Allah by reestablishing the Khilafah "Caliphate" Islamiyyah, then only we could dishonor the Kufr and its followers while Islam and its followers will be glorious. Wallahu ‘Alam.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Sumayyah Ammar
Member of the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir