Surah Al-Baqarah (2:219)

يَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ عَنِ الۡخَمۡرِ وَالۡمَيۡسِرِؕ قُلۡ فِيۡهِمَآ اِثۡمٌ کَبِيۡرٌ وَّمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَاِثۡمُهُمَآ اَکۡبَرُ مِنۡ نَّفۡعِهِمَا ؕ وَيَسۡـــَٔلُوۡنَكَ مَاذَا يُنۡفِقُوۡنَؕ قُلِ الۡعَفۡوَؕ كَذٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّٰهُ لَـكُمُ الۡاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَتَفَكَّرُوۡنَۙ‏ ۝

Yas-aloonaka AAani alkhamri walmaysiriqul feehima ithmun kabeerun wamanafiAAu linnasiwa-ithmuhuma akbaru min nafAAihima wayas-aloonaka mathayunfiqoona quli alAAafwa kathalika yubayyinu Allahulakumu al-ayati laAAallakum tatafakkaroon

They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and yet, some benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess beyond needs." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses of revelation that you might give thought

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Gradual Prohibition: The ruling on alcohol, gambling, and excess spending.

The Insight

The verse states that alcohol and gambling contain great sin, though some benefit, but the sin is greater. It also advises spending in charity what is surplus to one's needs. Avoid calculated risk. Actions where the harm is greater than the benefit (like substance abuse or gambling) are forbidden. Practice disciplined spending by giving away what you do not essentially need.