O you who believe draw not near to prayer whilst you are inebriated until you know what you are saying nor whilst you are defiled unless you are traversing a way until you have washed yourselves. But if you are sick or on a journey or if any of you comes from the privy or you have touched women; and you can find no water wholesome soil and wipe your faces and your hands. God is ever Pardoning Forgiving. The prohibition against drinks which cause intoxication is not [a prohibi- tion] against prayer. Rather it is to say that you should not come to prayer when you are inebriated so you should avoid drinking that which will intoxicate you. Moreover when you come to prayer in that condition the prayer will not be accepted from you. Intoxication is the loss of mental functioning and awareness and with [this loss] intimate conversation with the Real is not appropriate. The one who is praying speaks intimately with his Lord so by way of allusion any- thing which causes the heart to be unmindful of God is included in this and thereby becomes part of this category. Intoxication is of several types: there is intoxication from wine and intoxication from heedlessness because of a preoccupying love for the present world. The most difficult intoxication is your intoxication with your lower self and it is that which throws you into a state of separation from Him. If someone is intoxicated from wine the end of his affair is burning ḥurqa if he is not forgiven. If someone is intoxicated with himself his state is separation furqa in the present moment from reality. As for the [praiseworthy form of] intoxication which the folk allude to its possessor has a time in which he is protected from it so that he may pray with ease. Then when he finishes the prayer [the intoxication] overwhelms him and seizes him [again]. [The intoxication of] those who are not protected in the precepts of the law is [an intoxication] mixed with worldly concern. Nor whilst you are defiled unless you are traversing a way: He gives per- mission to those who are compelled to take liberties when crossing through the place of prayer in the state of ritual impurity but if one deviates more than is necessary then one deserves reproof for there is no excuse.
