Verse 67 of Sūrat al-Naḥl points to how people make use of the blessings of dates and grapes. Just as tools and instruments can be used for good or ill, so too can dates and grapes. The tongue, for example, can be used for good, but it can also be used for backbiting, lying, and sowing discord. Every blessing and every means has its own proper rule; whoever transgresses that rule commits a sin.
To dispel any possible misunderstanding, verse 33 of Sūrat al-Aʿrāf, which was revealed after verse 67 of Sūrat al-Naḥl, removes any ambiguity about the matter.
Al-Naḥl: 67 وَ مِنْ ثَمَراتِ النَّخيلِ وَ الْأَعْنابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَراً وَ رِزْقاً حَسَناً إِنَّ في ذلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
“And from the fruits of the date palm and the grapevine you obtain intoxicants (which are impure) and wholesome provision. Surely in this is a clear sign for people who reflect!”
Al-Aʿrāf: 33 قُلْ إِنَّما حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَواحِشَ ما ظَهَرَ مِنْها وَ ما بَطَنَ وَ الْإِثْمَ وَ الْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَ أَنْ تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ ما لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطاناً وَ أَنْ تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ ما لا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Say: ‘My Lord has forbidden only indecencies, whether open or hidden; sin and unjust aggression; associating with God that for which He has sent down no authority; and saying things about God that you do not know.’”
عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع فِي بَيَانِ النَّاسِخِ وَ الْمَنْسُوخِ أَنَّ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى وَ مِنْ ثَمَراتِ النَّخِيلِ وَ الْأَعْنابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَراً وَ رِزْقاً حَسَناً مَنْسُوخٌ بِآيَةِ التَّحْرِيمِ وَ هِيَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى قُلْ إِنَّما حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَواحِشَ ما ظَهَرَ مِنْها وَ ما بَطَنَ وَ الْإِثْمَ وَ الْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ “4”— وَ الْإِثْمُ هُنَا هُوَ الْخَمْرُ.
Imam ʿAlī (peace be upon him): The verse “وَ مِنْ ثَمَراتِ النَّخیلِ وَ الْأَعْنابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَکَراً وَ رِزْقاً حَسَناً” was abrogated by the revelation of the verse “قُلْ إِنَّما حَرَّمَ رَبِّیَ الْفَواحِشَ ما ظَهَرَ مِنْها وَ ما بَطَنَ وَ الْإِثْمَ وَ الْبَغْیَ بِغَیْرِ الْحَقِّ”. In this verse, الْإِثْمَ refers to wine.