[Sca-cooks] Why no alcohol?

[david friedman]

Anahita wrote:

>However, "in period", Muslims in al-Andalus, Persia, and the Ottoman
>Empire drank quite a bit of wine, regardless of the Qur'anic
>proscription, although certainly not everyone drank. The clerics
>complained quite a bit, but those in the ruling classes drank, and
>anywhere there were significant populations of Christians and/or Jews
>could have "taverns" serving alcohol.

There is a story from a period source about a Muslim holy man who was
by the docks and saw a boat laden with jars of wine. He asked about
them and was told they were for the palace of the Caliph (who was
rather like a combination Pope and Emperor). So he picked up a pole
and started breaking jars. He was hauled before the Caliph, who asked
him, "And who made you inspector of the markets?"
The holy man looked the Caliph in the eye and said, "The same Who
made you Caliph."

The Caliph let him go.

Elizabeth/Betty Cook