The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (119 page)

 
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(Arab.). Intoxicants which in some religions are prohibited. In Islam, they are
har
(see
KHAMR
), and in Buddhism, abstention from alcohol is one of the five basic principles of moral conduct (pañca-
la
). Among Hindus,
sur
p
na
, drinking intoxicants, is the second of the five great sins (
mah
p
taka
), although there is much commentarial discussion on what counts as an intoxicant. Drinking alcohol is forbidden for initiated
kh
ls
Sikhs, as is the taking of drugs—though
Niha
g
Si
ghs take an infusion of cannabis ritually to aid meditation. In Judaism and Christianity, wine is extolled as part of the bounty of God, but again, in moderation.