May One Establish Prayer While He Is Drunk?

May one establish prayer while he is drunk?

First of all, we need to state that drinking alcoholic beverages and using drugs are haram (prohibited) in Islam. For this reason, it is unthinkable for a Muslim to drink alcohol and use drugs. However, a person who commits these sins is still a Muslim as long as he does not deny their state of being haram. Therefore, he is responsible to fulfill worships. But, as drunkenness affects the consciousness of a person, the prayer established in this state is not valid. Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an, “O you who have believed, do not approach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying.” (Nisa, 4/43)

Undoubtedly, dua and worship is a matter of comprehension and consciousness. This is why being sane is also a prerequisite for all acts of worship along with being a Muslim and having reached puberty. For the validity of the acts of worship, they need to be performed with the intention of worshipping and sincerity. For this reason, the person who will establish prayer, observe fasting, or make dua should be sober enough to know what he says. In this respect, a person who drinks alcoholic beverages and uses drug although they are haram should establish his prayers if he is not so drunk to the extent that he is not able to know what he is saying, in other words, he is conscious enough to know what he does and recites. There is not a specific time designated for this issue.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS