A committee to curb drinking, gambling and the like

Question

Question: Some people of our neighbourhood formed a committee to restrain everyone from alcohol, gambling and other vices, but some members of the committee are themselves involved in these foul evils. The imam of the neighbourhood is the president of this committee. What is the ruling of the Sacred Law in this matter?

Answer

Since the people of the neighbourhood appointed these members for this purpose — that the corrupted state of affairs be reformed — then drinking alcohol is also part of that corrupted state; in sha’ Allah it too will be reformed, and these persons too will be restrained from alcohol and gambling.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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