وَمِن ثَمَرَاتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالَاعْنَابِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًاAnd from the fruits of date palms and grapes, you derive strong drink,This indicates that it was permissible to drink it before it was forbidden. It also indicates that strong drink (i.e., intoxicating drink) derived from dates is the same as strong drink derived from grapes. Also forbidden are strong drinks derived from wheat, barley, corn and honey, as is explained in detail in the Sunnah. سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًاstrong drink and a goodly provision.Ibn Abbas said:"Strong drink is the product of these two fruits that is forbidden, and the good provision is what is permitted of them."According to another report:"Strong drink is its unlawful, and the goodly provision is its lawful,"referring to the fruits when they are dried, like dates and raisins, or products derived from them such as molasses, vinegar and wine (of grapes, dates) which are permissible to drink before they become strong (becomes alcoholic), as was stated in the Sunnah.إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَThere is indeed a sign in this for those of reason.It is appropriate to mention reason here, because it is the noblest feature of man. Hence Allah forbade this Ummah from drinking intoxicants, in order to protect their ability to reason.Allah says:وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّـتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـبٍ وَفَجَّرْنَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْعُيُونِلِيَأْكُلُواْ مِن ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَفَلَ يَشْكُرُونَسُبْحَـنَ الَّذِى خَلَق الاٌّزْوَجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الاٌّرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ And We placed gardens of date palms and grapes in it, and We caused springs of water to gush forth in it. So that they may eat of its fruit - while their hands did not make it. Will they not then give thanks Glory be to Him Who created all the pairs of that which the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind (male and female), and of that which they know not. (36:34-36