Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Some of the companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to drink alcohol, and their normal lives continued upon this. When the prohibition of alcohol was revealed, some people said: Alcohol has become forbidden for us, but so-and-so, so-and-so, and so-and-so used to drink alcohol and all of them are people of Paradise, even though they died while drinking alcohol. This was at a time when alcohol had not yet been made forbidden. Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, revealed this verse: "O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone altars [to other than Allah] , and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it." Then He said: "So will you not desist?" So the companions said: O our Lord! We have desisted. Then Allah revealed this verse: "There is not upon those who believe and do righteous deeds [any] blame concerning what they have consumed," meaning there is no sin upon those who, after believing and doing righteous deeds, drank alcohol before its prohibition, then they became pious, believed, did righteous deeds, then again adopted piety, remained firm upon faith, acted with excellence, and Allah loves those who do good.