Why did Omar ibn al-Khattab insist on prohibiting wine, even though it was permissible, and despite the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "The greatest Muslim among Muslims in terms of offense is he who asks about something that was not forbidden to Muslims, but it becomes forbidden to them because of his question"?

Lawful and unlawful are determined by Allah alone; He is the Legislator and none other. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was guided and inspired, and part of his divine guidance was that his desire aligned with Allah's will, as happened in issues like the hijab and the prisoners of Badr. 'Umar also supplicated to his Lord to reveal a clear statement regarding intoxicants, and their prohibition was revealed in stages, which confirms that he was inspired and spoken to [by angels]. 'Umar did not ask the Prophet, peace be upon him, about the ruling on intoxicants; rather, he asked his Lord. His question does not fall under the prohibited type of questioning that is an unnecessary burden; rather, it was out of necessity. The story of the prohibition of intoxicants and this virtue of 'Umar are evidence of his sound nature and upright thinking. To disparage 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, is to disparage Allah and His Messenger, for Allah chose him and made him a caliph, and the Prophet succeeded in his call by selecting his Companions, whom the Qur'an described as "strong against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves."