Forbidden Drinks

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) was informed that a man used a trick: He wanted to benefit from alcohol without drinking it. So, he sold it. That was an exposed forbidden trick. Therefore, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) supplicated against the man, just as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) had done with the Jews, who resorted to similar tricks. ‘Umar said: "May Allah destroy him! Does he not know that resorting to trickery is forbidden?" This is because it features acting deceitfully towards Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "May Allah destroy the Jews," because when Allah prohibited them from consuming animal fat, they sought to benefit from it by means of a trick. They transformed its nature by melting it and then sold it and consumed its price. They claimed that they did not actually eat the fat that was forbidden to them. They think that they deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them.

صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، 1423هـ. عمدة الأحكام من كلام خير الأنام صلى الله عليه وسلم لعبد الغني المقدسي، دراسة وتحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، مراجعة وتقديم: عبد القادر الأرناؤوط، ط2، دار الثقافة العربية، دمشق ، بيروت، مؤسسة قرطبة، 1408هـ. الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام لإسماعيل الأنصاري، ط دار الفكر بدمشق الطبعة الأولى1381هـ. تأسيس الأحكام للنجمي، ط2، دار علماء السلف، 1414هـ. تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام للبسام، حققه وعلق عليه وخرج أحاديثه وصنع فهارسه: محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، ط10، مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، 1426هـ.

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the ruling on alcohols that were processed until transferred into vinegar, that incident occurred after the prohibition of alcoholic drinks, and he forbade that. Accordingly, if an alcoholic drink is transformed into vinegar in any way or form, it will continue to be prohibited and this will not change its ruling. This covers all possible ways of transforming wine into vinegar such as placing something therein like bread, onion, stone, yeast; moving it from the shade to the sun or vice-versa; or mixing it with another substance. Yet, if it turned into vinegar all by itself without human interference, it would become pure and permissible.

- صحيح مسلم، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي - الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت. - سبل السلام شرح بلوغ المرام، تأليف: محمد بن إسماعيل بن صلاح الصنعاني، الناشر: دار الحديث, بدون طبعة وبدون تاريخ. - توضيح الأحكام مِن بلوغ المرام، تأليف: عبد الله بن عبد الرحمن بن صالح البسام، الناشر: مكتبة الأسدي، مكة المكرّمة الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م - نيل الأوطار, محمد بن علي بن محمد بن عبد الله الشوكاني اليمني, تحقيق: عصام الدين الصبابطي, دار الحديث، مصر, الطبعة: الأولى، 1413هـ - 1993م. - منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، تأليف: عبد الله بن صالح الفوزان، الناشر : دار ابن الجوزي الطبعة : الأولى ، 1427 هـ - 1431 هـ - فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة - المجموعة الأولى, اللجنة الدائمة للبحوث العلمية والإفتاء, جمع وترتيب: أحمد بن عبد الرزاق الدويش, الناشر: رئاسة إدارة البحوث العلمية والإفتاء - الإدارة العامة للطبع – الرياض. - تسهيل الإلمام بفقه الأحاديث من بلوغ المرام، تأليف: صالح بن فوزان بن عبد الله الفوزان، الطبعة: الأولى، 1427 ه - 2006 م. - فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام شرح بلوغ المرام لمحمد بن صالح بن محمد العثيمين، تحقيق: صبحي بن محمد رمضان، وأُم إسراء بنت عرفة، ط1، المكتبة الإسلامية، مصر، 1427ه. - بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر. دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية. الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م.

In this Hadīth, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that when Allah, the Almighty, revealed the verse that made alcohol unlawful to drink, there was no drink in Madīnah from which alcohol was produced except dates. This indicates that alcohol is prohibited because it causes intoxication, not because of the substance it is made from.

- تسهيل الالمام، للشيخ صالح الفوزان، طبعة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى 1427 – 2006 م - فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، المكتبة الإسلامية - الطبعة الأولى 1427 - 2006 م - توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام، مكتَبة الأسدي، مكّة المكرّمة، الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م - بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر، دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م - صحيح مسلم, ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي, بيروت - منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان، دار ابن الجوزي. ط1 1428هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that whatever leads to losing control over one's mental faculties is considered intoxicant Khamr, whether it is to be drunk, eaten, inhaled, or otherwise; and whatever is intoxicant and clouds the mind is prohibited and forbidden by Allah Almighty, whether it is a small or big amount. Whoever drinks any of these intoxicants on a regular basis without repenting thereof until he dies will deserve Allah's punishment, namely being deprived of drinking it in Paradise.

1. The legal cause behind forbidding Khamr is intoxication, as whatever leads to intoxication, regardless of its type, is prohibited.
2. Allah Almighty has prohibited Khamr, given its great harms and evils.
3. Drinking Khamr in Paradise perfects the pleasure and completes the bliss.
4. He who does not abstain from drinking Khamr in this worldly life, Allah will deprive him of drinking it in Paradise because for every deed, there is a recompense that suits it.
5. Hastening to repent of sins before death is encouraged.

صحيح البخاري (7/ 104) (5575). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1587) (2003). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (8/ 519). فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (5/ 418). توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام (6/ 307). معالم السنن، وهو شرح سنن أبي داود، للخطابي (4/ 264). الفتح الرباني لترتيب مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل الشيباني، للساعاتي (16/ 116). فيض القدير شرح الجامع الصغير، للمناوي (5/ 30). مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، لعلي القاري (6/ 2382).

In this Hadīth, Tāriq ibn Suwayd (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) about alcohol, which he made for medicinal not drinking purposes. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told him that alcohol causes ailments and is not curative. This provides evidence that alcohol is forbidden, as it causes diseases and ailments, and is not useful at all. So it must be destroyed and poured away.

- تسهيل الالمام، للشيخ صالح الفوزان، طبعة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى، 1427 – 2006 م. - فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، للشيخ ابن عثيمين، المكتبة الإسلامية - الطبعة الأولى، 1427 - 2006 م. - توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام، مكتَبة الأسدي، مكّة المكرّمة، الطبعة: الخامِسَة، 1423 هـ - 2003 م. - بلوغ المرام من أدلة الأحكام، لابن حجر، دار القبس للنشر والتوزيع، الرياض - المملكة العربية السعودية، الطبعة: الأولى، 1435 هـ - 2014 م. - صحيح مسلم, ترقيم محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي, بيروت.

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he was serving drink to those in the house of his stepfather, Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), and their wine at that time was Fadīkh—a mixture of dates and unripe dates. Then, a caller from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) announced: Indeed, wine has been declared unlawful. He said: Abu Talhah said to me: Go and pour it out and spill it. So, I went and poured it out and spilled it, and the wine flowed through the streets of Madīnah. Some people said: Some of the Companions had been killed before its prohibition while it was still in their bellies. Thereupon, Allah revealed: {There is no blame on those who believe and do righteous deeds for what they consumed...} [Sūrat al-Mā’idah: 93]. This means: There is no sin incurred on those who believe for what they consumed of the wine before its prohibition.

1. The merit of Abu Talhah and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as they swiftly and unquestioningly responded to the command of Allah, and this is the attitude that befits a true Muslim.
2. "Khamr": A name that includes all intoxicants.
3. "Fadīkh": A drink made from unripe and ripe dates without being exposed to fire. "Busr" refers to the fruit of the date palm before it ripens.
4. Ibn Hajar said: Al-Muhallab stated: The wine was poured out in the street to publicly announce its rejection and to make its abandonment widely known. This served a greater benefit than the harm caused by pouring it into the street.
5. Clarifying Allah's mercy towards His slaves and that He does not hold them accountable for actions committed before the revelation of the ruling.
6. Allah Almighty prohibited Khamr due to its evil consequences that harm the mind and wealth, and because it leads people to commit many sins as a result of the loss of their mind.

صحيح البخاري (3/ 132) (2464). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1570) (1980). النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (709) (1006). فتح الباري لابن حجر (1/ 133). إرشاد الساري لشرح صحيح البخاري (4/ 267).

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that any drink or food that causes the loss of control over mental faculties when consumed in large quantities, then consuming a small amount of it is forbidden, even if it does not cloud the mind.

1. The Shariah protects people's minds.
2. Validity of blocking the means to evil by blocking all ways that lead to such evils.
3. The prohibition of a small amount of intoxicants, because it is a means to intoxication.
4. If it does not intoxicate, neither in small nor large amounts, then it is not forbidden.

سنن أبي داود (5/ 523) (3681). سنن الترمذي (3/ 442) (1865). سنن ابن ماجه (4/ 475) (3393). مسند أحمد (23/ 51) (14703). فتح ذي الجلال والإكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام (5/ 418). شرح سنن أبي داود للعباد (417/ 9). النهاية في غريب الحديث والأثر (437).

Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) informs that the Prophet (ﷺ) sent him to Yemen. He asked him about certain drinks made there—if they were forbidden—so the Prophet (ﷺ) inquired further about them. Abu Mūsa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: They are Al-Bit‘, which is an alcoholic drink made from honey, and Al-Mizr, which is an alcoholic drink made from barley. The Prophet (ﷺ), who had been given concise speech, said: "Every intoxicant is prohibited."

1. Nabīdh: Water in which dates, honey, barley, or the like are steeped, and it derives good taste from it. It may be fermented after that and become an intoxicant.
2. The Hadīth represents a rule prohibiting all intoxicants like wine, hashish, etc.
3. It shows the importance of asking about things needed by a Muslim.
4. The first stage in the prohibition of alcoholic drinks was at the time of prayer, when one of the Emigrants prayed and recited in his prayer, but mixed up in his recitation, the verse was revealed in which Allah Almighty says: {O you who believe, do not approach the prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying.} [Surat an-Nisā’: 43] And the caller of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would announce: Let no one approach the prayer while intoxicated. Then Allah prohibited it absolutely with His saying: {O you who believe, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters and divining arrows are of Satan’s evil work; therefore avoid such [evil], so that you may be successful. Satan only wants to create enmity and hatred between you through intoxicants and gambling, and to prevent you from remembering Allah and from prayer. Will you not then abstain?} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 90-91]
5. Indeed, Allah Almighty has prohibited wine because of its huge harms and evils.
6. Prohibition is determined on the basis of the existence of intoxication. If a Nabīdh is intoxicating, it is prohibited; otherwise, it is permissible.

صحيح البخاري (7/ 104) (5575). صحيح مسلم (3/ 1587) (2003). منحة العلام في شرح بلوغ المرام، لعبد الله الفوزان (8/ 519). فتح ذي الجلال والاكرام بشرح بلوغ المرام، لابن عثيمين (5/ 418). توضِيحُ الأحكَامِ مِن بُلوُغ المَرَام، للبسام (6/ 307). معالم السنن، وهو شرح سنن أبي داود، للخطابي (4/ 264). الفتح الرباني لترتيب مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل الشيباني، للساعاتي (16/ 116). فيض القدير شرح الجامع الصغير، للمناوي (5/ 30). مرقاة المفاتيح شرح مشكاة المصابيح، لعلي القاري (6/ 2382).