I used to sit with Ibn 'Abbas and he made me sit on his sitting place. He requested me to stay with him in order that he might give me a share from his property. So I stayed with him for two months. Once he told (me) that when the delegation of the tribe of 'Abdul Qais came to the Prophet, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked them, "Who are the people (i.e. you)? (Or) who are the delegate?" They replied, "We are from the tribe of Rabi'a." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said to them, "Welcome! O people (or O delegation of 'Abdul Qais)! Neither will you have disgrace nor will you regret." They said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We cannot come to you except in the sacred month and there is the infidel tribe of Mudar intervening between you and us. So please order us to do something good (religious deeds) so that we may inform our people whom we have left behind (at home), and that we may enter Paradise (by acting on them)." Then they asked about drinks (what is legal and what is illegal). The Prophet (ﷺ) ordered them to do four things and forbade them from four things. He ordered them to believe in Allah Alone and asked them, "Do you know what is meant by believing in Allah Alone?" They replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "It means:
1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
2. To offer prayers perfectly
3. To pay the Zakat (obligatory charity)
4. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.
5. And to pay Al-Khumus (one fifth of the booty to be given in Allah's Cause).
Then he forbade them four things, namely, Hantam, Dubba,' Naqir Ann Muzaffat or Muqaiyar; (These were the names of pots in which Alcoholic drinks were prepared) (The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the container of wine and he meant the wine itself). The Prophet (ﷺ) further said (to them): "Memorize them (these instructions) and convey them to the people whom you have left behind."
Commentary on the Delegation of 'Abdul Qais
This narration from Sahih al-Bukhari 53 contains profound wisdom regarding the fundamentals of Islamic belief and practice. The Prophet's ﷺ welcoming words, "Neither will you have disgrace nor will you regret," establish the honor and security that comes with embracing Islam.
The Five Pillars of Action
The Prophet ﷺ outlined five essential acts: Shahadah (testimony of faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting Ramadan), and Khums (booty share). Scholars note this demonstrates Islam's comprehensive nature - combining creed, worship, social responsibility, and economic justice.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that these five encompass the foundations of outward Islam, with Khums specifically addressing the context of new Muslims acquiring war spoils.
Prohibitions with Wisdom
The four prohibited containers - Hantam, Dubba, Naqir, and Muzaffat - represent intoxicating substances. Al-Qurtubi comments that the Prophet ﷺ prohibited these specific vessels because they were commonly used for fermenting wine, thus blocking the means to sin.
This prohibition extends beyond mere containers to include all intoxicants, as the Prophet ﷺ clarified by mentioning "the wine itself." This demonstrates the principle of closing all avenues to evil.
Pedagogical Excellence
The Prophet's ﷺ method of teaching through question-and-response engaged the delegates actively. His instruction to "memorize and convey" establishes the obligation of tabligh (conveying Islamic knowledge) and highlights the importance of preserving authentic teachings through reliable transmission chains.