Yes. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Every intoxicant is forbidden. Verily Allah the Exalted and Majestic, made a covenant to those who drank intoxicants to make their drink Tinat al-Khabal. They said: Allah's Messenger, what is Tinat a]-Khabal? He said: It is the sweat of the denizens of Hell or the discharge of the denizens of Hell.
The Book of Drinks - Sahih Muslim 2002
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This narration from Sahih Muslim contains profound wisdom regarding the prohibition of intoxicants. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) declares with absolute clarity: "Every intoxicant is forbidden," establishing a comprehensive prohibition that encompasses all substances that cloud the intellect.
Divine Covenant and Severe Warning
The hadith reveals that Allah Almighty has made a specific covenant regarding those who consume intoxicants - that their drink in the Hereafter will be "Tinat al-Khabal." When the Companions inquired about this term, the Prophet explained it as "the sweat of the denizens of Hell or the discharge of the denizens of Hell."
This description serves as a powerful deterrent, illustrating the spiritual corruption and physical filth associated with intoxicants. Just as intoxicants defile the human soul in this world, their punishment corresponds to this defilement in the Next World.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars emphasize that this hadith establishes the absolute prohibition (haram) of all intoxicants, regardless of their source or quantity. The term "khamr" (intoxicant) encompasses any substance that clouds the mind, whether derived from grapes, dates, wheat, or other sources.
The severe warning about "Tinat al-Khabal" demonstrates the gravity of this sin in Islamic law. Scholars explain that this punishment is particularly fitting because intoxicants transform human beings into states worse than animals, and thus their requital is with the most vile substances imaginable.
Legal Rulings and Implications
Based on this and similar narrations, the consensus (ijma') of Muslim scholars throughout history has maintained the complete prohibition of alcohol consumption, production, and trade. This ruling applies regardless of whether consumption leads to drunkenness, as the substance itself is inherently impure and forbidden.
The wisdom behind this prohibition includes preservation of intellect, protection of religion, safeguarding honor, and maintaining social order - all fundamental objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-shariah).