Hadith Text & Context

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sent me to Yemen and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there are (different kinds of) drinks there, what should I drink, and what should I refrain from?' He said: 'What are they?' I said: 'Al-Bit' (mead) and Al-Mizr (beer).' He said: 'What are mead and beer?' I said: 'Mead is a drink made from honey and beer is a drink made from grains.' The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not drink any intoxicant, for I have forbidden all intoxicants.'"

Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5603 | Book: The Book of Drinks | Author: Sunan an-Nasa'i

Linguistic Analysis

Al-Bit' refers to mead, an alcoholic beverage fermented from honey. Al-Mizr denotes beer, traditionally brewed from grains like barley. The Prophet's inquiry "What are they?" demonstrates his method of establishing precise definitions before issuing rulings.

Legal Ruling (Hukm)

The prohibition encompasses all substances that cause intoxication, regardless of their source material. The ruling is universal: anything that clouds the mind is forbidden. This establishes the principle that the intoxicating quality (not the substance itself) determines prohibition.

Scholarly Commentary

Imam Nawawi states this hadith establishes the comprehensive prohibition of all intoxicants. Ibn Qudamah emphasizes that the ruling applies equally to small and large quantities. Scholars agree this prohibition extends to modern alcoholic beverages, narcotics, and any substance impairing mental faculties.

Wisdom Behind the Prohibition

Intoxicants damage the intellect - Allah's great blessing. They lead to neglect of prayers, promote immoral behavior, destroy health, waste wealth, and create social discord. Preservation of mind is among the five essential objectives of Islamic law (maqasid al-shariah).