"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sent me to Yemen and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there are drinks there which they call Al-Bit' (mead) and Al-Mizr (beer).' He said: 'What is mead (and beer)?' I said: 'A drink made from honey, and beer is made from barley.' He said: 'Every intoxicant is unlawful.'"
Hadith Text & Context
"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sent me to Yemen and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there are drinks there which they call Al-Bit' (mead) and Al-Mizr (beer).' He said: 'What is mead (and beer)?' I said: 'A drink made from honey, and beer is made from barley.' He said: 'Every intoxicant is unlawful.'"
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i 5604 in The Book of Drinks features the Companion Mu'adh ibn Jabal consulting the Prophet before his Yemen mission regarding local alcoholic beverages.
Linguistic Analysis
Al-Bit': Traditional mead fermented from honey, known for its potency.
Al-Mizr: Beer-like substance brewed from barley grains, causing intoxication.
Khamr: The comprehensive Islamic term for all intoxicating substances, regardless of source material.
Legal Ruling (Hukm)
The Prophet's response establishes the universal prohibition: "Every intoxicant is unlawful" (Kullu muskirin haram).
This ruling applies regardless of the intoxicant's origin - whether from honey, barley, grapes, dates, or any other substance.
The prohibition encompasses both large and small quantities, as the substance itself is deemed impure (najis) and forbidden.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Nawawi states: "The prohibition is comprehensive, covering all substances that cause mental alteration, regardless of name or form."
Ibn Qudamah explains: "The ruling extends beyond grape wine to include any drink that produces intoxication, following the principle of blocking the means to evil (sadd al-dhara'i)."
Classical scholars unanimously agree this hadith provides the foundational principle for prohibiting all recreational intoxicants in Islamic law.
Practical Implications
Muslims must avoid all substances that cloud the intellect, including modern alcoholic beverages, drugs, and inhalants.
The prohibition applies equally to consumption, production, transportation, and trading of intoxicants.
This ruling protects the five essential objectives of Islamic law: preservation of religion, life, intellect, lineage, and property.