The Book of Drinks - Sunan an-Nasa'i 5605

"The Messenger of Allah [SAW] delivered a Khutbah and quoted the Verse about Khamr. A man said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what do you think about Al-Mizr (beer)?' He said: 'What is beer?' He said: 'A (drink) from grains that is made in Yemen.' He said: 'Does it intoxicate?' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'Every intoxicant is unlawful.'"

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence regarding intoxicants. The Prophet's question "Does it intoxicate?" demonstrates that the criterion for prohibition is not the name or substance, but the intoxicating effect.

Al-Mizr refers to a fermented beverage made from grains, similar to what is known today as beer. The Companions' inquiry shows their desire to understand the comprehensive application of the prohibition beyond just grape wine (khamr).

The final ruling "Every intoxicant is unlawful" constitutes a general principle (qā'idah kulliyyah) that encompasses all substances that cause intoxication, regardless of their source - whether from grapes, dates, barley, wheat, or any other substance.

This comprehensive prohibition serves to protect the mind ('aql), which is one of the five essential objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharī'ah). The wisdom behind this prohibition includes preserving human dignity, preventing harm to individuals and society, and maintaining clarity of consciousness for worship.

Legal Implications

The ruling applies to both small and large quantities of intoxicants, as the Prophet said in another narration: "Whatever intoxicates in large quantities, a small amount of it is also forbidden."

This prohibition extends beyond consumption to include production, sale, transportation, and any facilitation of intoxicants. The scholars have unanimously agreed upon the prohibition of all intoxicating substances based on this and similar authentic narrations.