The Book of Drinks
كتاب الأشربة
Chapter 56: Kinds of Nabidh that are Permissible to Drink and the Kinds that are Not
Raisins would be soaked for the Messenger of Allah [SAW] and he would drink it that day, the following day, and the day after that.
"Nabidh of raisins would be made for the Messenger of Allah [SAW] at night, and he would put it in a water skin and drink it during the next day, the day after, and the day after that. At the end of the third day, he would give it to others to drink, or drink it himself, and if anything was left the following morning, he would pour it away."
Nabidh of raisins would be made for him in a water skin in the morning, and he would drink it that night, and it would be made for him in the evening, and he would drink it in the morning. He would wash out the water skins and not leave any pieces or anything in them. Nafi' said: "We used to drink it like honey."
"I asked Abu Ja'far about Nabidh and he said: " 'Ali bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, would have Nabidh made for him at night, and he would drink it in the morning, and he would have Nabidh made in the morning and he would drink it at night.'"
"I heard Sufyan being asked about Nabidh. He said: 'Make Nabidh at night and drink it in the morning.'"
Umm Al-Fadl sent word to Anas bin Malik, asking him about Nabidh made in an earthenware jar. He told her about his son An-Nadr, who used to make Nabidh in an earthenware jar in the morning and drink it in the evening.
He disliked putting the dregs of Nabidh into (new) Nabidh lest it become strong because of the dregs.
"The dregs are what intoxicates."
"Khamr is so called because it is left until the good parts are gone and the dregs remain." And he disliked everything that was made by using dregs (by adding new materials to the dregs).
Chapter 57: Different Reports From Ibrahim Concerning Nabidh
"They used to think that whoever drank something and became intoxicated from it, it was not befitting for him to go back and drink more of the same."
"There is nothing wrong with Nabidh Al-Bukhtuj."
"I asked Ibrahim: 'We take the dregs of Khamr or Tila' (thickened grape juice) and clean them, then we soak it with raisins for three days, then we strain it and leave it until it matures, then we drink it.' He said: 'That is Makruh.'"
"May Allah have mercy on Ibrahim. Other scholars had strict views on Nabidh but he was lenient."
"I have never found any sound report, giving a concession on intoxicants, except the report narrated from Ibrahim."
"I heard Abu Usamah say: 'I never saw any man more assiduous in seeking knowledge than 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, not in Ash-Sham, Egypt, Yemen or the Hijaz.'"
Chapter 58: Mentioning the Permissible Drinks
Umm Sulaim had a wooden cup and she said: "I gave the Messenger of Allah [SAW] all kinds of things to drink in it: Water, honey, milk and Nabidh."
"I asked Ubayy bin Ka'b about Nabidh, and he said: 'Drink water, drink honey, drink Sawiq (barley gruel) and drink milk that you have been nourished with since childhood.' I repeated the question and he said: 'Is it wine you want? Is it wine you want?'"
"The people have invented new drinks and I do not know what they are. I have not drunk anything for 20 years (or he said: 40 years) except water and Sawiq (barley gruel), and he did not mention Nabidh."
"The people have invented drinks and I do not know what they are. I have not drunk anything for 20 years except water, milk and honey."
"Talhah said to the people of Al-Kufah concerning Nabidh: 'It is a test whereby a young man may benefit but an old man may be harmed.' If there was a wedding among them, Talhah and Zubaid would offer milk and honey to drink. It was said to Talhah: 'Why don't you offer Nabidh?' He said: 'I would not like a Muslim to become intoxicated because of me.'"