That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever drinks Khamr, Salat is not accepted from him for forty days. If he repents, then Allah will accept his repentance. It he returns to it, then Allah will not accept his Salat for forty days. If he repents, then Allah will accept his repentance. If he returns to it, then Allah will not accepts his Salat for forty days.If he repents, then Allah will accept his repentance. If he returns to it a fourth time, Allah will not accept his Salat for forty days, and if he were to repent, Allah would not accept his repentance, and he will be given to drink from the river of Al-Khabal." They said: "O Aby 'Abdur-Rahman! What is the river of Al-Khabal?" He said: "A river of the pus from the inhabitants of the Fire."
[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan. Similar to this has been reported from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr and Ibn 'Abbas from the Prophet (ﷺ).
The Book on Drinks - Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1862
Exposition of the Prohibition
This hadith establishes the severe spiritual consequences of consuming khamr (intoxicants). The forty-day rejection of prayer signifies the gravity of this sin, as prayer is the pillar of Islam and the primary means of communion with Allah.
The repetition of the forty-day penalty for each offense demonstrates Allah's mercy in granting multiple opportunities for repentance, while the final rejection after the fourth return shows the limits of divine patience for persistent disobedience.
The Nature of Khamr
Khamr refers to any substance that intoxicates the mind, clouding judgment and leading to neglect of religious duties. Scholars have extended this prohibition to all modern intoxicants and drugs based on the principle of blocking the means to evil.
The River of Al-Khabal
This terrifying description serves as a powerful deterrent. The river of pus from Hell's inhabitants represents the ultimate consequence of unrepentant sin, particularly the persistence in consuming intoxicants despite repeated warnings and opportunities for repentance.
Legal and Spiritual Implications
The hadith establishes that prayer performed while under the influence or during the period of prohibition lacks spiritual validity. This emphasizes the importance of maintaining both physical and spiritual purity for worship.
The conditional acceptance of repentance highlights Islam's balance between justice and mercy, encouraging sinners to return to Allah before the door of repentance closes.