حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ، فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ أَشْرِبَةٍ تُصْنَعُ بِهَا، فَقَالَ " وَمَا هِيَ ". قَالَ الْبِتْعُ وَالْمِزْرُ. فَقُلْتُ لأَبِي بُرْدَةَ مَا الْبِتْعُ قَالَ نَبِيذُ الْعَسَلِ، وَالْمِزْرُ نَبِيذُ الشَّعِيرِ. فَقَالَ " كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ". رَوَاهُ جَرِيرٌ وَعَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ عَنِ الشَّيْبَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ.
Narrated Abi Burda:
That Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said that the Prophet (ﷺ) had sent him to Yemen and he asked the Prophet (ﷺ) about certain (alcoholic) drink which used to be prepared there The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What are they?" Abu Musa said, "Al-Bit' and Al-Mizr?" He said, "Al-Bit is an alcoholic drink made from honey; and Al-Mizr is an alcoholic drink made from barley." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "All intoxicants are prohibited."
Every Intoxicant is Forbidden: A Prophetic Principle for All Times
One of the hallmarks of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s teaching was his ability to answer specific questions with principles so comprehensive that they remain relevant for all people until the end of time. A clear example of this is the hadith narrated by Abu Burda, in which Abu Musa al-Ashʿarī (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ sent him to Yemen. While there, Abu Musa asked about certain drinks that were common among the locals. These beverages, known as al-Bitʿ (a fermented drink made from honey) and al-Mizr (a fermented drink made from barley), were well-known intoxicants. The Prophet ﷺ replied in a single, timeless statement: “Every intoxicant is forbidden.”
This concise response illustrates the Prophet’s ﷺ divinely gifted eloquence. Rather than restricting his answer to those two drinks, he extended the ruling to all substances, present and future, that share the same quality: intoxication. The Prophet ﷺ was blessed with jawāmiʿ al-kalim—the ability to express wide, comprehensive meanings with few words. In this case, three words in Arabic—kullu muskirin ḥarām—establish a foundational legal and ethical principle in Islam.
The wisdom behind this hadith lies in the identification of the cause (ʿillah) for prohibition. The Prophet ﷺ did not tie the ruling to the ingredients—barley, honey, grapes, or dates—but to the effect produced: intoxication. This means that no matter the source, method, or form—whether solid, liquid, or even vapor—if a substance intoxicates the mind, it falls under the same ruling. The Shariah thus protects the intellect (ʿaql), one of the five universal objectives (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah), by cutting off any path that might lead to its impairment.
The hadith also closes the door to common excuses people might make. Someone may argue that drinking a small amount that does not intoxicate should be allowed. Yet the Prophet ﷺ addressed this explicitly in another narration: “Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, a small amount of it is also forbidden.” This preventative wisdom eliminates the risk of gradual indulgence, differing tolerances, or the slippery slope of “just one sip.” The prohibition is therefore absolute, guarding believers from both the sin of intoxication and the dangers it brings to health, dignity, and society.
This hadith is firmly rooted in the Qur’anic prohibition of intoxicants. In Surah al-Baqarah, Allah describes them as containing some benefit but declares their harm to far outweigh it:
“They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, ‘In them is great sin and [yet] some benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit.’” (2:219)
Later, in Surah al-Māʾidah, the prohibition was made categorical and final:
“O you who believe! Intoxicants, gambling, idolatry, and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s work, so avoid them that you may succeed.” (5:90)
Thus, the Prophet’s ﷺ statement in this hadith is not merely a passing remark but a crystallization of the Qur’anic stance into a universal principle: any and all intoxicants are unlawful.
An important dimension of this hadith is the Shariah’s approach of sadd al-dharāʾiʿ—blocking the means that lead to harm. Not only is drinking alcohol prohibited, but so too are actions that promote, facilitate, or normalize it. The Prophet ﷺ initially forbade fermenting drinks in certain thick containers, as they created conditions that hastened intoxication. Later, when the risk diminished and awareness was stronger, this prohibition was relaxed, but the core principle remained: any direct or indirect means that encourage intoxication are to be avoided.
This principle also extends to modern contexts. For instance, medicines or products containing trace amounts of alcohol are assessed not merely by their ingredients but by their potential effect. If consuming a large amount of such a product could intoxicate, it is unlawful. If the alcohol content is so negligible that intoxication is impossible—even if the whole bottle were consumed—then the ruling may differ, particularly if no alternative medicine exists. This demonstrates the flexibility of the Shariah while still upholding the principle that the mind must be safeguarded from impairment.
The prohibition of intoxicants is not only a matter of personal piety but also a cornerstone of social harmony. History and lived experience show how alcohol and drugs destroy families, waste wealth, incite violence, and erode moral restraint. By prohibiting all intoxicants, Islam protects not just the individual intellect but also the fabric of society. The Qur’an links intoxicants to the work of Satan, who seeks through them to sow enmity and hatred among people and distract them from the remembrance of Allah (5:91).
On a spiritual level, intoxication is the opposite of mindfulness (taqwā). Whereas intoxication clouds judgment and veils the heart, taqwā sharpens awareness of Allah and strengthens self-control. The believer is called to clarity, presence, and dignity. Protecting the intellect from intoxication thus ensures that the heart remains receptive to truth and the tongue remains engaged in dhikr.
Though the Prophet ﷺ spoke to Abu Musa al-Ashʿarī about honey-based and barley-based drinks in seventh-century Yemen, his words extend seamlessly to twenty-first-century challenges. Whether it is wine, whiskey, recreational drugs, or synthetic narcotics, the ruling remains the same: kullu muskirin ḥarām—every intoxicant is forbidden. The form may change, the culture may differ, but the principle is timeless.
In an age where substance abuse has become a global epidemic, this hadith offers not only a prohibition but a protection. It preserves human dignity, prevents addiction, safeguards families, and upholds a society rooted in clarity and responsibility. For Muslims, it also reaffirms the higher purpose of life: to worship Allah with a sound mind and a present heart.
The hadith of Abu Musa al-Ashʿarī highlights the Prophet’s ﷺ extraordinary ability to deliver timeless principles in concise form. By identifying intoxication itself as the cause of prohibition, the Shariah provides a universal safeguard for faith, intellect, and society. This ruling is absolute, covering large and small amounts, old and new substances, direct and indirect means. It is rooted in Qur’anic wisdom, aligned with the preservation of human intellect, and preventative of personal and social harm.
When the Prophet ﷺ declared, “Every intoxicant is forbidden,” he was not merely addressing the honey and barley drinks of Yemen, but laying down a principle that spans all ages and places. For the believer, this hadith is both a legal ruling and a spiritual reminder: the mind is a trust from Allah, to be protected from anything that clouds it, so that it may remain a vessel of faith, remembrance, and truth.
Disclaimer:
Instructor: Sheikh Dr. Sajid Umar | STEPS TO JANNAH S4 | Forty Hadith Imam Nawawi
These are notes sharing from the Steps of Jannah classes online taught by Sheikh Dr Sajid Umar focusing on Hadith 40 an-Nawawi. The classes are still ongoing, every Monday 8pm UK time. If you would like to join, please email stepstojannah12@gmail.com
The notes written are from a student’s personal notes transcribed from the sessions. Should there be any error, May Allah forgive us, and do feedback (ain1810@gmail.com) so that it can get amended, and may it be beneficial to all of us and may Allah reward Jannah to Sh Sajid and his team for the beneficial ‘ilm being shared and to all of the students Steps to Jannah, Ameen.