The Allegation of Drinking Alcohol Against Sayyiduna Muawiyah رضي الله عنه
Abdullah bin Buraidah رحمه الله narrates:
[دخلت أنا وأبي على معاوية فأجلسنا على الفرش، ثم أتينا بالطعام فأكلنا، ثم أتينا بالشراب فشرب معاوية، ثم ناول أبي، ثم قال: ما شربته منذ حرمه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثم قال معاوية: كنت أجمل شباب قريش وأجوده ثغرا، وما شيء كنت أجد له لذة كما كنت أجده وأنا شاب غير اللبن، أو إنسان حسن الحديث يحدثني]
My father and I went to the presence of Sayyiduna Muawiyah (رضي الله عنه), he seated us on a carpet, food was served to us, we ate, then some drink was brought, Muawiyah (رضي الله عنه) drank it and handed it to my father and said: Since the Messenger of Allah ﷺ declared it forbidden, I have never drunk it. He further said: Among the Quraysh, I was the most handsome and indulgent young man, and the pleasure I used to have then, I do not experience today, except from milk and hearing good words from a person.
The chain is “weak”. The narration from Abdullah bin Buraidah through Husayn bin Waqid is “rejected”.
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal رحمه الله says:
[عبد الله بن بريدة الذي روى عنه حسين بن واقد ما أنكرها]
The narrations of Abdullah bin Buraidah, which Husayn bin Waqid reports from him, are very much rejected.
This is a critical interpretation that cannot be refuted.
