Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
You chose milk, and this was evidence of your being upon the religion of natural disposition (fitrah).

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
After two cups, one of milk and one of wine, were presented to you, you were given the choice to select whichever you wished for yourself, so you chose the cup of milk.
Jibril (alayhis salam) said to you:
If you had chosen the cup of wine, your ummah would have gone astray.
(2)
The selection of the cup of milk signifies the choosing of the religion of innate nature (din al-fitrah).
And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
➊
In a narration from Anas (radi Allahu anhu), it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Three cups were brought to me: one containing milk, the second honey, and the third wine. I took the cup of milk and drank from it. It was said to me: 'You and your ummah have chosen the natural disposition (fitrah).'" (Sahih al-Bukhari, al-Ashriba, Hadith: 5610)
The reality is that at the time of the Mi'raj, three cups were presented to you, but each narrator has described this incident according to his knowledge. Furthermore, these drinks were presented to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) twice: once before the Mi'raj at Bayt al-Maqdis, and the second time near Sidrat al-Muntaha, as is explicitly mentioned in another hadith. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Manaqib al-Ansar, Hadith: 3887)

➋
The reason for choosing milk instead of wine is mentioned in the hadith: that the prevention of misguidance was intended by this. But as for why milk was chosen over honey, the likely reason is that milk is more beneficial than honey, it strengthens the bones, and also produces flesh. Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has also written that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was thirsty, as is mentioned in some narrations, and for quenching thirst, milk is more beneficial than honey. And Allah knows best. (Fath al-Bari: 10/93)

Hadith Commentary:
Milk is the natural food of human beings, and alcohol is the root of all evils. The very reason for its prohibition is that by drinking it, the intellect is lost, and the one who drinks it commits crimes and evil deeds. For this reason, it has been declared unlawful (haram) in every quantity, whether small or large.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Although wine is impure (najis) and forbidden (haram), when it was presented to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), it was not yet forbidden. Rather, the incident of its prohibition occurred in Madinah Tayyibah, while the incident of the Mi'raj took place in Makkah Mukarramah.

(2)
If wine had been chosen, the ummah would have gone astray, meaning they would have remained intoxicated with wine-drinking.
Some scholars are of the opinion that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did drink it, even though it was the pure wine of Paradise.
It is possible that even before wine was made forbidden, Jibril (alayhis salam) had a natural aversion to it.
And Allah knows best.

(1) From this hadith, it is understood that alcohol is a very evil and filthy thing because it is a major cause of misguidance. So, regarding something that leads one away from the religion and is a cause of misguidance, what doubt can remain about its filthiness?

(2) “On the night…” This refers to the last period of the Makkan life. It is as if, at the time of Mi’raj, you (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) were already given an indication that alcohol would be made unlawful, even though the command of prohibition was revealed at its appointed time, that is, in 3 AH.

(3) “Chose the milk…” It is as if you (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) already detested something as vile as alcohol, and no intelligent and serious person can truly like something that overpowers the intellect. In some narrations, it is mentioned that at that time you also consulted with Jibril (alayhis salam) through a glance, and he too indicated towards the milk.

(4) “All praise is due to Allah…” Because if you had chosen alcohol, it would have remained lawful and the command of prohibition would not have been revealed. Thus, this offering and your acceptance was, in reality, an expression of the fact that Islam is the religion of natural disposition (fitrah), and no command in it can be contrary to nature. Whoever remains upon the original human nature is a Muslim. The religion of Islam is, in fact, the elaboration of human nature itself.

(5) “A natural thing…” Because milk is the best nourishment for humans. In the beginning, for a child, no food except milk is beneficial, and later, milk is the only drink that can suffice in place of both food and drink, and it protects from many illnesses.

(6) “Would have gone astray…” And this is not something far-fetched. All nations that consumed alcohol became misguided and continue to be so. How can a person whose intellect is overpowered make correct decisions? Such people lose their governments and wander aimlessly. If an entire nation becomes addicted to alcohol, the consequences are even more dreadful, and the nation as a whole becomes misguided and destroyed.