Regarding the Person Whose Mouth Smells of Alcohol: What Punishment Should Be Applied?

Hazrat Saib bin Yazid narrates that Hazrat Umar used to punish (people) for (bad) odor as well.

Hazrat Alqamah narrates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud recited Surah Yusuf in Homs. Upon this, a man said, “This verse was not revealed like this.” So Hazrat Abdullah bin Mas’ud went near him and found the smell of wine from him. He said to him: “You deny the truth and drink an impure thing! By Allah, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) taught me this verse exactly like this. I will not leave you until I enforce the prescribed punishment upon you.” Then he enforced the punishment upon him.

Hazrat Yazid bin Asam narrates that a close relative of Hazrat Maymunah came to her. She sensed the smell of alcohol from him. She said: If you go to the Muslims, they will enforce the prescribed punishment on you or they will purify you. Never enter my house.

Hazrat Ibn Abi Mulaykah narrates that I wrote a letter to Hazrat Ibn Zubair and asked him about a person from whom the smell of alcohol is detected. He replied: If he is habitual, then impose the prescribed punishment (hadd) on him.

Hazrat Muhammad bin Sharik reports that Hazrat Ibn Abi Mulaykah said: A man was brought to me from whom the smell of wine was coming, and at that time I was the judge of Ta’if. I intended to punish him, but he said: Indeed, I have only eaten fruit. He says that I wrote a letter to Hazrat Ibn Zubair, and he wrote back to me: If the smell of any fruit among the fruits resembles the smell of wine, then you should waive the punishment from him.

Hazrat Ibn Jurayj states that Hazrat Ata and Hazrat Amr bin Dinar said: There is no prescribed limit (hadd) for odor.

Hazrat Ibn Jurayj states that Hazrat Ata did not consider the imposition of hadd (punishment) in the case of odor.