Nasai

This blessed hadith is evidence that "khamr" does not refer only to wine distilled from grapes, but rather every intoxicating beverage is called khamr, whether it is distilled from grapes or from dates. Similarly, whether it is made from raisins or prepared from honey. "Khamr" is a generic term and applies to every intoxicating drink. Even if it is consumed in a small amount, it is still forbidden, because the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: (Whatever intoxicates in large quantity, its small quantity is also forbidden.) (Sunan Abi Dawud, Book of Drinks, Chapter: What has been reported about intoxication, Hadith: 2481; and Sunan Ibn Majah, Book of Drinks, Chapter: Whatever intoxicates in large quantity, its small quantity is forbidden, Hadith: 3393)

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself clarified the definition of khamr. He said: (Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is forbidden.) (Sahih Muslim, Book of Drinks, Statement that every intoxicant is khamr and every khamr is forbidden, Hadith: 2003)

Despite these authentic ahadith, for some people to declare only wine distilled from grapes as khamr and forbidden, and to consider other alcoholic drinks as permissible, is nothing but obstinacy. It is as if the wine which the Hanafis call khamr did not even exist at the time of prohibition, or was very rare. Then, what exactly was forbidden? Furthermore, if that was not khamr, then why was it poured away? According to the Hanafis, it could have been drunk in small, non-intoxicating amounts. They were pure Arabs—if even they could not understand the meaning of khamr, did the non-Arabs come to understand it? What a strange thing for the non-Arabs!