Mahmud bin Labid al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Syria, the people of Syria complained of the diseases there and said: Nothing will set us right except this drink. He said: Drink honey. They said: Honey will not set us right. A man said: Shall we make for you some of that drink which does not intoxicate? He said: Yes. So they cooked it until two-thirds of it had gone and only a third remained. It was brought to him, and he put his finger into it and then drew it out, and it trailed from his finger like rubber. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: This is like the tila' (tar) used on camels. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) permitted it to them. Ubadah bin al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah, have you made it lawful? He said: By Allah, no! What You have made unlawful for them I cannot make lawful, and what You have made lawful I cannot make unlawful.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الأشربة والحد فيها / 17425