❖ Ruling on Killing the Habitual Drinker in the Fourth Instance and Its Abrogation
Written by: Imran Ayoob Lahori
◈ Killing After the Fourth Instance of Drinking
Muʿāwiyah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا شرب فــاجــــدوه ثم إذا شرب الثانية فاجلدوه ثم إذا شرب الثالثه فاجلدوه ثم إذا شرب الرابعة فاضربوا عنقه
"When someone drinks alcohol, lash him. If he drinks a second time, lash him. If he drinks a third time, lash him. But if he drinks a fourth time, then strike his neck (kill him)."
References: حسن صحيح: صحيح أبو داود: 3764 ، أحمد: 519/2 ، أبو داود: 4484 ، ترمذي: 1444 ، ابن ماجة: 2573 ، نسائي الكبرى: 5299
Jābir (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
إن شرب الـخـمـر فـاجـلـدوه فإن عاد فى الرابعة فاقتلوه
"If someone drinks alcohol, lash him; and if he returns on the fourth occasion, kill him."
Later, a man who had drunk alcohol was brought before the Prophet ﷺ, and he was beaten but not killed.
References: صحيح: نصب الراية: 347/3 ، ترمذي تعليقاً: 49/4 ، بزار: 221/2 ، شرح معاني الآثار: 161/3 ، حاكم: 373/4 ، بيهقي: 314/8
◈ Scholars’ Explanation
- Imām al-Tirmidhī (رحمه الله): The ruling of killing the drunkard was earlier but is now abrogated. The majority of scholars hold this opinion, and there is no known disagreement among them.
He further cited the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ:
"The blood of a Muslim is not lawful except in three cases: a life for a life, the married adulterer, and the apostate."
Reference: ترمذي: بعد الحديث / 1444
- Imām al-Zuhrī (رحمه الله): A drunkard was once brought to the Prophet ﷺ, and he let him go.
Reference: أحمد: 291/2
◈ Juristic Opinions
- Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله): He should be killed on the fourth instance.
- Majority (including Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله): He should not be killed, because the ruling has been abrogated.
Preferred Opinion (الراجح): The view of the majority is stronger.
References: نيل الأوطار: 604/4 ، سبل السلام: 1726/4 ، الروضة الندية: 614/2
◈ Conditions for Applying Ḥadd
There are four conditions:
① Sanity
② Puberty
③ Free will (not under compulsion)
④ Knowledge (that the substance is intoxicating and he drinks it knowingly)
Islam and freedom are not conditions.
Reference: فقه السنة: 492/2
◈ Important Note
❀ A drunkard does not leave the fold of Islam.
Reference: بخاري: 6780 ، كتاب الحدود: باب ما يكره من لعن شارب الخمر
