Prohibition of Making Nabidh from Two Different Types of Produce

Author: Imran Ayub Lahori

❖ Prohibition in the Sunnah​

It is not permissible to make nabidh (a drink from soaked dates, raisins, etc.) using two different types of produce together.

Evidence from Hadith​

① Hadhrat Jabir رضي الله عنه narrated:


"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade making nabidh from dates and raisins together, and also forbade making nabidh from fresh dates and dry dates together."
[Bukhari: 5172, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab Man Ra’a an la Yukhalit al-Busr wal-Tamr; Muslim: 1986; Abu Dawood: 3703; Nasa’i: 8/290; Ibn Majah: 3395; Ahmad: 294/3; Tirmidhi: 1876]


② The same meaning is also narrated from Hadhrat Abu Qatadah, Hadhrat Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri, Hadhrat Abu Hurairah, and Hadhrat Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهم.
[Bukhari: 5602; Muslim: 1987; Ahmad: 445/2; Nasa’i: 8/289; Tirmidhi: 1877]

Reason for Prohibition​

• Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله explained:
  
  "The reason for prohibiting making nabidh from two different types of produce is that it ferments and becomes intoxicating more quickly."
  [Sharh Muslim: 7/173]
  

Scholarly Difference of Opinion​

• Jumhoor (Majority): The prohibition is not for tahrim (absolute prohibition), but for karahah (dislike).
• Imam al-Khattabi, Imam al-Shafi‘i, Imam Ahmad, Imam Ishaq, Imam al-Qurtubi: The prohibition is for tahrim (it is haram).
• Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Abu Yusuf: When each item is halal individually, combining them does not make it haram.
  [Ta‘liq ‘ala al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah by Shaykh Muhammad Subayhi Hasan Hallaq: 2/439; Nayl al-Awtar: 5/269; Ma‘alim al-Sunan: 4/269]

Conclusion (Rajih View)​

The apparent wording of the hadith indicates prohibition (tahrim) of making nabidh from two different types of produce.
[Further detail: Fath al-Bari: 11/197; Nayl al-Awtar: 5/269]