Author: Imran Ayub Lahori
It is forbidden to make vinegar from wine. Fresh juice and nabidh (dates or raisins soaked in water) are permissible before they ferment. The general assumption regarding fermentation is that it occurs when the drink remains for more than three days.
① Hadhrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ was asked about making vinegar from wine, and he did not permit it."
[Muslim: 1983, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab Tahrim Takhleel al-Khamr; Ahmad: 119/3; Abu Dawood: 3675; Tirmidhi: 1294]
② Hadhrat Abu Talha رضي الله عنه asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding making vinegar from wine that belonged to orphans. The Prophet ﷺ forbade it.
[Hasan: Sahih Tirmidhi, Tirmidhi: 1293, Kitab al-Buyu’: Bab Ma Ja’a fi Bay‘ al-Khamr wa an-Nahy ‘an Dhalik]
③ Qutaybah bin Sa‘id asked the judge of Madinah about vinegar from wine during the time of Imam Malik رحمه الله. The judge replied: "Subhan Allah! Such a question in the sanctuary of the Messenger of Allah!" However, after Imam Malik’s death, when this was mentioned again, no one expressed surprise.
[A‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in: 404/2 – 405]
Conclusion (Rajih View): The apparent wording of the hadith indicates prohibition.
[al-Rawdah an-Nadiyyah: 441/3]
Nabidh (a drink made by soaking dates or raisins in water) is permissible before it ferments or becomes intoxicating. The Sunnah indicates usage within a specific period.
① Hadhrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"I prepared nabidh in a gourd for the Prophet ﷺ for his iftar. When I brought it to him, it had already fermented. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Pour it against the wall, for this is the drink of those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day.'"
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 2752; Abu Dawood: 3716, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab fi an-Nabidh idha Ghala; Nasa’i: 5610; Ibn Majah: 3409]
② Hadhrat Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated:
"Nabidh was prepared for the Prophet ﷺ, and he would drink from it on the first day, the next day, and the following day until the evening. After that, he would instruct that it be given to someone else to drink or be poured away."
[Muslim: 2004; Abu Dawood: 3713; Nasa’i: 5739; Ibn Majah: 3399]
③ Hadhrat ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"I used to prepare nabidh for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the morning, and he would drink it in the evening. If anything remained, I would pour it away. At night I would prepare nabidh for him, and he would drink it in the morning." She added: "We used to wash the water-skin morning and evening."
[Muslim: 2005, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab Ibahat an-Nabidh alladhi lam Yashtad wa Lam Yusir Muskiran; Abu Dawood: 3712]
From the above narrations, it is evident that nabidh can be consumed either for one day or up to three days, as both practices are authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. After this period, if signs of fermentation appear, it must be discarded.
❖ Prohibition of Making Vinegar from Wine
It is forbidden to make vinegar from wine. Fresh juice and nabidh (dates or raisins soaked in water) are permissible before they ferment. The general assumption regarding fermentation is that it occurs when the drink remains for more than three days.
Evidence from Hadith
① Hadhrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrated:
"The Prophet ﷺ was asked about making vinegar from wine, and he did not permit it."
[Muslim: 1983, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab Tahrim Takhleel al-Khamr; Ahmad: 119/3; Abu Dawood: 3675; Tirmidhi: 1294]
② Hadhrat Abu Talha رضي الله عنه asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding making vinegar from wine that belonged to orphans. The Prophet ﷺ forbade it.
[Hasan: Sahih Tirmidhi, Tirmidhi: 1293, Kitab al-Buyu’: Bab Ma Ja’a fi Bay‘ al-Khamr wa an-Nahy ‘an Dhalik]
③ Qutaybah bin Sa‘id asked the judge of Madinah about vinegar from wine during the time of Imam Malik رحمه الله. The judge replied: "Subhan Allah! Such a question in the sanctuary of the Messenger of Allah!" However, after Imam Malik’s death, when this was mentioned again, no one expressed surprise.
[A‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in: 404/2 – 405]
Scholarly Opinions
- Jumhoor (Majority): Making vinegar from wine is impermissible, and the wine does not become pure through this process.
- Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله: If another substance is added during the process of making vinegar, the wine becomes pure.
- Imam Qurtubi رحمه الله: If it was permissible to make vinegar from wine, it would imply that the Messenger ﷺ wasted the property of the orphans — which is inconceivable.
[al-Rawdah at-Talibeen: 313/3; al-Hidayah: 110/4; al-Mughni: 460/6; Bidayat al-Mujtahid: 381/1]
Conclusion (Rajih View): The apparent wording of the hadith indicates prohibition.
[al-Rawdah an-Nadiyyah: 441/3]
❖ Permissible Duration for Nabidh
Nabidh (a drink made by soaking dates or raisins in water) is permissible before it ferments or becomes intoxicating. The Sunnah indicates usage within a specific period.
Evidence from Hadith
① Hadhrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated:
"I prepared nabidh in a gourd for the Prophet ﷺ for his iftar. When I brought it to him, it had already fermented. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Pour it against the wall, for this is the drink of those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day.'"
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 2752; Abu Dawood: 3716, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab fi an-Nabidh idha Ghala; Nasa’i: 5610; Ibn Majah: 3409]
② Hadhrat Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrated:
"Nabidh was prepared for the Prophet ﷺ, and he would drink from it on the first day, the next day, and the following day until the evening. After that, he would instruct that it be given to someone else to drink or be poured away."
[Muslim: 2004; Abu Dawood: 3713; Nasa’i: 5739; Ibn Majah: 3399]
③ Hadhrat ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated:
"I used to prepare nabidh for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the morning, and he would drink it in the evening. If anything remained, I would pour it away. At night I would prepare nabidh for him, and he would drink it in the morning." She added: "We used to wash the water-skin morning and evening."
[Muslim: 2005, Kitab al-Ashribah: Bab Ibahat an-Nabidh alladhi lam Yashtad wa Lam Yusir Muskiran; Abu Dawood: 3712]
Conclusion
From the above narrations, it is evident that nabidh can be consumed either for one day or up to three days, as both practices are authentically reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. After this period, if signs of fermentation appear, it must be discarded.
