Source: Fatāwā Shaykh al-Ḥadīth Mubārakpūrī, Vol. 1, p. 161
When ʿUmar’s wife, Saʿīdah, fell ill and her condition worsened, various doctors and ḥakīms were consulted but without benefit. Finally, one ḥakīm prescribed medicine along with drinking ṭārī (date wine) in the morning.
The question is:
➊ Is any kaffārah (expiation) obligatory on the heirs who gave her ṭārī?
➋ How can the deceased be saved from punishment for having consumed ṭārī?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
◈ In Sharīʿah, it is ḥarām and prohibited to use intoxicants such as:
for the purpose of treatment.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade using intoxicants as a means of cure.
➊ If she willingly consented to drinking ṭārī:
➋ If she was forced despite her strong refusal and clear aversion:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«رُفع عن أمتي الخطأ والنسيان وما استُكرِهوا عليه»
“Verily, my Ummah has been excused for mistakes, forgetfulness, and for that which they were forced to do.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 3509; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl, 1/123)
✔ Administering intoxicants for treatment is ḥarām.
✔ If the patient was forced, she is absolved of sin, and only the perpetrators are accountable.
✔ There is no kaffārah, but repentance is necessary for those who committed this act.
Question:
When ʿUmar’s wife, Saʿīdah, fell ill and her condition worsened, various doctors and ḥakīms were consulted but without benefit. Finally, one ḥakīm prescribed medicine along with drinking ṭārī (date wine) in the morning.
- The patient strongly refused to drink it, but people forcibly gave it to her.
- No improvement occurred, and after 11 days the practice was stopped.
- Two days later, she passed away, having shown aversion to ṭārī until her last breath.
The question is:
➊ Is any kaffārah (expiation) obligatory on the heirs who gave her ṭārī?
➋ How can the deceased be saved from punishment for having consumed ṭārī?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
Ruling on Using Intoxicants as Medicine
◈ In Sharīʿah, it is ḥarām and prohibited to use intoxicants such as:
- Alcohol
- Ṭārī (date wine)
- Opium
- Bhang (cannabis)
- Hashish
for the purpose of treatment.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade using intoxicants as a means of cure.
Sin of Administering Ṭārī
- If a Muslim physician prescribed ṭārī, and those who administered it forced the patient to drink it:
✔ They are grave sinners.
✔ They committed an open act of disobedience.
✔ It is obligatory upon them to:
- Make immediate repentance (tawbah).
- Seek forgiveness from Allah.
Ruling on the Patient
➊ If she willingly consented to drinking ṭārī:
- She would also be considered sinful.
➋ If she was forced despite her strong refusal and clear aversion:
- She bears no sin.
- Only those who forced her are sinful and accountable before Allah.
Door of Tawbah Remains Open
- Allah’s mercy dictates that the door of repentance is always open.
- Whoever sincerely repents, Allah accepts his repentance.
Prophetic Ḥadīth
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«رُفع عن أمتي الخطأ والنسيان وما استُكرِهوا عليه»
“Verily, my Ummah has been excused for mistakes, forgetfulness, and for that which they were forced to do.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 3509; Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl, 1/123)
Financial Expiation
- In the present case, no financial kaffārah is required by Sharīʿah.
- What is required is sincere tawbah and istighfār.
Conclusion
✔ Administering intoxicants for treatment is ḥarām.
✔ If the patient was forced, she is absolved of sin, and only the perpetrators are accountable.
✔ There is no kaffārah, but repentance is necessary for those who committed this act.
