✦ Source: Ḍiyāʾ al-Islām fī Sharḥ al-Ilmām bi-Aḥādīth al-Aḥkām by Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn Abī al-Fatḥ (Translated by: Mawlānā Maḥmūd Aḥmad Ghaẓnfar)
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to have raisins soaked (to make nabidh), and he would drink it that day, the next day, and the following day till the evening of the third day. After that, he would order it to be either given to someone (immediately) or discarded."
(Reported by Muslim)
If there is any suspicion that the Nabidh may have begun to ferment and become intoxicating, it should not be consumed. Instead, it must be discarded or dealt with immediately, ensuring it is not passed on to others.
② Permissibility Before Fermentation:
As long as the Nabidh has not fermented or turned intoxicating, it is permissible to drink. This is a crucial guideline distinguishing lawful drinks from those that may become impermissible due to fermentation.
③ Context-Dependent Shelf Life:
The hadith teaches that the shelf life of Nabidh depends on the prevailing weather conditions. In colder weather, the fermentation process is slower; in hot climates, it can occur more rapidly. Hence, the third day was a critical threshold.
Before consuming Nabidh, one should verify that it has not fermented into an intoxicant.
✔ Avoid Giving It Away if Suspected:
Do not gift or serve Nabidh to others if there's any suspicion about its intoxicating nature. Preventing harm to others is a vital part of Islamic ethics.
✔ Be Cautious with Home-Fermented Drinks:
The Sunnah shows a balanced, cautious approach to food and drink. What begins as lawful may become unlawful due to chemical change—this principle applies broadly.
❝ Islam encourages us to avoid doubtful matters and uphold purity in our actions and consumption. ❞
❖ The Hadith
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to have raisins soaked (to make nabidh), and he would drink it that day, the next day, and the following day till the evening of the third day. After that, he would order it to be either given to someone (immediately) or discarded."
(Reported by Muslim)
✿ Key Lessons & Insights
① Discard Nabidh If There Is a Doubt of Intoxication:If there is any suspicion that the Nabidh may have begun to ferment and become intoxicating, it should not be consumed. Instead, it must be discarded or dealt with immediately, ensuring it is not passed on to others.
② Permissibility Before Fermentation:
As long as the Nabidh has not fermented or turned intoxicating, it is permissible to drink. This is a crucial guideline distinguishing lawful drinks from those that may become impermissible due to fermentation.
③ Context-Dependent Shelf Life:
The hadith teaches that the shelf life of Nabidh depends on the prevailing weather conditions. In colder weather, the fermentation process is slower; in hot climates, it can occur more rapidly. Hence, the third day was a critical threshold.
❖ Practical Implications
✔ Check for Signs of Intoxication:Before consuming Nabidh, one should verify that it has not fermented into an intoxicant.
✔ Avoid Giving It Away if Suspected:
Do not gift or serve Nabidh to others if there's any suspicion about its intoxicating nature. Preventing harm to others is a vital part of Islamic ethics.
✔ Be Cautious with Home-Fermented Drinks:
The Sunnah shows a balanced, cautious approach to food and drink. What begins as lawful may become unlawful due to chemical change—this principle applies broadly.
❖ Summary
Nabidh, a drink made by soaking dates or raisins, is permissible if consumed before fermentation. Once there's a likelihood of intoxication, it must be disposed of. This hadith reflects the prophetic concern for purity, caution, and the avoidance of anything that could lead to sin or harm.❝ Islam encourages us to avoid doubtful matters and uphold purity in our actions and consumption. ❞
