74/21. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5622 — Immediate Obedience After Alcohol Prohibition
The younger should serve the older
Hadith About Alcohol Prohibition: Quick Obedience to Allah
Sahih Bukhari : 5622
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5622
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعْتَمِرٌ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَنَسًا ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنْتُ قَائِمًا عَلَى الْحَىِّ أَسْقِيهِمْ ـ عُمُومَتِي وَأَنَا أَصْغَرُهُمُ ـ الْفَضِيخَ، فَقِيلَ حُرِّمَتِ الْخَمْرُ. فَقَالَ أَكْفِئْهَا. فَكَفَأْنَا. قُلْتُ لأَنَسٍ مَا شَرَابُهُمْ قَالَ رُطَبٌ وَبُسْرٌ. فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَكَانَتْ خَمْرَهُمْ. فَلَمْ يُنْكِرْ أَنَسٌ. وَحَدَّثَنِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِي أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَنَسًا يَقُولُ كَانَتْ خَمْرَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ.
Anas Narrated from:
I was waiting on my uncles, serving them with an alcoholic drink prepared from dates, and I was the youngest of them. (Suddenly) it was said that alcoholic drinks had been prohibited. So they said (to me), 'Throw it away." And I threw it away The sub-narrator said: I asked Anas what their drink was (made from), He replied, "(From) ripe dates and unripe dates."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5622In-book reference : Book 74, Hadith 48USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 69, Hadith 526
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5622
This Hadith is a clear report about the prohibition of alcohol in Islam and how quickly the Companions responded. Anas was serving his uncles a drink made from ripe and unripe dates. When it was announced that alcoholic drinks had been prohibited, they did not delay or debate. They told him to throw it away, and he threw it away. The explanation should stay close to the text: the drink mentioned here was made from dates and was counted as their alcoholic drink at that time. The key point is quick obedience when a clear religious command reaches a believer. This Hadith about alcohol prohibition also shows how serious they were about leaving what had become forbidden.
What we learn from this hadith
- When a clear prohibition reaches a believer, quick obedience is praised.
- The drink in this report was made from ripe and unripe dates.
- The people did not keep the drink once they heard it was prohibited.
- Young people can serve elders, but obedience to Allah comes first.
