51/21. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5581 — Small and Large Amounts of Intoxicants
Prohibition of Intoxicating Drinks Made From Fruit and Grains of All Types
Every Intoxicant Is Haram: Names Do Not Change Khamr
Sunan an-Nasai : 5581
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5581
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ سِيرِينَ، قَالَ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ أَهْلَنَا يَنْبِذُونَ لَنَا شَرَابًا عَشِيًّا فَإِذَا أَصْبَحْنَا شَرِبْنَا . قَالَ أَنْهَاكَ عَنِ الْمُسْكِرِ قَلِيلِهِ وَكَثِيرِهِ وَأُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْهَاكَ عَنِ الْمُسْكِرِ قَلِيلِهِ وَكَثِيرِهِ وَأُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكَ إِنَّ أَهْلَ خَيْبَرَ يَنْتَبِذُونَ شَرَابًا مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَيُسَمُّونَهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَهِيَ الْخَمْرُ وَإِنَّ أَهْلَ فَدَكٍ يَنْتَبِذُونَ شَرَابًا مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا يُسَمُّونَهُ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَهِيَ الْخَمْرُ حَتَّى عَدَّ أَشْرِبَةً أَرْبَعَةً أَحَدُهَا الْعَسَلُ .
Ibn Sirin Narrated from:
A man came to Ibn 'Umar and said: 'Our families make drinks for us by soaking (fruits) at night, and in the morning we drink them.' He said: 'I forbid you to drink intoxicants whether in small amounts or large. May Allah bear witness that I forbid you to drink intoxicants whether in small amounts or large.May Allah bear witness that the people of Khaibar used to make drinks by soaking such and such, and they called it such and such but it was Khamr. The people of Fadak used to make drinks by soaking such and such, and they called it such and such but it was Khamr.' And he listed four things, one of which was honey.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5581In-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 43English translation : Vol. 6, Book 51, Hadith 5584
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5581
This hadith about intoxicants answers a real-life question. A man asks Ibn 'Umar about drinks made by soaking fruits at night and drinking them in the morning. Ibn 'Umar does not focus on the family habit or the local name of the drink. He gives a direct rule: intoxicants are forbidden in small amounts and large amounts. He also mentions that people of Khaibar and Fadak used certain soaked drinks and gave them different names, but they were still khamr. For anyone searching “every intoxicant is haram hadith,” this narration is very clear. The main teaching is that a drink’s label or custom does not make it acceptable if it is intoxicating.
What we learn from this hadith
- Local names do not change the reality of an intoxicating drink.
- Ibn 'Umar forbade intoxicants in both small and large amounts.
- Soaked drinks need care if they become intoxicating.
- The narration teaches honesty in naming and judging drinks.
