51/23. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5596 — Avoiding Intoxicants While Traveling
Prohibition of Every Drink that Intoxicates
Drink but Do Not Drink Intoxicants: Hadith on Yemen Drinks
Sunan an-Nasai : 5596
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5596
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ إِسْرَائِيلَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَا وَمُعَاذٌ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ إِنَّكَ تَبْعَثُنَا إِلَى أَرْضٍ كَثِيرٌ شَرَابُ أَهْلِهَا فَمَا أَشْرَبُ قَالَ " اشْرَبْ وَلاَ تَشْرَبْ مُسْكِرًا " .
It was narrated from Abu Burdah that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sent Mu'adh and me to Yemen. Mu'adh said: 'You are sending us to a land where the people have many kinds of drinks. What should I drink?' He said: 'Drink, but do not drink any intoxicant.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5596In-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 58English translation : Vol. 6, Book 51, Hadith 5599
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5596
This hadith about intoxicants gives a practical answer for travel and new places. Abu Musa says that the Messenger of Allah sent him and Mu'adh to Yemen. Mu'adh asked about a land where people had many kinds of drinks and asked what he should drink. The Prophet answered, “Drink, but do not drink any intoxicant.” The wording is balanced. It does not ban drinking ordinary drinks. It clearly forbids intoxicants. For searches like “drink but do not drink intoxicants hadith” and “Yemen drinks hadith,” this narration is helpful. It teaches that the safe limit is not the local custom, but whether the drink is intoxicating.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet allowed drinking in general but forbade intoxicants.
- New places and many drink types still need careful judgment.
- The rule is tied to intoxication, not local popularity.
- The answer was clear and practical for travel.
