51/24. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 5603 — Mead, Beer, and the Rule of Intoxication
Explanation of Al-Bit' (Mead) and Al-Mizr (Beer)
Hadith About Mead and Beer: Do Not Drink Any Intoxicant
Sunan an-Nasai : 5603
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 5603
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدٌ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنِ الأَجْلَحِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ بَعَثَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ بِهَا أَشْرِبَةً فَمَا أَشْرَبُ وَمَا أَدَعُ قَالَ " وَمَا هِيَ " . قُلْتُ الْبِتْعُ وَالْمِزْرُ . قَالَ " وَمَا الْبِتْعُ وَالْمِزْرُ " . قُلْتُ أَمَّا الْبِتْعُ فَنَبِيذُ الْعَسَلِ وَأَمَّا الْمِزْرُ فَنَبِيذُ الذُّرَةِ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَشْرَبْ مُسْكِرًا فَإِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ كُلَّ مُسْكِرٍ " .
Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa Narrated from:
Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa narrated that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah [SAW] sent me to Yemen and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, there are (different kinds of) drinks there, what should I drink, and what should I refrain from?' He said: 'What are they?' I said: 'Al-Bit' (mead) and Al-Mizr (beer).' He said: 'What are mead and beer?' I said: 'Mead is a drink made from honey and beer is a drink made from grains.' The Messenger of Allah [SAW] said: 'Do not drink any intoxicant, for I have forbidden all intoxicants.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 5603In-book reference : Book 51, Hadith 65English translation : Vol. 6, Book 51, Hadith 5606
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 5603
This Hadith shows Abu Musa asking the Prophet about drinks found in Yemen. He names Al-Bit, a drink made from honey, and Al-Mizr, a drink made from grains. The Prophet asks what they are, and after hearing the answer, he gives the rule: do not drink any intoxicant, because all intoxicants are forbidden. This is useful for anyone searching for the mead and beer hadith in Islam. The Hadith does not make the ruling depend only on honey, grain, or a regional drink name. It points to intoxication itself. The message is clear: when a drink intoxicates, a believer should leave it.
What we learn from this hadith
- Asking about unclear drinks is a good way to seek guidance.
- Honey-based or grain-based drinks are judged by intoxication in this text.
- The Prophet’s answer closes the door to name-based exceptions.
- A Muslim should avoid any drink that falls under intoxicants.
