26/3. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1865 — A Little of Intoxicant Is Haram
What Has Been Related About Whatever A Lot Of It Intoxicates, A Little Of It Is Unlawful
A Little of What Intoxicates Is Haram
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1865
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1865
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، وَحَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ بَكْرِ بْنِ أَبِي الْفُرَاتِ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ سَعْدٍ وَعَائِشَةَ وَعَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَابْنِ عُمَرَ وَخَوَّاتِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ جَابِرٍ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whatever A Lot Of It Intoxicates, A Little Of It Is Unlawful." He Said: There Are Narrations On This Topic From Sa'D, 'Aishah, 'Abdullah Bin 'Amr, Ibn 'Umar, And Khawwat Bin Jubair. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] This Hadith Is Hasan Gharib As A Narration Of Jabir.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1865In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 3, Book 24, Hadith 1865
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1865
This Hadith explains a practical rule about intoxicants. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whatever intoxicates in large amounts, a small amount of it is also unlawful. The meaning is direct and easy to apply. A person should not argue that a small quantity is harmless if the same substance intoxicates when taken in a large amount. The Hadith closes that door by focusing on the nature of the drink or substance. This is a key narration for searches like small amount of alcohol hadith or what intoxicates in large amount is haram. The teaching is not built on guesswork or personal taste. It is built on the clear statement that a little of such a thing is unlawful.
What we learn from this hadith
- If a large amount intoxicates, a small amount is also unlawful.
- The Hadith prevents using small quantity as an excuse.
- The rule is based on the intoxicating nature of the substance.
- A Muslim should avoid even small amounts of known intoxicants.
