26/3. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1866 — Even a Handful Can Be Haram
What Has Been Related About Whatever A Lot Of It Intoxicates, A Little Of It Is Unlawful
Every Intoxicant Is Unlawful, Even a Sip
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1866
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1866
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ عَبْدِ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ مَهْدِيِّ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْجُمَحِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَهْدِيُّ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ الْمَعْنَى، وَاحِدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ مَا أَسْكَرَ الْفَرَقُ مِنْهُ فَمِلْءُ الْكَفِّ مِنْهُ حَرَامٌ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى قَالَ أَحَدُهُمَا فِي حَدِيثِهِ " الْحُسْوَةُ مِنْهُ حَرَامٌ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ . وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ لَيْثُ بْنُ أَبِي سُلَيْمٍ وَالرَّبِيعُ بْنُ صَبِيحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عُثْمَانَ الأَنْصَارِيِّ نَحْوَ رِوَايَةِ مَهْدِيِّ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ . وَأَبُو عُثْمَانَ الأَنْصَارِيُّ اسْمُهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ سَالِمٍ وَيُقَالُ عُمَرُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ أَيْضًا .
Narrated 'Aishah: That The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Every Intoxicant Is Unlawful. Whatever A Faraq Of It Intoxicates, Then A Handful Of It Is Unlawful." [Abu 'Eisa Said:] One Of Them Said In His Hadith: "A Sip Of It Is Unlawful." He Said: This Hadith Is Hasan. Al-Laith Bin Abi Sulaim And Ar-Rabi' Bin Sabih Reported Similar To The Narration Of Mahdi Bin Maimun From Abu 'Uthman Al-Ansari. Abu 'Uthman Al-Ansari'S (A Narrator In This Chain) Name Is 'Amr Bin Salim, And They Say: "Umar Bin Salim" (As Well).
[1] “‘ Faraq ’ is a measurement weighing about sixteen Ratl , and they say it is ‘ Faraq ’ which is one hundred and twenty Ratl .” ( Tuhfat Al-Ahwadhi ). Today’s Ratl is anywhere between 500 plus grams, to 3 plus kilograms.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1866In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 3, Book 24, Hadith 1866
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1866
This Hadith gives a clear rule about amounts. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that every intoxicant is unlawful. He then explained that if a Faraq of it intoxicates, then a handful of it is unlawful. One version mentioned a sip instead of a handful. The main message is simple: the small amount follows the ruling of the larger amount when the larger amount intoxicates. This is very useful for people searching for a hadith about a sip of alcohol or a handful of intoxicant. The Hadith does not ask people to test limits. It teaches caution by linking the ruling to whether the substance intoxicates in a larger measure.
What we learn from this hadith
- Every intoxicant is described as unlawful.
- A small amount is unlawful if a larger amount intoxicates.
- The narration uses everyday measures like a handful or sip.
- The Hadith teaches caution around intoxicating substances.
