Fatwa ID: 06814
Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Question:
Abu Hanifa and Abu Yusuf held the opinion that alcohol which is not khamr (derived from grapes, dates and raisins) is permissible as long as the person does not get intoxicated and the later Hanafis (not Abu Hanifa himself) added that it must not be used in vain but can be drunk to gain strenght for work or worship or to digest food, so hypothetically if someone drank a glass of apple cider with their dinner and that glass will definetly not intoxicate them and nor do they intend to be intoxicated then will the drink be lawful to consume in such a situation?
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
We find the prohibition in the Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ, “Every intoxicant is Khamr and every intoxicant is forbidden.” [Sahih al-Muslim: Hadith 2003] [1]
Alcohol has been broken down into two categories; Khamr alcohol (i.e., derived from grapes and dates) and non-Khamr alcohol which can be derived from other sources which includes synthetic alcohols as well.
The Khamr which is derived from dates and grapes is strictly Harām in small and large quantities alike.
In regards to the non-Khamr alcohol, there are differing views within the Hanafi School of Jurisprudence. The first view is that it holds the same ruling as that of Khamr alcohol (i.e., that is Harām as well).
Whereas, the second view is that it would be permissible to consume it in un intoxicating amounts abiding by the following conditions; it is not used as an intoxicant, or in a similar manner, nor in an amount which causes intoxication and it is not used in vain. [Bādā’i’ As-Sanā’i: vol. 5, pg. 116 and Al-Bahru al-Rā’iq: vol. 8, pg. 247] [2] [3]
This is the basis on which the legal ruling has been passed (i.e., the second view).
What you have suggested would fall into this second category and based on that, it would be impermissible as you are suggesting drinking it in a manner similar to Khamr alcohol.
Only Allāh Ta’ālā knows best.
Written by Mufti Mohammed Dilwar Hussain
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَأَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ رَوْحِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ كُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ خَمْرٌ وَكُلُّ مُسْكِرٍ حَرَامٌ ” .
[2]واما المثلث فنقول: لا خلاف في انه ما دام حلوا لا يسكر يحل شربه. واما المعتق المسكر فيحل شربه للتداوي واستمراء الطعام والتّقوّي على الطاعة عند أبي حنيفة وأبو يوسف رحمهما الله ورواه محمد رحمه الله انه لا يحل، وهو قول الشافعي رحمه الله وأجمعوا على انه لا يحل شربه للهو والطرب.
[3]قال رحمه الله (الشراب ما يسكر) هذا في اصطلاح الفقهاء لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام: “كل مسكر حرام” وهذا معناه. قال رحمه الله (والمحرم منها أربعة: الخمر وهي النيء من ماء العنب إذا غلى واشتد وقذف بالزبد وحرم قليلها وكثيرها) وقال بعضهم كل مسكر خمر لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام “كل مسكر خمر” رواه مسلم و لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام “الخمر من هاتين النخلة ولا العنبة” رواه مسلم، وابو داود ولانها سميت خمرا لمخامرة العقل وكل مسكر يخامر العقل ولنا إجماع اهل اللغة على حقيقته في النيء من ما العنب وتسمية غيرها بالخمر مجازا.
