For Muslims, what is the stance of drinking in your faith?

Question

In Islam, I understand that drinking alcohol is not allowed, hence the reason there are shisha cafes(i hope thats right) but is drinking mead acceptable, its not alcohol its made of honey. Would drinking mead be allowed or is there a prohibition on that as well, just curious. Partly asking because of the scene in the 13th warrior when the guy drinks mead after learning its made of honey not alcohol.

Sorry i did not realise that the Shisha places were only part of a culture thing and not a religious one, hope i didnt offend anyone by it.

Mead is a drink made of fermented honey and water.

I know the movies are not the best way to learn about Islam it was just an interesting part of the movie and was wondering how accurate it was. The scene is when he is building the wall for the town and the woman comes by with a pitcher and asks him if he wants a drink and he says he cannot drink wine to which she says its mead and one of the men says its made of honey.

Answer 1

If it's not fermented in order that it becomes an intoxicant then I believe it is ok because I know there are ahadith that report that the Prophet (sall'Allahu alayhi wasalam) drank something similar made from honey.

There is also a hadith that states that the product should be thrown away after 3 days because of the fermentation. I will try to find the hadith and get back to you

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OK, here are some similar ahadith:

Nafi' reported Ibn 'Umar as saying: I do not know this but from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) who said: Every intoxicant is Khamr and every Khamr is forbidden. (Sahih Muslim, Book #023, Hadith #4966)

Abu Musa reported: Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) sent me and Mu'adh b. Jabal to Yemen. I said: Allah's Messenger, there is prepared in our land a wine out of barley which is known as Mizr (beer of our times) and a wine from honey which is known as Bit, (are these also forbidden? ), whereupon he said: Every intoxicant is forbidden. (Sahih Muslim, Book #023, Hadith #4959)

Ibn Abbas reported that Nabidh was prepared from raisins for Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) in the waterskin and he would drink it on that day and on the next day and the day following and when It was the evening of the third day, and he would drink it and give it to (his Companions) and if something was left over, he threw that away. (Sahih Muslim, Book #023, Hadith #4974)

Abdullah b. Buraida reported on the authority of his father that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said this: I prohibited you from visiting the graves, but (now) you may visit them, and I prohibited you (from eating) the flesh of sacrificed animals beyond three days, but now keep it as long as you like. **I prohibited you from the use of Nabidh except (that preoared) in dry waterskins. Now drink (Nabidh prepared in any utensil), but do not drink when it becomes intoxicant.** (Sahih Muslim, Book #022, Hadith #4866)

Answer 2

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim - In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Hello. I was entertained by "The 13th Warrior" when I saw it many years ago. It definitely is not the way to learn about Islam, lol. I don't remember the scene about the mead.

In Islam, all intoxicants are forbidden, "haraam" no matter what the origin. Thus, alcohol from fermented potatoes or fermented honey is just as forbidden as beer and whiskey. A very popular drink in the time of the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, was made from fermented dates, and it was included in the prohibition. As soon as the verses forbidding intoxicants was revealed, the Muslims poured out the contents of their cups and broke the containers, large and small.

I pray that Allah guides you to that which is best in this world and the next. Ameen.

Fi Aman Allah,

Nancy Umm Abdel Hamid

Answer 3

In a work of fiction charcters can be written in to commit haram acts. It's not acceptable in any school of law for them to drink ANY alchoholic beverage. The Arabs since day 1 have understood the entire distillation and brewing process. In fact the word alchohol is Arabic.
They have a sophisticated idea about chemistry here. If the nature of something is changed so completely- so that it is no longer like what it was.... then maybe. But in the case of mead the opposite applies. Honey is halal and pure. But when made into mead becomes KAMR(wine). So it would be understood in all times and all places as haram(forbidden by Qur'an) .
Now that's not to say that recently converted heathens like the mongol turks would not have bent the rules... out there in the vast steppes... away from legal authorities. It could happen .
It is also allowed in some cases to use alchohol as a medicine if you invoke the law of DARURA. Meaning dire necessity. However this is carefully defined . Your soldier could do it if he had dysentery. However if he died of dysentery after drinking KAMR he might well go to hell. The wise Muslim would avoid that thing about which there is doubt.

Answer 4

The dictionary meaning of mead is,"An alcoholic beverage made from fermented honey and water[Webster's II-1984 edition, page 735].It's the fermentation part and not the base material like honey etc,which is important.Rest, as they say ,is a matter of details.

Answer 5

Any thing made out of honey is actually recommanded. Honey is mentioned in the Quran to have variuos benefits. Regarding the intoxicants all are haram because they do bodily harm.

Answer 6

anything that intoxicates you is not allowed.. as for the shishas... well that is a cultural thing and totally against Islamic teachings.. but as in one of my questions.. culture is messing up the religion...it is sad..

Answer 7

i totally agree with Khalid E answer...if this honey drink intoxicates who drink it...then it's forbidden and not allowed in islam..!!

peace to you
anno

Answer 8

If it intoxicates a little or a lot it's, not allowed.

Answer 9

i dont know is it supposed to be intoxicating? if so then its haram(forbidden) but i wouldnt know otherwise