#225: Ruling on the Prohibition of Drinking directly from Water Containers

QUESTION

“As-Salaam Alaykum. Please is there anywhere the prophet prohibited drinking water directly from the mouth of containers like bottle, sachet water etc. instead of a cup?.”

ANSWER:

Alhamdulillaah! That is true, it has come in several Ahaadith that the Rasul – salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – prohibited that.
Imaam Al-Bukhaari transmits in his Sahih from Abu Hurayrah and ‘Abdullah bn ‘Abbaas – radiyallaahu ‘anhum -: “Indeed the Messenger of Allaah – salallaahu ‘alyhi wasallam – forbade drinking directly from the mouth of the water skins”
In the Hadith that is Agreed Upon by Bukhaari and Muslim from Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri – radiyallaahu ‘anhu – he said “The Prophet – salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – forbade from doing ‘ikhtinaath’ of drinking containers and drinking directly from its mouth” They added, ‘And what is meant by ‘Ikhtinaath’ is to lift it up and to bend it over’

Regarding this Hadith, there are four Madhaahib among the Ulamaa.

1. That it is Haraam unrestrictedly. This is the cerdict of Imaam Ibn Hazm (Al-Muhalla 6/229-30)

2. That the forbiddance mentioned in the Hadith is abrogated, and that is by the fact that the Rasul – salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – was reported by Kabashah – radiyallaahu ‘anha – as transmitted by At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah, that he – salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – drank from the water skin. This is the verdict of Imaam Ahmad bn Hanbal – rahimahullaah.

3. That it is Makruh (disliked) meaning that it is a non-emphatic forbidance. This is the verdict of majority of the Scholars from all of the Madhaahib.

4. That it is Haraam or Makruh depending on the Causative Factors (Illa) for the Prohibition.

In this regard, Imaam Ibn Hajar Al-‘Asqalaani – rahimahullaah – mentioned the possible reasons for the forbiddance of it. He said: It could be due to the fact that harmful substances might be in the Water Container, or that drinking water that way might lead to choking-up due to over drinking, or it might be due to the possibility of the Container’s opening or the water inside getting contaminated by his saliva which could make others detest the water and/or the container or be a cause for the spread of diseases.

He mentioned that Imaam Ibn Abi Jamrah and Ibn Al-Arabi – rahimahumallaah – mentioned these Causative Factors. (Ref: ‘Fat’hu Al-Baari Sharh Hadith #5628) In effect it means that if what is feared is the transmission of diseases and the upsetting of others, then in that case it becomes haram.

But if what is feared is getting choked-up or harmfull things in the water, it becomes Makruh.

And if none of these are feared, it becomes pure Halaal.
From the evidences presented by all the Schools, the strongest verdict is the last, Allaahu A’alam.

But we unrestrictly advise the Student of Knowledge to always avoid drinking directly from the water container for the purposes of Aadaab and his Reputation (Muru’a).

Baarakallaahu feekum!

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