36. FERMENTED “PROPHETIC MEDICINE” MIXTURE
” As salam alaykm, I recently had a concoction of prophetic medicine involving a mixture of honey and others cooked. I noticed it given gas when I open it. Please does that mean it has fermented and does it mean I have taken alcohol”
ANSWER
Wa alaykum salaam warahmatullaah wabarakaatuh
May Allah forgive us all and grant us yaqin, aameen.
Beloved one, we firstly want to correct your impression about what you termed ‘Prophetic Medicine’. This is because we should be careful what we attribute to the Rasul – salallaahi alayhi wasallam. Most of what people do attribute to ‘at-tibbu an-nabawi’ out there are actually some herbs about which the Rasul – salallaahi alayhi wasallam – did not attribute anything to. And a lot of mix-ups have come into play where people confuse herbs to the true Prophetic Medicine. Allaahu A’alam.
Then, we should all know that what you have asked returns to the general ruling of taking fermented drinks.
Whatever when taken, gives an intoxicating effect is regarded as ‘khamr’ and declared haraam.
In the Hadith, the Rasul – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – said:
” ﻛﻞ ﻣﺴﻜﺮ ﺧﻤﺮ، ﻭﻛﻞ ﺧﻤﺮ ﺣﺮﺍﻡ ”
ﺭﻭﺍﻩ ﻣﺴﻠﻢ
“All that intoxicates is khamr and every khamr is haraam.”
Recorded by Muslim
Therefore, you should beware of any drink that you know will intoxicated your mind. It isn’t every drink however that ferments that has the intoxicating effect. It depends entirely on the extent of the fermentation.
What majority of the Ulamaa hold is that such little fermented drinks, if they were intentionally kept and allowed to ferment, they become haraam whereas they are not if they become fermented in themselves.
However, in the situation depicted, such a concoction is already spoilt and advised to be thrown away as it will be harmful to the body.
Allaahu A’alam
Baarakallaahi feekum
Jazaakumullaahi khayran
