What is the explanation of the following the hadith which states that the prophet used to drink Nabidh? Thumama reported: “I met Aishah RAA and asked her about Nabidh which was served to the prophet (PBUH). Aishah called an Abyssinian maid and said, ask her about it, for she was the one who used to prepare the Nabidh for the messenger of Allah. The Abyssinian maid said: I used to prepare the Nabidh for him in the waterskin at night, firmly close it and suspend it; in the morning, he used to drink it.

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

The above-mentioned hadith is related by Muslim, and thus, it’s graded as sahih. There are many other hadiths which stated that the prophet used to drink Nabidh; all of them are graded as sahih. However, it is worth mentioning that what is called Nabidh means juice, and it is completely different from the wine.

(Nabidh is derived from the root nabadha, which means left). Ibn Manzur states in his dictionary Lisan Al-Arab (it is an Arabic-Arabic dictionary) that Nabidh means what is left from something. If it does not make people drunk, it is halal. If it makes people drunk, it is wine, and thus, it is haram. It is explained as what is taken from dates, wheat, barleys, raisins, and honey. In Arabic, if it is said that I left dates or grapes, it means, I left it soaked to become Nabidh. However, whether it makes people dunk or not, it is still called Nabidh. Thus, it is, according to Imam Nawawi, considered halal to drink Nabidh if it is not wine, and as long as it does not make people drunk. This opinion is adopted by the nation.