Is It Permissible to Drink Nabidh?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

I’ve started making nabidh, but I didn’t drink it yet because I don’t know if it is permissible. I only want to consume it out of curiosity and not for its intoxicating effect. Is this permissible?

Answer

Nabidh, a sweet drink made by leaving dates in water, is permissible to consume as long as it does not ferment. Once it has fermented, it becomes alcoholic and can intoxicate a person. I don’t know how long this fermentation process would take, but it’s best not to prolong it.

If it ferments, it will not be permissible to consume as it will be alcoholic then. [Maydani, al-Lubab]

Leave the dates in for a day, and their sweetness will transfer into the water. Enjoy the taste and use it as a motive to thank Allah. Allah loves it when a person eats a meal or drinks something and then thanks Him for it. [Bukhari]

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.