Why was the drinker of alcohol commanded to be beaten in different ways in the first Hadith, while the command was to flog him in the second Hadith, which states: "If he drinks, flog him; if he drinks, flog him; if he drinks, flog him; if he drinks a fourth time, kill him"?

The words of the Prophet, peace be upon him, are a revelation that does not contradict itself. If there appears to be some superficial difference in the hadiths regarding the punishment for drinking alcohol, then they must be reconciled.

The first aspect: The punishment for alcohol was legislated gradually: 1. First stage: Unspecified, absolute beating (for discretionary punishment - ta'zeer). 2. Second stage: Forty lashes. 3. Third stage: Execution upon the fourth offense, then the execution was abrogated, and lashing remained as a prescribed punishment (hadd) and penalty. The scholars have unanimously agreed upon the abrogation of the ruling of execution.

The second aspect: Lashing was forty lashes during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, but the instrument of beating was absolute and not restricted to whips. Rather, it was done with sandals, palm branches, and ends of garments, the intent being to inflict pain. Then, the whip was adopted after the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, through the ijtihad (independent reasoning) of the Companions, who saw a benefit in it. Some scholars are of the opinion that the Sunnah regarding the instrument of the punishment is that it should be as it was during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, meaning forty blows with ends of garments, sandals, and hands.